Tractor drives/rides

Hello everyone. I've seen many posts and pictures online about tractor rides/drives. Some are for fun, some are for charity.
I've never heard of one being done in my local area. (Manitoba, Canada). I just restored my first tractor (McCormick Deering W6) and want to organize one. I have some questions so I can a better idea of what I could be undertaking.

-How far does a "tractor drive" usually go?
-Are "pilot vehicles" used for safety?
-If it's a "charity" drive, what charities have you raised funds for?
-What's the most tractors you've had on a drive? The least?
-Has the local community/media been supportive?

Any other information, suggestions, tips would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

Our Lions club has held a "tractor ride " for the last 3 years with mixed results. Weather is a big factor in attendance. This year we are trying to team up with a old tractor club to boost ridership . If we don't get a better turn out this year, it could be the last.We have had as many tractors as 25 , and as few as 6. Always seems to be other events going on in the summer , and spring and fall can be inclement .We try to stop some where of interest , and provide a lunch. We charge around $20.00 . Many old fellas are cheap old farts , and are not willing to pay to go in the ride, but will complain that there is no chance to use/show their baby after they get it restored. Best of luck to you.

talk to your local insurance agent then local law inforcement First! you will then have a good idea which way you want to go next.
we have so many drives around here people are getting tried of them

Our little club does a ride every fall. We travel around 20/25 miles.Meet at a members farm. Leave at 9:00 ,drive appreox 10 miles(back roads) to the next town,eat lunck(or breakfast)at a local cafe. Then drive 12/15 miles meandering through countryside back to start.Takes 5-6 hrs total.Some folks only go halfway. We have 5 to 10 tractors.No charge to club members.Nonmembers are 'charged' $10.00(costs us 12) for insurance,but that is (fee) is often waived.A wagon(people hauler) is pulled by a member for wives/kids to particpate.One member has a disabled wife,she can participate.Our club belongs to E.D.G.T.A.(Early Day Gas Engine&Tractor Assn),they provide insurance.Drivers of "broke down"(out of gas,flat tires......) tractors(it does happen) can also ride.We require minimum speed of 10MPH. the slower tractors go first. SMV on all tractors is a must.I usually ride last 'place'as 'clean up'.Never had a pilot car.Cant think of a better way to spend a nice fall day,driveing a slow tractor enjoying the countryside at 10MPH with a group of like minded people.

Maybe not "charge",but instead ask for donations to help with expences.Our local shows have better luck with donations than 'admission fees'.The "cheap" old b@$!^#d may b@$&# about a $20 fee,but will gladly "donate" $50. Seen it happen. Ask for food donations,or pot luck.Stop at a cafe....Afterall,we/you do it to have fun,not make money.Just my opinion.

Insurance will determine how much you want to do it. Some insurance requires fire extinguishers on all tractors,some allow people movers and riders some don't. Then it's up to you and your club on how strict your going to follow the rules. Go to the edge&ta web site they have all their requirements listed. Join their club and insurance is very affordable $12 a year I believe.

I read all of the posts and now I want to B******ch a little. Last year I wanted to go on a tractor ride "first time ever" and our local fair does have one. Sunday morning and I am there. They charge $40.oo and I have my big bad baby ready to go. I own a CUB tractor. Now I can do 10mph but that is about it. One old fart said "does that thing have road gear?" Well no but the drive goes at what speed you can go. Well we start out and I am like number three out of almost 100 tractors. Well about a mile down the road they start passing me one after another. The "Organizer" on his tractor comes up beside me and tells me just to go home cause you can't keep up?????????
I was kind of heart broken and turned around. Well when I got back to the fair ground all of their support people are gone. NOW this is where I really got burned up. The next day is the first day of the fair and I find one of the organizers. "Oh no we can't refund that $40.oo. I am saying that I couldn't even go on the ride. "NOPE". On all of the ride stories they have said the slow tractor governs the speed. The other thing is they can say you must have a road gear. One or the other. Well I feel that my parade got pi(^(&&ed on. Bitter would be a pretty good word to use.
As others have said, insurance, cops, others who have gone on a ride lend you a hand, SMV sings, tow straps, couple safety cans of gas and some jugs of water, and a follow truck with a trailer for the breakables. Go for it if you can but a Tractor ride is for Tractors and not a road race. If I feel like maybe going ever again I would bring my IH 300U tractor down from the farm. Now that baby moves but I don't think I want to go out with a bunch of A ho riders if you get my drift.
I would really like to go on that monster of a ride over the Macanaugh Bridge trip. With 1000 tractors?? That must be awwwwwwsum but I would need to borrow a tractor as it is like 2000 miles away.
Sorry this turned into a bit of a rant but this is a for fun ride and not a road race. Newbees should be welcome or at least Let them down easy. It still leaves a bad taste. Don't let me rain on your parade cause I have been in town parades and other kinds of car drives Etc. but that thing last summer really put me off.

