Farm Progress is part of Informa PLC’s Informa marketing department
This website is operated by one or more companies owned by Informa PLC, and all copyrights belong to them. The registered office of Informa PLC is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
View all markets and offers »
View all farm businesses »
One day each year, it becomes legal to drive an antique tractor on the 5-mile suspension bridge that connects the lower and lower peninsulas in Michigan. And, every year, tractors keep coming-not just from Michigan.
Love your antique tractor and looking for a new adventure? Many people in Michigan know Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing, but its popularity is exploding, attracting drivers and spectators from all over the country and Canada.
To this end, Bob Baumglas welcomes it, but please register as soon as possible because only the first 1,500 tractors that are at least 40 years old (meeting all requirements) will be allowed to use. Baumgras, the owner of Owosso Tractor Parts, Michigan, created the event and has been organizing it since the first crossing of 614 tractors in 2008.
The 14th annual event is usually held on Friday morning, and this Saturday will start at 9 a.m. on September 11th. The parade usually lasts more than three hours. Participants can arrive from Wednesday to Friday and place their tractors in the designated parking area in the south of the bridge.
One year, six tractors were towed from Arizona, and another five were towed from Pennsylvania. A group of Wisconsin people drove their tractors through their state and crossed 400 miles across the UP Bridge.
The drivers came from Canada and Ohio, Connecticut, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, etc. "One year, we owned an entire club from New York," Baumglass said. "We have participants from Texas and California to Minnesota and Florida. I want to say that maybe half of the states have representatives."
Couples have used this occasion twice to celebrate their marriage. "A couple got married and drove over with the bride in a wedding dress," he said.
When crossing the bridge for the last time in 2019 (which was cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020), Stanley Nove, then 90, of Mallet, Michigan, drove his first tractor across the bridge—a Farmall F-20 in 1936. His family used the weekend as his birthday party, attracting relatives from six other states to the celebration.
The attraction to antique tractors is far deeper than bolts and belts. From memories with grandpa to stories of death, decay, resurrection and restoration, owners of antique tractors are fascinated by the history of these small to powerful iron horses.
Car owners and drivers are very willing to share these stories. After passing through the Mighty Mac, the tractor will be displayed at the Bear Arena in St. Ignace, Michigan. For those in need, the event will continue with the tractor game on Saturday afternoon and last until Sunday, when various gifts and travel drawings will be held and the event will end through a parade in St. Ignace.
There are many tires available for tractors of various colors-green, red, blue, white, yellow, and even pink. Rust is also considered a color. These old horses have a history. Sometimes there is a long lineage, sometimes not.
Nonetheless, it is a sense of pride to own and drive a tractor to cultivate and support industries that provide a livelihood for the United States.
This year’s transit coincides with the commemoration of the 20th 9-11 attack on our country and Patriots’ Day. The American flag was lowered in half and a national silence was observed at 8:46 am-which means when the first plane will be The takeoff hit one of the twin towers.
There are always too many American flags flying on these tractors. I believe there will be a sea of red, white and blue this year.
For such incidents, of course there are rules. First and for registration, the participant must belong to the participating tractor club, and for liability reasons, the club must have insurance.
"This is also a great help to the organization. We will cross-check to make sure they are reputable club members," Baumglas said. The deadline for club registration is May 15th, but if you still want to participate and are not a club member, don't despair. "We can arrange for them to join one of the registered clubs," Baumglass added.
The event is only open to people 18 years and older. As I have been covering the event for years, I have noticed that the interest and participation of young people has soared. Some people drive through, some people sit in approved partner seats, which are allowed for every tractor. The registration deadline for participants is August 15. If you are a newcomer and wish to have a partner seat, you must register before July 15 to allow time for inspections.
"Safety always comes first, and we take it very seriously," Baumglass said. "We have a lot of volunteers to help unload and load tractors. And, on our website, we have information to help participants check their tractors."
Two volunteers who have been helping in this field for many years-Ryan Martin and Ron Koch from the Greasy Fingers Tractor Club in Grand Rapids-are this year's Grand Marshal.
Except for two years, I have been reporting on this incident-I missed the first one because I didn't know it, and another year, the family incident clashed. They even made me an honorary marshal in one year. This is a year most people will not forget, because the downpour that morning triggered the cancellation of the driver's meeting.
The driver won't have it. As a fellow rider on the tractor, the rain makes my Cheshire Cat smile all the way. No matter how exciting it rains, it finally begins to relax when others pass by. I like to listen to stories, traditions and history. I like to walk all the way through old tractors and take photos all the way. If you decide to go, find me. ...I really want to tell your story.
"A lot of people treat this event as a holiday, family gathering or anniversary, or just to have fun," Baumglass said. "For whatever reason, we invite them to come."
For more rules and to decide whether this is right for you, please visit mackinacbridgecrossing.com/2021registration.
More information about text format