Jul. 18--The track was ready; the sled was in place. A good crowd waited in the stands Friday night in Philpot.

Announcer Leslie Mears prepared the fans for the evening's entertainment and explained how the reading of the track can play a crucial role in a puller's performance.

And then Greg Elpers of Evansville came roaring out in his Allis Chalmers tractor, "Just Blowin' Cash," billowing black diesel smoke and testing the track as the first driver in the Hot Farm Tractor Class.

It was the first of the two-night, Lucas Oil Pro-Pulling League/Super Clean Mid-West Regional Series Truck and Tractor Pull at the Daviess County Lions Club Fair.

The truck and tractor pull continues tonight at 7:30 as part of the fair's closing day activities.

About 40 pullers from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee and Illinois competed in two tractor classes -- Hot Farm and Super Farm -- and one for trucks -- the pro-modified, 4-wheel drive class.

"Fans will see a lot of horse- power and diesel smoke," Mears said before the show's start. "They'll see motors in excess of 800 cubic inches."

The pullers earn points on the Mid-West circuit with the goal of being the points champion.

To win, drivers have to consider a lot of different variables, including setting their motors just right for the air temperature and barometric pressure, Mears said. They have to know how to build up their rpm's and read the track.

For Greg Lamb of Madison, Ind., it's all about balance.

Lamb, who competes with his "Black Viper" John Deere in the 9300 Super Farm Class, won the Keystone Nationals in Pennsylvania last winter.

"We're making some adjustments to get back on track. We've been running fifth, sixth and seventh lately," Lamb said as he crawled out from under the tractor. "Right now, it's not a mechanical problem. We can't seem to get our balance and weight right."

Lamb, his fiance Pam Carleton and almost-stepson Austin Grider, will go to Greencastle, Ind., Sunday for another show. He competes in about 40 per year.

"In this class, it can be anybody's night," he said. "It's a close, competitive class."

Lamb teaches diesel mechanics and Carleton is a teacher's assistant at a vocational center, so they have summers off.

He also builds tractors for other pullers.

Jeff Storey of Blanchard, Mich., in the central part of the state, drove his 4455 John Deere that Lamb build for the first time Friday night.

"Three days ago, it was in pieces out here," Storey said. "We worked 16 hours straight to get it together."

Storey will take it home and "put a new dress on it," he said. "Paint is the cheapest part."

Lamb estimates he has about $120,000 invested in his hobby.

"To build a tractor decked out like this, it would take about $100,000 today," he said.

Tim Morris said he and his brothers, Billy and Johnny Morris from Nicholasville, Ky., have put about $200,000 in their 6030 John Deere model over 10 years.

They call it "Brothers Keeper."

It would take $80,000 to $90,000 to build one today, he said.

Morris said he was raised on a farm and it was a natural hobby for him and his brothers.

They enjoy the company and the competition and the "nice rush when you're driving."

Jay Bell, a Daviess County Lions Club member, was watching the east gate Friday night. He grew up about 1 1/2 miles away "as the crow flies."

"I remember once when I didn't come to the tractor pull, I could still hear it from the patio," Bell said.

The truck and tractor pulls remain popular because residents in the Owensboro region enjoy another motor sport, he said. "They enjoy the loud noise and they're fascinated by the raw horse power."

Joy Campbell, 691-7299, jcampbell@messenger-inquirer.com

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