Vintage Rally tractors to pull visitors to Ballan

ENGINEERING buffs who like their machinery big and noisy can have a grand day out at Ballan’s Great Vintage Rally on Sunday 16 February.

Jason Palmer from Ballan District Vintage Machinery and Vehicle Club, which is running the event, said vintage machinery is diverse.

“It virtually covers anything old, like old industrial or farm machinery, tractors obviously, and all the associated bits and pieces,” he said.

He said attractions on the day will include various displays, vintage and classic cars, sheep shearing using vintage shearing machines, and the famous tractor pull.

“We have a little sled set up, and we hook the tractor onto the front of the sled,” Mr Palmer said.

“They move their way up the track, and as the sled gets up the track, it gets harder and harder to pull.

“The challenge is to get as far as you can.”

The club’s Ronaldson Tippett Museum, which is thought to hold the world’s biggest collection of items from the former Ballarat steam engine and agricultural machinery manufacturer, will also be open.

“They closed back in the early 70s,” Mr Palmer said. “Because they were made in Ballarat, we’re not far from where the machines were built originally and some of them have been collected up over the years.”

He said the event will be enjoyed by anyone keen to find out about how things were done in the past.

“Come and see how your grandparents or your great-grandparents may have done things back in their day,” he said.

Ballan’s Great Vintage Rally takes place on Sunday 16 February from 9am to 4pm at Ballan Racecourse Reserve.

Further information can be found at welcometomoorabool.com.