Tractor Contest
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Some years ago, I embarked on a Road Trip with a two carloads Uni friends around New Zealand. Two of our number resided in the Waikato (Hobbit country), and we thought it prudent to drop them off for the summer holidays.During this time, we passed the kilometers by playing the "Tractor Contest". The game has few rules, as I twittered earlier in the year. They are;
Rule #1: Left side of vehicle claims left side of road. Right side of vehicle claims right side of road.
Rule #2: The distance is defined. i.e From 'here' to Rockhampton. Time is not an appropriate measure.
Rule #3: A stationary tractor on roadside or in paddock is worth 1 point for that side of the car.
Rule #4: A Tractor looks like a tractor not digger nor ride-on mower. It has larger rear wheels & a seat +/- cab.
Rule #5: A tractor for sale or tractor saleyard is worth 2 points. Irrespective of the number of tractors. Saleyard = 2 pts
Rule #6: A tractor at work is worth 10 points.
Rule #7: A tractor traveling on the road's worth 5 points; the direction goes with that side of the car; with or agin flow.
Simple, right? Having not played for some years, Batman and I had an epic contest in NZ. To her credit, she won by a single point. In true Kiwi style, it was a game of two halves, and Tractors were the winner on the day.
Switzerland is an absolute Tractor Contest Paradise. In a single trip from Zurich to Bern, I lost count of the number of tractors at work. There were literally thousands of points up for grabs, despite the relative paucity of tractor saleyards. Play hard, but play fair. Vrooom.
