In 1999 South Africa hosted an event known as the Great 100 Working. Over 100 vintage tractors ploughed their way into the Guinness Book of Records. Since then the record has been broken by Australia, again by South Africa, and more recently by Ireland. Australia, in typically competitive fashion, have taken up the challenge this year and will be holding an event known as Plough & Be Counted at Cootamundra, New South Wales on 11th April. They need to field 2,000 tractors in order to break the World Record.
The team comprising Charles Viljoen, Neels Booyens and Chris Wilson will fly in a few weeks before the event to meet Australian collectors and participants and to help the Aussies break the record. Wilfred Mole, a member of the South African delegation, mentioned that although an event was being considered in South Africa to beat whatever record was established, it might be a bridge too far because the country would reach a stage where there were not enough tractors in the hands of collectors to mount a successful attempt.
www.users.bigpond.com/tractor.record/press_release.html
www.greencollectors.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=42
www.abc.net.au/rural/news/stories/s1084089.htm
However, South Africa is extremely proud of the fact that it all started at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State where the above tractors normally reside.
Tel: +27 (0)11 799 7400
Fax: +27 (0)11 706 0954
Sandstone Estates (Pty) Ltd.
PO Box 1750
Halfway House
1685
