Tractor Daredevil Achieves World Record

Tractor Daredevil Achieves World Record AG WORLD Ag World 21-5-21 You've never seen stunts like those per-formed by Johann Redl, a tractor-driving daredevil from Austria who was recently pro-filed in "Profi International", a European farm magazine. The 39-year-old's tractor exploits are be-coming legendary. For example, Redl set his first world record in 1991 for driving a Steyr tractor down a 1.8 mile course on its two left wheels, something that earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Two attempts to break his own record failed at an Austrian race track in November 1994. The third time was the charm and Redl guided a tractor 4.6 miles on two wheels, more than doubling his own record. That earned him a revised entry - with photo - in the Guinness book. Since then, he's continued to earn a reputation as one of Europe's most daring stunt drivers. One of his most spectacular stunts took place under a bridge in Austria. Redl used a production model, 58 hp tractor to climb through the air from the ground up to the bridge, 625 ft. overhead. The only modification to the tractor was to attach special pulleys to each wheel to wind up the four ropes the tractor would climb. Dimensions of the pulleys were critical for the successful climb, since diameters had to be evenly matched between front and rear to keep the tractor level during the climb. On October 25, 1995, Redl clipped himself onto a mountaineering safety rope and climbed into the tractor cab. The 1 1/2-in. dia. ropes were attached to the tractor pulleys, Redl shifted into low and the tractor started its ascent - lifting off the ground under its own power. The climb took 20 minutes until the tractor was suspended, spider-like, underneath the bridge. Still, the most dangerous part of the stunt - the descent - was yet to come. It required shifting from forward to reverse with all four brakes completely locked to keep the tractor from sliding down the ropes out of control. After a few tense moments, the tractor slowly began its descent, finally touching down. "I am still alive," were Redl's first words exiting the cab. (Profi International)

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.