General Rules

This is a family oriented organization, operated by Christians, and we will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rom 1:16  There will be ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED!  Any person involved with a pulling event in any capacity (driver's or pit crew), consuming alcohol or drugs before, during or on the grounds after an event will be disqualified. Please help us promote a clean environment.

Texas Minirod Tractor Pullers Association is a privately owned organization.

In order to help us cover insurance and other costs, pulling with TMTPA requires an annual membership. There is a $25 fee for the first membership which includes one tractor.  For additional tractors or members participating within the same family,  the fee will be $10 per tractor and $10 per member.

General
1. Rule book will be for one year, subject to changes as deemed necessary by TMTPA
   officials.
2. If qualified, tractor may pull in two classes at a points event, however may compete for  
   added prize money in one class only.  Added money class must be determined at sign in.
3. Points pulls require a $15 hook fee per day  for each class a tractor pulls in.
    $10 payback as prize money. 
4. Time permitting, most events will be two hook pulls.  (See class rules for special
    limitations on stock classes.)
4. The TMTPA officials will preside over any meetings, safety decisions, protests, and all 
    other TMTPA business and decisions.
5. All event participants are expected to help with the operation of the pull, i.e. setup,
    teardown, flag man, sled operator, hooking, unhooking, track grading, layout,
    announcing and any other jobs that need to be done.  If TMTPA officials cannot get the
    needed help from pull participants and crew, hook fees will have  to be increased to
    cover help expenses.
6. Tractors must be signed in 1 hour before pull starts.  If competitor is going to be late
   they may phone in the tractors they are going to be pulling, provided these tractors
   have a current TMTPA inspection.  If tractor is not signed in 30 min. before pull time, last
   pulling position will be automatically assigned.
7.  Drivers meeting before pulls start.
8. Tractors must weigh in prior to pulling.
9. Pulling positions will be determined by drawing.
10. Any violation or failure to comply with these or any other TMTPA rules can result in
     immediate disqualification as determined by TMTPA officials.
11. Verbal directives by TMTPA officials will supersede written instructions.

Driver
1. DRIVERS must sign a liability waiver. Drivers under 18 years old must have a
   parent or legal guardian sign and be responsible for them.
2. Driver must be seated and remain in control with at least one hand on the steering wheel.
3. Driver must watch the flag man.
4. No unsafe acts will be permitted on the grounds or on the track. i.e. no hot rodding, riders
   on tractor, etc.
5. Each puller will have two tries to move the sled in the 75-foot distance.
6. Each puller will have three minutes to get hooked to the sled after it returns to the starting
   line. If a puller has a mechanical problem they may drop to last position.
7. The first puller in each class has the option of taking the first hook or dropping to 3rd or 
   last position.
8. Drivers pulling first in a class are responsible for informing flag man if accepting or
   declining pull before leaving sled.  If driver leaves sled without informing flag man,  this will
   be the accepted pull.
9. Any driver must be old enough to handle the tractor. To be determined by TMTPA
    officials. Minimum age 8 years old.
10. D.O. T. approved helmet with full face shield is required.
11. Long pants and shoes are required. No open toe shoes.
12. Drivers must properly wear fire suits which are labeled Fire Resistant or Fire Retardant
     on Original Manufacturers label. Stock and Sportsman Stock exempt.

Flag Man
1. The flagman has complete control of the pull in progress.
2. The flagman has the right to stop a pull anytime they feel an unsafe act or condition exists.
3. A green flag signals that the puller may start and that the pull is in progress, a red flag
   signals that the pull is over.
4. The flag man is responsible for informing the scoring officials if the first driver in each
    class accepts of declines their pull.
5. The flag man is responsible for informing driver if they are out of bounds.
6. The flag man must be at least 18 years old and will also sign a liability waiver.
7. The flag man will not be changed during the running of a class unless circumstances
    require a change as determined by TMTPA officials.
8. The flag man's decision is final.

Sled
1. Sled operator has the right to stop the pull anytime they feel an unsafe act or condition
   exists.
2. Tractors may be pushed or driven back to the sled but must be in neutral while being
    hooked or unhooked.   All pulls must start  with a tight chain.
3. If the first one or two tractors in a class have full pulls, the sled may be reset as
   determined by TMTPA officials. Class will be restarted as decided by those participating
   in the class.
4. The sled may be positioned anywhere on the starting line.
5. Sled operator will not be changed during the pulling of a class.

