By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — As many International Harvester collectors already know, the 2007 18th annual Red Power Round Up is June 21-23 in Bloomsburg. This is among the biggest of IH events each year.
“We are looking forward to it. We had a super time at the show in 2003, which was also held at the Bloomsburg Fair Grounds,” said Dennis Meisner, who owns and edits Red Power Magazine, an antique tractor publication dedicated to IH enthusiasts, with his wife, Sallie. “We enjoyed the grounds and the countryside.”
The Meisners hail from Ida Grove, Iowa, and make it a point to set up at the Round Up every year. One of the benefits of traveling east, Meisner said, is the different equipment he sees.
“Going to that part of the country, the tractors and machinery are different than what we see in Iowa and Illinois. The size of the farms is smaller, thus the machinery is different,” he explained.
“Almost every tractor had a side hill hitch, which is very unusual. This type of machinery is not seen on the flatter plains of Illinois and Iowa. The Round Up is both fun and educational.”
The show opens June 21 at 7 a.m. and breakfast is available. There will be vendor space, displaying IH parts and memorabilia. Show Chairman Ben Trapani added that the buildings on the grounds – which are all air-conditioned – will be filled with IH collectibles, while the grounds will display tractors, trucks and implements of all years, models and sizes.
One major draw, according to Trapani, is an IH prototype building. “The building was built in 1947 and belongs to a member of our club, Frank ‘Tubby’ Bartlow,” he said. “It is unique; people drive here from all across the country to see it.”
Another highlight of the show is a presentation by George Logue, a former IH construction equipment engineer. He will discuss his work at IH test sites and the redesign of the TD-24 Dozer. Logue will speak each day.
The 18th annual Red Power Round Up is hosted by the International Harvester Chapter No. 17 Collectors Club. “This is a club show, but everyone is invited,” Trapani said.
On opening day at 10 a.m., there will be an equipment parade with music at noon.
The day will wind up with an antique tractor pull at 4 p.m., and music into the evening. This is all part of the $5 admission charge.
“Friday will be the same schedule, but different music,“ Trapani said.
“Saturday, there is no tractor pull and the music will be at 11:30 a.m., and we are having IH Farmall square dancers, which are tractors performing the dance.
“Then at noon, we will have a kids’ pedal pull, then the music show and the National meeting at 3 p.m. There is really a lot going on.”
This year, the show is featuring the Farmall Cub, celebrating its 60th year. “We have a lot of small farmers, and you are going to see a lot of Cubs and special applications for the Cub. I look forward to these,” Trapani said, adding there will be a few Cubs on display which were made in France, as well as many M, H and newer 560 and 806 models.
The show also has a few special offerings. There is a limited-edition belt buckle, show books and special Boyd Bears, since, as Trapani explained, “IH used a lot of bears in advertising the Cub.”
Preparing for this event is a big undertaking.
“We did this in 2003,” he said. “It is a lot of work to get the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed.”
Details about the show, lodging, camping and daily events can be found at www.red-power-roundup-2007.com or by calling Trapani at 520-522-7038. |
