Groveland Twp.-Jim Bradford and Mark Austin claim their blood runs ‘green.?
On Saturday the area pair will represent their devotion to ‘John Deere green? as members of the local Yesteryear Farm Tractor Club, joining more than 200 other tractor clubs from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana for the first annual Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing.
The rules of the road include the tractors must travel at least 10 m.p.h. and be capable of traveling the 5-mile bridge width. The antique tractors must be built before 1962 and have no steel wheels on the bridge. At noon the Mackinac Bridge Authority will close one northbound lane and the old tractors will travel north to St. Ignace.
Yesteryear Farm Tractor Club president and township resident Austin said the five-year-old organization includes about 60 members.
‘We visited other area tractor clubs, but wanted a club that was more casual,? said Austin. ‘So we formed our own men-only club that gets together once a month for a potluck.?
Austin said the club gathers for a variety of events including parades, plow days and shows.
Event coordinator Jim Bradford owns a 1947 John Deere Style D tractor which features a two-cylinder, 30.8 h.p. engine that can run on either gasoline or diesel. The tractor weighs in at 6,163 pounds and was designed to pull a three- or four- bottom plow.
‘The tractor is just a little too slow to make the crossing,? said Bradford. ‘Still, it’s a great old tractor.?