University of Saskatchewan students had their best showing ever at the quarter scale tractor student design competition in Peoria, Illinois June 3-6.The Sled Dogs team placed fourth in a field of more than 20 competitors at this year’s event, sponsored by the American Society of Agriculture & Biological Engineers.Of the six categories, the Sled Dogs won awards for best manufacturability, best appearance, best craftsmanship and best for safety consideration.”They did a wonderful job,” said faculty adviser Terry Fonstad.”What they decided to do back in September was stay with the three engines and prove this thing we designed last year will work, and it did. It pulled like a bugger. It performed better than every other tractor down there with three engines,” he said.Stacy Braun, who graduates this year, said it was significant victory.”We had no problems out there at all. Everything went really good.”New team captain Tyrone Keep said he is analyzing how to improve for next year’s competition. “We did some quick numbers. Last year we were getting eight horsepower to the ground and this year we had 23. That was a huge increase just by changing our CVT (continuously variable transmission).”Competition judges are representatives of major North American agricultural machinery manufacturers.
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