Tractor
1. Class number must be displayed on front of tractor and is subject to availability.
2. Out of bounds is determined by tractor tire touching or crossing the intended boundary
    line, and will be disqualified from that pull attempt. Sled is permitted to cross track
    boundary line. There is no out of bounds after the full pull line.
3. Tractors cannot be pulled until they have passed a safety/technical inspection.  Tractors
    which have not been previously inspected for the year must arrive no later than 2 hours
    before the event  begins. 
4. Throttle must return to idle when released.
5. Tractors will have rear mounted accessible kill switch, which disconnects all power          
    to engine's ignition and fuel system. If tractor stops due to kill switch falling out, pull
    attempt will be measured at that point. A 1/8" maximum tie strap may be used to
    retain switch. Tie strap must be broken for a repull as determined by TMTPA officials.
6. Diesel trucks/tractors which run propane injection must have systems which are deemed 
   safe by the directors.  Systems will require the following:
A.  Must have an electric solenoid valve in the LPG line, which will allow LPG to begin
            flowing when the turbo has built a minimum of 10 lbs of boost in the intake.                          B.  Solenoid valve must be electrically disarmed when the ignition switch is off, and 
             when the kill switch is disconnected.
C. LPG approved fittings only on all LPG connections.
D. LPG approved hoses are the only fuel lines allowed..
7. Tip over bars must support the competition weight of the tractor and may be constructed
    with wheels or skid pads. Wheels will be at least 4" in diameter and 1"  wide and have no
    plastic centers. Skid pads are to be at least 2" wide and 3" long at point of contact and
    be constructed of at least 1/8" steel.  Bottom of skid pad or wheel max 5" off ground.
8. Wheelie bars with pads must have minumum 4"  vertical bumper bars which are the rear
    most point.  Bumper bars not required with wheelie wheels.
9. Bumper bars or rear of wheels must not extend more than 10" behind the rear tire vertical     plane. Center of skid pad or wheel must be a minimum 5" behind the rear tire vertical
   plane.
10. Tractors will have fenders covering at least 1/4 of the width of the tire, and must be
   designed to protect the driver from contacting the tire.
11. Tractors will have a fire extinguisher with a gauge and be at least 1-1/2 pound dry
   chemical or equivalent and be within easy reach of the driver.
12. Seats may not extend behind the rear tire vertical plane, and must have a 3" minimum
      backrest.
13. Tractors must have steering and brakes.
14. Rear wheel drive only.
15.  No Classes for ATVs or ATV type vehicles.


Click THIS PAGE for diagrams of Wheelie Bar and Hitch requirements.

Hitch
1. Tractor hitch will not exceed 13" in height and must be rigid in all directions.
2. The hitch must extend at least 6" from the center of the axle to the hook point.
3.  Hitch hole will not be any smaller than 1-3/4"  and not more than 2-1/2" in diameter.
4. Hitch hole must have at least 1/2" of material all the way around it and will be a
   minimum 3/8" thick on all classes except 1900 Lb. Modified and 2WD Modified Truck.
5. 1900 Lb. Modified must use minimum 5/8" thick material, see 2WD Truck Rules for truck
   requirements.
6. Rear most part of hitch must not extend behind rear plane of the tire.

Engine
1.  Exposed drive shafts, belts, chains and clutches will be shielded as follows: Top 180
    degrees with minimum 1/8" steel or 3/16" aluminum unless class rules state differently. 
    Stock classes may run stock safety shields.  Frame rails may be considered  shielding if
    they are made from material of the required thickness.
2. Starter pulleys on classes that exceed 4000 rpm must be billet and have bolt and washer
    in mounting shaft end. Shielding is not required.
3. Fuel tanks will have a visable manual shutoff valve on the low pressure side of the
    pump.
4. Engines must have deflection shields on both sides of the block, which are a minimum
   of .060" steel or aluminum with the exception of the stock and motorcycle classes.
   Shield will be as long as the block and to the bottom of the cylinder head and not more
   than 4" away from the block or as close as possible. They are not to be bolted to the
   block.
5. Engines that have a vibration damper/harmonic balancer must have a bolt through the
   middle securing it to the crankshaft. It will be shielded 360 degrees with minimum 1/8"
   steel or 3/16" aluminum. Inside diameter of shield shall not exceed 2" over the outside
   diameter of the balancer. Provisions such as tabs,  bars or expanded metal must be used
   to contain balancer inside shield. Billet or SFI approved balancer or dampener does not
   require shielding.
6. Tractors will have vertical upright exhaust pipe(s) a minimum of 12" and plus or minus 10
   degrees from vertical. No tip outs.
7. No nitromethane, nitrous oxide, propane or pressurized fuel systems.
   EXCEPTION:  Diesel engine tractors may run any combination of propane injection,
   methynol/water injection, or nitrous oxide injection as power adders only.
8. Safety official(s) have the right to fail any tractor for any reason deemed to be unsafe.

