Attached are a variety of pictures. First, there are a few of our hauler which we call "Sunset Express". Mark thought of that name from all the fall nights as a boy, watching the XT pull home two loaded gravity boxes of Navy beans followed by the Gleaner combine. On the truck is the logo that Mark designed during a college class about 4 years ago. This summer he finally got it put to vinyl and it is now on the side of our truck. We haven't really come up with a name, but we just call him "AC-Man". There are also three pictures of each of our two tractors: 1 before photo, 1 present close-up, and 1 action shot. I wrote our profile with both tractors together as a history of our pulling.

Dekoski Pulling Team profile / history

Started pulling in 1980 because I got tired of the all "green" show and pulled 12,000 and 13,000 lbs. farm classes with the farm's 190 XT. Being undersized in all pulls, it was tough to compete but I was young and just happy to be there at that point. I continued pulling 2-3 times a year through the 80's and then just pulled 9000lbs. farm class in the 90's.

Everyone told us that if we wanted to pull we should buy a D21 and leave the XT at home. After buying a 21 in 1997, we just couldn't bring ourselves to do that. My oldest son Mark was my right-hand man and wanted to drive so he continued. In 2000, the T.T.P.A. sanctioned an 8500lbs. "hot-stock" class that it has been in ever since. With a 407c.i. / 3250rpm limit it is still the under-dog and is hard to compete. We call the XT "Xcessive Tinkering", because of all the fine-tuning that we have to do to stay close to the competition (806,8000,4010, 970). Right now the XT is set up with 329c.i. with 4030 pistons, stock sleeves milled bigger, a Bernie Platz cam, H2 Holset turbo, 10% gear up input shaft, and custom 2 & 3 gears by Urmson. The class has recently changed to 8000 lbs. and they allow us to run 3400rpm to help us keep up with the big cubes.

The D21 Super Farm was originally set up as a stock 426c.i., with a Switzer 3x3 and P-pump. Although this set-up was affordable, it was sometimes embarrassing. We now have a 531c.i. with 6030 pistons, ductile sleeves (L.A. Sleeves), Hypermax 3x3 turbo, Bernie Platz cam, and Mark Gettinger head. We call the 21 "Miss Behavin" after teasing around about 5 different names. One day, the History Channel played a program about paintings on the side of WWII B-17's and one was “Miss Behaving”. Also, my mom would always yell at me to “NOT misbehave” or “behave myself” with the motorized vehicles so it was perfect.

We pull AC's because we have always run them. Grandpa bought the first WD-45 off the railcar, the only 6-cylinder D-17 sold here, the last 190XT (the one we pull), first 7030 sold, only 7580 sold, we run 2 Gleaner G's in beans, last 6060 sold, Gleaner R-72 wheat/corn, and the only 9690 sold.

Our hometown is Ruth, MI. We pull with the Thumb Tractor Pulling Association (T.T.P.A.) based in the "thumb" of Michigan. The website is: http://www.ttpa.org/

We would like to thank Ken Dekoski, co-owner (with Terry) of Dekoski Farms, for the endless hours and miles spend chasing down parts for the toys. Also, the whole Dekoski family for their support and extra hours they sometimes spend on the farm so we can pull. They are all a big help!

Terry (Dad) is the main driver of the Miss Behavin D21 and Mark (older son) had a few runs on it for the first time this past year.

Mark is the main driver of the Xcessive Tinkering 190 XT and Eric (younger son) has pulled numerous times over the past two seasons.

Terry Dekoski, Ruth