Action-packed Bolton Truck and Tractor pull draws huge crowds

June 30, 2022 · 0 Comments

By Zachary Roman

If you like the sound of engines, then you would have loved the symphony playing at the Albion-Bolton Fairgrounds last Friday night.

The Bolton Truck and Tractor Pull ran for the 44th time that evening, June 24, and people traveled from all around to compete and spectate. The grandstands lining the track were full of fans young and old, and many more fans occupied the standing room.

There were food trucks and local food vendors, and a beer garden that got lots of business too.

Rob Boyes was one of the competitors at the pull. He grew up just outside of Caledon East and said he’s been pulling tractors since he was just a kid. Most pullers start out pulling modified garden tractors, and Boyes and his family actually ran the Ontario Truck and Tractor Pull Association’s (OTTPA) garden tractor division for a while.

Now, Boyes lives in Arthur and is the OTTPA’s representative for the Pro Street Diesel 4X4 class.

On June 24 however, he was competing in the 2.6 Super Street Diesel class.

It was a closely-contested class, and Boyes took home second place with a pull of 278.10 feet in his vehicle “with a name that wouldn’t be published”.

The first place pull, from Brandon Mauro in the truck “Max’d Out” was a short distance further at 278.16 feet.

“It was good, really good. It’s a good time always in Bolton… always a good show at the Bolton Fairgrounds, lots of people there and lots of vehicles,” said Boyes. “The time we get to run down the track, that 20 or 30 seconds, whatever it takes, that’s why we’re all there. That’s why we do it.”

Tractor pulling runs in the Boyes family. Boyes said his brother and dad were also at the Bolton Truck and Tractor Pull competing, in the Hot Stock 4×4 Truck and 9,000 Pound Pro Stock Tractor classes respectively.

Rod Cochrane was competing in the Bolton pull in a class that has to be seen to be believed, the Multi-Engine Modified Tractor class. He’s a veteran of the Bolton Truck and Tractor Pull, and has been coming to it “since 1991 or 2”. Cochrane came in second place in his class.

Cochrane and his wife Barb also entered two machines into the Super Modified 2 Wheel Drive Trucks class, of which Barb is the OTTPA representative for. They had a successful night and took home first and second.

Cochrane actually builds all of his own engines and chassis, and said it’s crazy the amount of man hours that goes into the sport of tractor pulling. In the summer, he spends every night of the week working on his vehicles.

Prior to the 44th Annual Bolton Truck and Tractor Pull, the Citizen incorrectly published that tickets to the event for adults were $20. Tickets for adults were $20 if bought in advance online, and $25 at the event gate. The Citizen apologizes for this error.