Weights
1. Weights and brackets must not extend behind the rear tires vertical plane.
2. Wheel weights must not have any protruding threaded rods.
3. If any part of tractor falls to the ground, the pull attempt is disqualified.

Points System and Purse Payout
1. Points will be awarded at all TMTPA pulls which are scheduled and pre-announced as
   points pulls.  TMTPA will further rent their sled and otherwise make appearances which
   may be invitation only, however these events will not be points pulls.
2. Points placing for the day will be determined by the tractors total distance pulled, either   
  single or 2 hook events
3. Points will be awarded for each class as follows:
  1st place.............30
  2nd place............29
  3rd place.............28  etc, etc.
4. Distances tied between 1st, 2nd, or 3rd  will be determined by a pull off,  pull offs may      
   use a floating finsh line.   For ties other than those placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd; points will be
   split between the tractors with the identical distances.      
5. Disqualified pull attempts will be awarded points for position placed.  If a tractor is
   disqualified during a pull off, it will fall to last place in the pull off.
6. Points remain with the tractor.
7. If points are tied at end of season; points champion will be determined by number of first
   place finishes, if still tied, champion will be determined by number of second place
   finishes, etc, etc.
8. No pull points will be dropped from each tractor's points total when determining
     points total at end of year.
9.  If a stock class at an event is required to run as an eliminator class (see class rules for
    stock), the top five will receive 30, 29, 28, 27 and 26 points respectively.  All others will
    receive 25 points for the first hook..
10. $10 of each hook fee plus added monies will be paidback as follows:
     Fees will be paid to pullers for the top 3 places only.
     1st = 50%, 2nd = 35%, 3rd = 15%
      If two tractors in a class.
     1st = 50%, 2nd = 35%
     If one tractor in a class.
     1st = 50%
    Tractor may pull for added prize money in one class only.
11. Winnings may be picked up after all TMTPA equipment is loaded,  otherwise they will             be held till the end of the year and if not picked up will be donated to TMTPA.
12. Tractor must attempt to pull the sled in order to receive points or prize money.
13. Exhibition pulls receive no points or winnings.
   
Protest
1. Engine protests must be written and signed by the protester and presented to TMTPA
   officials along with a $150.00 deposit.
2. After the event is over, if the tractor passes, the deposit will be forfeited. Protest fee will
   then be given to protested tractor owner. If tractor is found to be illegal, all protest
   fees will be refunded to the protestor.
3. If tractor is found to be illegal, all points and prize winnings will be forfeited for that day
   and will be suspended for two consecutive points pulls and all pulls scheduled in between.
4. Only owners or drivers in a class may protest.
5. All protests must be made within 15 minutes after the class has pulled.
6. Upon receipt of a signed, written protest and deposit, TMTPA officials will inform tractor
   owner/driver.
7. After receiving a protest request, tractor will be placed in a designated area.
8. Person designated by tractor Owner/Driver will tear down tractor.
9. Those present during tear down will be Owner/Driver and TMTPA officials.
10. Safety or technical items found to be illegal other than engine violations, will result in
    a warning  and the requirement that the item be brought up to legal status before
    competing again.
11. The decision of the officials is final and calls of judgment are not subject to appeal.   
     Profanity or obscene language or other unruly and unsportsman like conduct will result in
     suspension from future events.

TMTPA OFFICIALS DECISIONS AND DIRECTIVES ARE FINAL AND TMTPA OFFICIALS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRY TO ANY PULLER.

PULLING WITH US IS MORE THAN JUST A DRAG!



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