Who we are

We are a group of tractor enthusiasts endeavouring to raise money for Cancer Kids 2010.

It was 12 months ago a committee was formed for the South Island Tractor Trek for Cancer Kids 2010 with the hope they would get at least 20 tractors to join the trek for this worthwhile cause. The committee have spent countless hours working closely with Transit NZ, local councils, DOC, private landowners and Google Earth to get to this stage.

Today entries are now closed with a total of 50 enthusiasts from all over New Zealand eager to travel some of the South Islands spectacular back country roads, travelling around 2500 kilometres at 25 kms an hour and over 100 hours sitting on a tractor.

There are five keen North Islanders signed up including two women, with three people bringing their own tractors. Of the nine women on the trip, three will be driving their own tractors, one will be with her husband in a 1923 Dennis truck, one on a two seater tractor with her husband and the others are accompanying with support vehicles.

Most participants are starting and finishing at Bluff but a small number are joining the group from the Canterbury region to travel the northern part of the trek.

The trek will start early on February 22nd and arrive back at Bluff on Tuesday 16th March. The itinerary is aimed at keeping tractors off the main roads where possible so includes Lake Onslow, Danseys Pass, Hakataramea Pass, Lees Valley, Hamner Springs, Molesworth Station, and Taylor Pass to arrive at Blenheim late afternoon. After one free day at Blenheim for laundromat duties, restocking of groceries and perhaps tractor repairs the group moves on to Picton for lunch via the Coastal route. It is on this portion of the trek where the pilot/support vehicles will be in radio contact with the logging trucks that use this piece of interesting road. After overnighting at Havelock, they move onto Wakefield where the Pigeon Valley Steam Museum have organised a �boys day out� visiting like- minded enthusiasts for some tyre kicking. (The girls may partake of some wine tasting!) From here they travel through St Arnaud to Murchison and from Greymouth it is down the West Coast to Cromwell, through the Nevis Valley to Garston, Te Anau, Tuatapere and back to Bluff via the Southern Scenic Route.

Each participant is funding their own trip and all monies raised goes directly to the Child Cancer Foundation. They are each expected to find sponsors and as this covers both North and South Islands, products donated will be sold on Trade Me where possible. Southern Institute of Technology are donating their expertise and setting up a web page linked with the Child Cancer Foundation and donations can be made directly through this to the South Island Tractor Trek bank account. All tractors need to be up to WOF standard, carry a fire extinguisher and have at least third party insurance.

Everyone must be self contained as in some places they will be using DOC camps, rugby clubs and vintage clubs for overnight stops. As these are all Classic tractors/vehicles being used there will be the inevitable breakdown, so the list of �extras� is quite extensive and includes tyres, jacks, tools, portable welder (kindly lent by Winton Engineering), hoses, towing strops etc�..the list of maybe�s goes on. Maurice Short, the convenor of the trek, says he will work through the night to get a tractor back on the road again if necessary, however anything that is beyond help will have to be parked up.

If the last tractor trek undertaken by some of these participants is anything to go by the Happy Hour will go long into the night, stories will be told of the days mechanical, humerous, interesting and embarrassing moments, lasting friendships will be forged and ideas for the next trek emerging!