Deas:

I have a better idea, just come on out to the BSOT and have fun and enjoy the company of Cat collectors from around the world. There will be plenty to see and do without the added pressure of trying to break a record that does not mean much to most of us. This is about the history of the Best, Holt and Cat companies and tractors not about how many tractors we can get into a field at one time.

Hi, Tom Madden.
That has been my intention all along. The record I'm most interested in setting is the best photographic record of the show that I can do. If the opportunity presents itself, I'd also be happy to download any photos that I take to an ACMOC PC or local member's PC somewhere before I come home so that others have access to them. I plan on bringing my card reader with me that plugs into a USB port to download.

My ranch is about 25 minutes north of the show site. Have plenty of room to park RVs and even have one full hookup. Free to any ACMOC member. Can help with site preparation, etc.

We had a work and moving day yesterday at the Wallace Ranch and at Joe Heidricks. We moved a couple of big harvesters and 3 trucklloads of tractors from both of the Heidrick Ranches and got a few more tractors running. Willie will be posting pictures later today.

A huge thank you goes out to Glen and the Chapter 5 folks for all of their equipment, expertise and help. Glen also brought over several pieces of equipment that will be working and on display at the BSOT.

More later.

Here are few action shots from sat and will get more soon

Heres what our showsite looks like today and what those big Harvesters will be cutting and the hay will be done with mules, horses and other old machines and baled with the oldest haypress in the world powered by mules

Nice photos, Willie!

Yesterday we went to Best Ranch and cut some of the hay for the Haypress demos, The old guy on the mower is George Cabral and the guy who will be teamster for the 27 mules pulling the 1905 Holt groundpower hillside harvester

Willie is heading down to Davenport CA (just north of Santa Cruz) to participate in the California Gold gas engine show this weekend. Willie is taking the raffle tractor Cat 22 to sell tickets. If you are in that area stop by and see Willie.

The count for Best, Holt and Caterpillar tractors that will be attending the BSOT is in the 300 range. I am getting calls daily from those who are deciding that they don't want to miss participating in the BSOT and that they are bringing tractors. I expect the count to go higher as we near the show.

This count does not include the many many other tractors of all makes and models that will also be at the show. My very incomplete list is well over a hundred and I have not been tracking rubber wheeled tractors at all. I know that there are collectors who are rallying the JD, AC, MD and other makes collectors who will also be well represented. I do know that the Cletrac folks are going to turn out as well so we will have a very broad cross section of crawlers represented.

Five weeks from today is show time. We all look forward to putting faces with names and having a great time.

Hey Tom speaking of putting faces with names, has the name tag issue been resolved?

CS