First "Golf Cart" Pulling Sled
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“Golf cart pulling is a less expensive way for people to get into pulling competitions. We hope it will catch on,” says Gary Brown, Ada, Ohio, who built a pulling sled for his neighbor Bernie Mackey. Mackey came up with the idea and designed the sled. They held an exhibition pull last year at the National Tractor Pull in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The golf cart sled is a scaled down version of a full-size tractor pulling sled. Its pan measures 4 ft. wide by 7 ft. long and is equipped with tractor weights that weigh more than 1,800 lbs. An 11 hp Predator gas engine operates a hydraulic pump. The weight box progresses up the sled during the pull. The sled weighs 1,800 lbs. without any added weight.
The driver sits behind the engine to control the pan’s movement. At the first-of-its-kind pull all sleds had to have an unmodified stock frame, rear axle housing, belt-driven transmission, and single tires with no chains or studs allowed. No turbos or superchargers were allowed. Pump gas or racing gas could be used. Diesel engines under 21 hp could be used in the modified class. All carts had to be equipped with a belt shield, kill switch, and seat belt.
“As far as I know we’re the first to hold a golf cart pull,” says Brown. “We had 4 or 5 organized pulls last year and expect to hold more at machinery shows and county fairs this year.”
At the events, golf cart owners can compete in 4 different classes: stock electric or gas engine factory equipped carts with a maximum weight of 1,250 lbs. and a maximum hitch height of 10 in.; carts with factory-equipped suspension lift kits that weigh a maximum of 1,250 lbs. and have a maximum hitch height of 18 in.; factory-equipped carts with modified engines up to 21 hp that have a maximum weight of 1,400 lbs. and a maximum hitch height of 18 in.; and factory-equipped carts with up to 55 hp that have a maximum weight of 1,400 lbs. and have a maximum hitch height of 18 in.
The pulling sled hooks up to a receiver hitch on back of the golf cart, using either a single cable attached to a clevis on the receiver hitch, or 2 cables that hook onto each of the leaf springs underneath the golf cart.
“Some pullers repower their golf carts with big V-twin Honda engines, because bigger engines are more exciting to watch,” says Brown. “Bigger tires don’t necessarily mean the carts will have more pulling power. In fact, many carts with smaller, lugged tires outpull carts with bigger tires. It’s all due to leverage – with golf carts, smaller tires increase the torque on the ground, which increases the leverage, whereas bigger tires reduce the amount of torque and leverage.
Brown says that at the national tractor pull last year, some Deere Gators and Kubota utility vehicles even hooked up to his sled – just to see how much they could pull.
For a schedule of golf cart pulling events this year, contact Bernie Mackey at ph 419 235-4231.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Brown, 5393 State Route 81, Ada, Ohio 45810 (ph 419 634-0173).
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First Golf Cart Pulling Sled AG WORLD “Golf cart pulling is a less expensive way for people to get into pulling competitions We hope it will catch on ” says Gary Brown Ada Ohio who built a pulling sled for his neighbor Bernie Mackey Mackey came up with the idea and designed the sled They held an exhibition pull last year at the National Tractor Pull in Bowling Green Ohio The golf cart sled is a scaled down version of a full-size tractor pulling sled Its pan measures 4 ft wide by 7 ft long and is equipped with tractor weights that weigh more than 1 800 lbs An 11 hp Predator gas engine operates a hydraulic pump The weight box progresses up the sled during the pull The sled weighs 1 800 lbs without any added weight The driver sits behind the engine to control the pan’s movement At the first-of-its-kind pull all sleds had to have an unmodified stock frame rear axle housing belt-driven transmission and single tires with no chains or studs allowed No turbos or superchargers were allowed Pump gas or racing gas could be used Diesel engines under 21 hp could be used in the modified class All carts had to be equipped with a belt shield kill switch and seat belt “As far as I know we’re the first to hold a golf cart pull ” says Brown “We had 4 or 5 organized pulls last year and expect to hold more at machinery shows and county fairs this year ” At the events golf cart owners can compete in 4 different classes: stock electric or gas engine factory equipped carts with a maximum weight of 1 250 lbs and a maximum hitch height of 10 in ; carts with factory-equipped suspension lift kits that weigh a maximum of 1 250 lbs and have a maximum hitch height of 18 in ; factory-equipped carts with modified engines up to 21 hp that have a maximum weight of 1 400 lbs and a maximum hitch height of 18 in ; and factory-equipped carts with up to 55 hp that have a maximum weight of 1 400 lbs and have a maximum hitch height of 18 in The pulling sled hooks up to a receiver hitch on back of the golf cart using either a single cable attached to a clevis on the receiver hitch or 2 cables that hook onto each of the leaf springs underneath the golf cart “Some pullers repower their golf carts with big V-twin Honda engines because bigger engines are more exciting to watch ” says Brown “Bigger tires don’t necessarily mean the carts will have more pulling power In fact many carts with smaller lugged tires outpull carts with bigger tires It’s all due to leverage – with golf carts smaller tires increase the torque on the ground which increases the leverage whereas bigger tires reduce the amount of torque and leverage Brown says that at the national tractor pull last year some Deere Gators and Kubota utility vehicles even hooked up to his sled – just to see how much they could pull For a schedule of golf cart pulling events this year contact Bernie Mackey at ph 419 235-4231 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gary Brown 5393 State Route 81 Ada Ohio 45810 ph 419 634-0173
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