Jun 15, 2026 · 1 hr 14 min · 12 segments
In this episode of *Breaking Barriers*, Gary Bontrager sits down with Hall of Fame tractor puller **Bill Hirt** for a story-filled conversation about the early days of pulling, the evolution of the…
Bill HirtGuestGary BontragerHostWell, you know, a lot of times, though, when you do those things, you spend a lot of time with family.
And that was, we wound up with two turbos on that, stripped it all down, and it pulled the 5,000-pound class.
And I pulled it at Louisville in 75, the spring of 75, and a gentleman stood there alongside of the tractor in the pits.
block man down in maryland and he says uh he's looking for a tractor would this be for sale and i thought might as well so i put a price on it and typical salesman whatever it's for sale i put a price on it and then the guy called me and i said well i swear plan on going to florida in two weeks after that it'll be available so we went to florida pulled a couple different poles down there and delivered it down to maryland And then a friend of mine bought a D21 at an auction over in Indiana.
And he had gotten an engine from Noble Harrison with two turbos on it, come from Alice Chalmers.
And what happens if one of these things blows up, throw parts through the crowd? So they give it the hands-off, so to speak, but there were still some parts showing up once in a while.
Well, you know, a lot of times, though, when you do those things, you spend a lot of time with family.
And that was, we wound up with two turbos on that, stripped it all down, and it pulled the 5,000-pound class.
And I pulled it at Louisville in 75, the spring of 75, and a gentleman stood there alongside of the tractor in the pits.
block man down in maryland and he says uh he's looking for a tractor would this be for sale and i thought might as well so i put a price on it and typical salesman whatever it's for sale i put a price on it and then the guy called me and i said well i swear plan on going to florida in two weeks after that it'll be available so we went to florida pulled a couple different poles down there and delivered it down to maryland And then a friend of mine bought a D21 at an auction over in Indiana.
And he had gotten an engine from Noble Harrison with two turbos on it, come from Alice Chalmers.
And what happens if one of these things blows up, throw parts through the crowd? So they give it the hands-off, so to speak, but there were still some parts showing up once in a while.
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