A LITTLE STORY

[WH252-H 4]

A guy at work (Steve) has a ztr and the engine seized up. The word has gotten around that I enjoy working on tractors, mowers, etc.. I have way to much on my plate now but he ask and I finally caved and agreed to install a new motor. While at Steve's house working on the ztr his elderly (80's) neighbor walked over and mentioned his tractor was having troubles and the shop was so backed up it would take 3 weeks for them to pick it up. He was mowing some tall grass and the motor bogged down blew some smoke and died. Now it's hard to start. I was listening to their conversation but I was laying under the ztr working. I had my hands full and was in a hurry so I didn't get to involved. After all the neighbor was talking to Steve not me. I just kept thinking I have to be home by 4.

To shorten the story up a bit. The ztr works great and eventually I could see the 4 o'clock deadline was a lost cause. I asked Steve if he wanted me to look at the neighbors tractor and give him some idea of what he could expect from the shop. Steve looks out for him and mows most of his lawn for him and makes sure he doesn't get taken advantage of in situations like this.

To this point the brand of tractor had not been mentioned and I had expected it to be an MTD brand from the box stores. We walk over and open the shed door and WHAM! I apologize, I was so excited I missed many details. The first thing I saw was the words "WHEEL HORSE" in some cool lettering that I haven't seen before. I asked him to back it out of the very small shed. As it cam out it was like pulling a picture of playmate of the year out of an envelope very slowly. I saw the cool tires on cool polished aluminum rims and more cool graphics, one pedal hydro and it was clean. When he backed it all the way out my jaw hit the ground. I apologize again! A 20XX Indianapolis 500 special addition lawn tractor. He had won it in a raffle. The year of the race that I can't remember because I was busy trying to keep grass out of my teeth while my jaw was dragging on the ground. It is sharp. Now, I know it's really a toro and it's a lawn tractor but it still had bling and I imagine its rare. I have not seen any brand of tractor as a 500 special edition. It excited me enough to tell him, if the shop tries to gouge you give me a call I'll buy it or repair it for you. Sorry! I didn't have my phone to take a picture!

I tested it for a few minutes and seemed fine until I started mowing in some thick grass and here came the smoke! I'm thinking scored cylinder or bad rings. Any guesses?

Now for you buffs out there, What year did Toro produce these and how rare are they?

I've been told by two different old-timers, back in the day, when the Indy cars engine's were shut down the cars would be pulled around with garden tractors. Out to the track or back around the garage area. The different manufactures would sponsor cars and pull them. Any truth to this??

[1maidenfan 202]

Can't answer many questions you have but thier is a post/thread on here about wheel horse tractors and the indy 500 I believe and I am sure some one better at navigating this site will post a link to it so you can check it out.

Sure does sound like a cool tractor.

Any chance you get to take a pic it sure would be nice to see this machine.

[WH252-H 4]

Well I know there was an early edition late 60's or early 70's but I haven't heard of any since then.

[sorekiwi 761]

I was working on Indycars in the early 2000's, the last time I remember us having tractors at the Speedway was 2000 or maybe 2001. They were Toro's.

Each team was loaned a tractor for the month. I dont remember anyone actually using them to tow the cars with (everyone had purposebuilt "tugs" with all the necessary equipment on them for that) except for Raceday when we did tow the car out to the pitlane with it.

At the end of the month the tractors were taken away again, they were available to be purchased if anyone wanted one, I dont remember the price but it didnt seem like a great deal to me.

I also remember in 2002 at the final race in Texas, Toro had some representation. We ended up bringing home a Toro tractor from there, It was a prize but I dont know if it was for winning the race (which we did) or for winning the Championship (which we also did that weekend). One of the guys on the team ended up with that one.