Tom, I dont think I will be shipping any iron to the show, Mainly because I havent finished the Cat Cave, and 2nd the Shipping Taxes etc . I Would Like to make the Event in Person

If you live somewhere between Bakersfield, CA and Woodland, CA (or close in and around this area) and need help with the hauling of your antique tractors/engines etc to the BSOT, Garlic Pete who lives in the Bakersfield area will help for a reasonable charge. Pete is going to haul his very original High 10, Cat 30 (we hope), D 7 and DW 10 to Woodland and stage them at the Wallace Ranch. He is also going to haul a very nice original Cat 60 from a ranch in between and will haul other stuff if given enough of a heads up.

Call Pete @ 661 343-3691 and bring ALL OF YOUR TRACTORS (not just Cat) to the BSOT. The more the merrier!!

Thanks for all of your help Pete. It is much appreciated.

This has to be one of the greatest things to drive. I got the chance to drive it in the parade at Tulare and unloaded it at our shop and let me tell you I'm not sure that its any easier then being a teamster for 20 mules, just a short trip around the Tulare show was a real workout but I'm looking foward to hookin it up to one of the big harvesters or a plow at the BSOT I feel pretty close to the Old Girl after draggin it around for 700 miles

Hi, Willie.
How are the parking brakes on that lil' jigger? Do they help hold it in place on the float? Or are they just a figment of the imagination? LOL.

Nice photos. Thanks for sharing.

With a bit of luck, I may see you there. I'm flying over on June 16 to have a look around before the show and hope to catch up with a few names so that I can put faces to them.

Deas That machine was rebuilt and everything works pretty well But when it comes to brakes Leo forgot them LOL it never was built with brakes. you got 4 levers Spark, Throttle, Clutck(very sticky) and gear shiter(3 foward gears 1 rev). I dont think the traction engine would of ever replaced to mules except for the fact that the mules probably didny want to be in same field with those niosey unsafe contraptions. You better make the trip across the pond and check these old relicts out.

Dear Willie

Has anyone contacted UC davis to see if they have completed there cat Sixty sn: 1C1, and if they can bring it to the show. I saw this tractor about four years ago and it was all to pieces.

Hi, Willie.
I'm getting things done in preparation for crossing the pond, passort application in, tickets purchased, leave obtained (The boss was gonna git one 'Gardorrfull' argument if he hadn't O.K.ed it.), various e-mails sent out about arrangements to meet people, whether thay can make it to the show or not, etc.. Still a few things to do but I'm getting there.

I've had a couple of people ask me why I'd make the trip for a machinery show instead of for the scenery. They can't get their heads around the notion that the machinery IS the scenery. Poor, dumb suckers. LOL.

Chrisco--1C1 will not be at the show. However, we do have a good development regarding 1C1. Ted Halton and Halton Company (Cat dealer in Portland) are going to restore 1C1 for Davis with some sort of agreement that 1C1 can be displayed at Brooks for some events etc. At least it is going to go back together and be preserved. Thanks to Ted from all of the collectors of the world.

Thanks for the update on 1C1, I thought that UC davis would have taken a long time to do the restoration, due to lack of funding and willing hands to do the work. I am glad the the Hendricks have 1C2.

Willie has been talking to the folks in N. CA who have Best 110 Steamers and it looks like we may end up with 3 at the BSOT if everything that is set comes to fruition. They will not all be operating but what the hell, how often do you get to have 3 Best 110 Steamers in one place at one time. That should make for a really good photo op.

If you do plan to bring equipment, buy dinner tickets, camp (dry RV parking only), get up on the website ( www.bestshowontracks.org ), print out the info and get your information and payments in. The more we can get done in advance, the smoother it will be.