Kawartha Downs Hosting 'The Battle of Quebec VS. Ontario' Truck and Tractor Pull On Labour Day Weekend

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‘The Battle of Quebec VS. Ontario’ truck and tractor pull is hitting Kawartha Downs this Labour Day weekend in a two-day event for Saturday and Sunday.

Photo courtesy of Kawartha Downs.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with pulls beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Pullers can register at 4 p.m. on the day of the competition or can call Rod Cochrane at 905-243-1124.

The tractor pull marks the end of the summer events season for Kawartha Downs, but plans are already in the works for this fall and winter according to said Summer Nickerson-Hagen, Kawartha Downs marketing director.

“Management is already planning for some smaller events in the fall and winter,” she said. “And of course, planning the 2024 season that we are already so excited for. Stay tuned for some big announcements this fall/winter.”

Harness racing is still scheduled for Friday and Saturday night races resume on Sept. 9 through Sept. 23.

Admission to the pulls is $20 for general admission, $10 for children (ages two-11), and a newly-added weekend pass for all ages is $35. Tickets are available online via kawarthadowns.com/events or at the gate. Guests can still expect free parking onsite, bleacher seating, beer tents, and food trucks.

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Truck & Tractor Pull Returns to Kawartha Downs With Five Scheduled Dates

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The Truck & Tractor Pull is returning to Kawartha Downs for four dates on July 22, 23, Aug. 4, Sept. 2 and 3, announced on Friday afternoon.

File Photo.

The event is a collaboration with the Ontario Truck and Tractor Pulling Association. The third tractor pull is part of the Aug. 4 Kawartha County Fair and the final two pulls are on labour day weekend.

The tractor pull is a continuation of last year with their new track built last summer. Food trucks and a beer tent are some of the available amenities for spectators. The July 22 pull is 6 p.m. with gates open at 5 p.m. The July 23 start time is 1 p.m. with gates open at noon. Day-of registration for tractor pullers is two hours prior to the start time on both days. A variety of classes will be offered to competitors.

“This is one of our favourite events to host,” said Summer Nickerson-Hagen, Kawartha Downs marketing director. “It’s incredible to see these trucks and tractors pushed to their limit and the pullers certainly are competitive. The vibes are so good and these tractor pull events just give you that middle-of-summertime feeling.”

All registrations and inquiries for Kawartha Downs pulls are to be directed to Rod Cochrane who can be reached by phone at 905-243-1124.

Tickets are available online and at the gate on the day of the event. They can be purchased in person at Kawartha Downs in advance.

In addition to the tractor pulls, Kawartha Downs is hosting their very first Kawartha County Fair on Aug. 4, 5, and 6 during the Civic Long Weekend. Visitors will be given the classic midway experience from Campbell Amusements, main events; a tractor pull on Aug. 4, a demolition derby on Aug. 5 and Serena Ryder concert on Aug. 6. There are fireworks displays at dusk every night of the fair. Tickets are available on the Kawartha Downs website and at the gate.

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Kawartha Downs Continues Revving Its 50th Anniversary With Tractor Pull and Demolition Derby

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The festivities continue for Kawartha Downs’s 50th anniversary with a tractor pull and demolition during the Aug. 5/6 weekend.

Fair atop his “Executioner” to be one of the many tractors featured at the pulls. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The tractor pull is held on Aug. 5 that boasts a new asphalt track, new bleachers — with a seating capacity of around 2,500 people — and pullers hailing from all over the province and Quebec.

"We've got the best clay track in Ontario," said Dan Fair, Executioner Sled Team operator, "This track is every bit as anything that they run.”

The garden tractor pull starts at 4 p.m. and the truck and tractor pull at 7 p.m. Several antique tractors will be on display throughout the day.

Other attractions include a lamb and rabbit show, live music from a cover band to be announced, vendors and food trucks from Sammy’s Roadhouse & Grill from Cavan-Monaghan. Spectators can access the pit area and get autographs signed from the drivers.

Drivers John Louws (left) and Barb Cochrane (right) are two featured drivers for the Aug. 5/6 weekend. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Aug. 6 features a demolition derby on an asphalt track instead of a traditional mud track. The former allows for a faster-paced derby according to Jim Grant of Ontario Demolition Derby Limited.

“The cars cannot get stuck,” he said. “The cars can tear out a rear axle and still keep on going. They do not get bogged down in the mud, they slip and slide around, they can have four flat tires and keep going so they're always in the action until the car dies.”

Grant believes that Kawartha Downs is the perfect venue to host the event considering the success of past demolition derbies in Peterborough.

"Peterborough used to do 4,000 people for theirs,” said Grant. "We would fill the grandstands at Lakefield and Port Hope had a crazy amount of people. People love demo derby so to come and see it on pavement is awesome.”

There is a total of $10,000 in prize money for the demolition drivers for each respective derby. Categories include figure-8, mini, midsize, junk run, full-sized cards and full-sized trucks.

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