Farmers take on ‘mad’ 900-mile route with vintage tractors

Three farmers are set to journey from John O’Groats to Land’s End on a trio of less-than-trusty steeds.

Lancashire natives Harry Shaw and Liam Cooper, along with Cumbrian James Rawsthorn, will be tackling the famous 900-mile route in the saddle of their “stupidly old” 1960s and 70s-built tractors.

They hope to raise money for the North West Air Ambulance Charity in memory of Harry’s dad, Jason, who died last year after having a heart attack while driving.

See also: Cumbrian contractor cuts costs with revamped retro tractors

In honour, Harry will be aboard his late father’s 1973 Massey Ferguson 165, which has been in the family since the mid-70s and still runs the farm’s straw chopper every day.

The second veteran on the start line is James’s Massey 135 (1974), which he bought off a contracting customer two years ago.

It has barely seen a spanner since, though he does plan to fit MF 148 wheels and fresh bearings to keep up with Harry’s blistering pace.

Liam, meanwhile, will be enduring the limited luxury of his 1962 Fordson Dexter, which recently underwent a full rebuild from engine to half-shaft bearings.

However, it has barely moved for almost a decade, so whether he is rewarded with improved reliability remains to be seen.

Seven-day target

The trip will start on 4 May and take in stops at various tractor dealerships, auction marts and air ambulance bases, as well as “probably quite a few unintended breaks along the way”.

They have set themselves an ambitious target of completing the route in a week, which will allow Harry and James, both of whom are self-employed, to get home in time to chop grass.

To do so, they’ll have to cover 150 miles each day – a distance Harry estimates will take about 10 hours.

“We’re confident the tractors will make it,” he says. “Though I’m not sure what state we’ll be in: a bad back is guaranteed, and I might well be deaf by the end.”

The convoy will be followed by a support vehicle loaded with spanners, fuel filters, electric fittings and a spare front wheel that will fit any of the tractors, and they hope to find farm-based B&Bs along the way to rest up.

They will be documenting their Miles for Money adventure on Facebook, and donations can be made through the Just Giving page.

All contributions will support the charity’s three helicopters and four rapid response vehicles, which operate 365 days a year carrying doctors and paramedics to provide pre-hospital care to people across the North West.