Carol Suchy didn’t really know what truck and tractor pulls entailed when she met her husband ten years ago, but this weekend she drove the truck that won secnd place in the Four Wheel Drive Division in the truck and tractor pull at the Freeborn County Fair.

One of her first dates with her husband was a tractor pull, and though her interest initially was just to spend time with the man she would go on to marry, now she said she can’t imagine doing anything else. After she said this. her husband, Bill, looked up from checking the spark plugs on their truck, called &uot;Totally Geared.&uot; &uot;You might say she’s hooked,&uot; he said, using a synonym for pulling.

Of course, they are not alone in their enjoyment of the sport. The grandstand was packed Sunday night with people covering their ears every other minute as trucks and tractors &045; sometimes with over 6,500 horsepower &045; released deafening roars.

Back in the lot where the

pullers parked their trailers, they took part in what many say they love about hooking: working on trucks and socializing with other pullers, family and friends.

Bill said sometimes he wonders why he puts so much work into his truck. &uot;But I get to spend more time with friends and family than most people because of this,&uot; Bill said.

His brother does most of the painting and body work. A cousin does most of the frame work. His wife drives. And Carol’s father even got interested in it and owns a truck, &uot;Totally Hooked.&uot;

Like most people on the circuit, the Suchys make 25-30 shows from about May to September.

That’s what Chuck Knapp is trying to do in his first year competing in the National Puller Association’s competition.

Its something he’s wanted to do after watching truck and tractor pulls for years. It costs the farmer about $70,000 for his 2,200-horsepower,

&uot;Eighty-Eight Acre$,&uot; a name he uses in part because he could buy a large chunk of land with money he’s put down.

Of course comparitively, the trucks and tractors at the tractor pull at the Freeborn County Fair sometimes cost more than $200,000. Knapp admits it’s an expensive hobby. But it’s something he tries to do as much as he can.

But he said most importantly, his family comes to all the events and they get to enjoy the trucks together.

(Contact Tim Sturrock at tim.sturrock @albertleatribune.com or 379-3438.)