Two members of tractor enthusiast club Blue Force have begun a 5,000-mile Coastline Tractor Challenge, not previously attempted on tractors. Marking 100 years of blue tractor production, Blue Force chairman Phil Gibson and club treasurer Peter Plehov will stop at several points on route including Bournemouth, Galway and Edinburgh.
The pair recently set off from New Holland’s Basildon factory in two new T6 tractors supplied by the manufacturer. Each tractor is towing a shepherd’s hut, built by Phil and Peter – one hut for sleeping accommodation and the other for fuel, oil and supplies. Driving a route around the coast of mainland UK & Ireland, the 51-day journey will culminate at Tractor Fest on June 10 and 11, at Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire.
The trip is almost entirely funded by donations that have come from club members and sponsors. New Holland dealer Robertsons of Orkney have funded the pair’s ferry crossings to the Orkney Islands to guarantee the islands’ blue tractor fans can be part of the celebrations. Other New Holland dealers along the 5,000-mile route are hosting events to celebrate 100 years of blue tractors and support Phil and Peter on their journey.
The Coastline Challenge is raising funds for two charities, Steps Conductive Education Centre in Loughborough, and Cancer Research UK. The two men aim to raise £25,000 by the end of 2017. The Blue Force Tractor Club Twitter and Facebook feeds will provide regular progress updates, and a list of locations, and details of how you can donate to the two charities, can be found on the club’s website www.blueforce.uk.com