I go to several a year. Some are free and one charges 15.00 but you get coffee and donuts in the morning and when we get back we get a lunch. One ride you follow a policeman with 2 motor cycles to help at the intercections. We have one at a local fair that goes thru a state park. We had trouble last year with slow tractors. They said no cub cadets at the beginning and there was a cub pulling a trailer with a lot of people in it. Most people didn't mind them on the ride but they held up a lot of driver and they were getting mad. It couldn't even make it up some of the hills without the people getting out and pushing which really help us up. If they had just pulled over and let faster drivers by I don't think people would have complained so much. I'm sure there not going to let cubs or similar tractor go on it this year. Or at least tell them to not hold up the ride. I here its a nice ride in South Dakota that I would like to go to before I leave this earth.

Not quite as extreme, but I learned my lesson this past summer at a parade. I was so excited to take my Farmall F14 in the parade. During the parade was fine, until we got to the end. We had to go back to the starting point + 1/2 mile (no, it didn't loop around)! Uh oh. So, then it got dark and everyone turned their lights on and took off. There I was, 4mph, crawling along in the dark with some street lights. That was a long hour drive back to the trailer but I learned to be more prepared if your taking a slow tractor some where.

The local Lions club sponsers a tractor drive in our town charge $10.00 gets you coffee and water and donuts for am break and pop and coffee or water and donuts for pm break. Noon lunch is available for purchase at about $6.00 to $8.00 usually 2 sandwiches hot dog or sloppy jo, potato salad beans pop and a cookie. Not too bad. ride is 30- 35 miles round trip. they ask that tractors are capable of going 12 mph and keep a 50-75 foot interval, done in august. I was no. 51 in a group of 150 total drivers, one owner ahead of me had about 7 tractors with drivers that did not know their tractors had a road gear, they were stretched for 3/4 mile, (me not happy). I have returned my ap. in right after I get it and I still get the same position I was in the previous year, this will be my last on if things don't change. Pete

We do it the way it should be done.....word of mouth goes out, anyone can bring any old tractor, does not cost anything, anyone enroute can join, take a drive by the nursing homes in town which the residents really enjoy, ends up at the restaurant in town for breakfast, owner is very happy to see us (she was told we were coming)...everyone eats, brags, BS's and then goes home on their own pace. Have around 50 tractors, spouses take a lot of pictures and we even get featured in the local paper.

Ben

I've been going on a multi-day ride in Central Illinois for a few years now, it has quite the turnout from all over usually, even a Canadian couple on a Super C one year. They run two groups a fast group (mostly IH and newer tractors) that runs around 15+mph and a slow group that goes in the 10-12mph range. I always go in the slow group as its more enjoyable to just cruise around.

Friday's they usually have a bus pickup at the end location in the morning and take you to the start location. Start off around 7am and stop by a local picture even (World's Largest something) and take pictures. Head out into the rural area and cruise for a while, make a few stops to stretch and converse. Stop in a little town or park for catered lunch then set off in the afternoon to wind up at the final stop for dinner usually around 5pm 25-30 miles covered. Saturday usually leaves for a similar journey/plan on the day. Sunday is a shorter morning ride for a few hours, then wind up back at the start for a final lunch and loading up to go home.

The food has always been top notch, the routes can have some boring spots but typically have lots of nice scenery and maybe a few fun more technical creek crossings or hill climbs. They line the tractors up at the end of the day for re-fueling for the next day. There is usually a designated tractor in each group that carries a port-a-potty as well and coolers of water. A chase vehicle follows each group to help with any breakdowns or issues. Several of the riders are local firemen/paramedics and bring gear to deal with just about anything that might come up (and something always does it seems).

It is a blast and I look forward to it every year, the price is around $160 for all three days (you can choose to just ride a certain day or two if you like) this covers your fuel, meals and I believe a t-shirt/hat et al

I think this type of ride while it takes a lot more work to set up attracts more people than the shorter rides. A short ride is a lot of work to get your tractor ready and hauled for just a few hours/miles.

Have been involved in our local Farm Bureau tractor ride I believe this will be our 14th year doing it the ride is around 50 miles long 25 each way give or take, it is a fundraiser for our local county school program called ag in the class room to teach children how and where there food comes from, the cost is around $85 to $100 depending on what we do lunch is included along with a tee shirt and hat, donuts and drink in the morning and the best is ice cream in the afternoon can't beat that, tractors are required to run 14 or 15 mph minimum, no riders, no wagons, no trailers, oh and I did forget to say our local FS dealer donates a fill up of fuel at the end of the day, if you go on line you can see all the details on our site as it is call McHenry County Farm Bureau in Woodstock ILL, hope not to long winded but its a lot of fun.