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PS boiler madness: 30 years of the tractor in Grimmen
gloomy. The most powerful motor sport in the world impressed thousands of visitors over the weekend at the Grimmen witch kettle – the city’s Motodrome. Europe’s best tractor drivers literally rocked the city.
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This crazy motorsport has been in Trebelstadt for 30 years. Every year, fans of the scene make a pilgrimage to Grimmen for this event. OSTSEE-ZEITUNG was present at the horsepower show in the witches’ cauldron and tells three stories from three decades of tractor towing in Trebelstadt.
Cult moderator Ulf Schnackenberg or Mister “Full Pull”
Boy, boy, boy – “FUUUULLLL PUUULLLL”! This is absolute madness! Unique words of the cult moderator Ulf Schnackenberg. In summer – the most beautiful time of the year – for 30 years, he has been traveling around Europe almost every weekend under the name “The Voice of Race”. Over 400 events have taken place in six different European countries in the last 30 years. There were many races in the European Cup – Tractor Towing Champions League – several international finals in Europe and the European Championship.
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Ulf Schnackenberg has been a passionate moderator of tractor towing events for 30 years. And this all over Europe. His career began in Grimmen.
© Source: Raik Mielke
But the beginning of this career lies in Trebelstadt. “Grimmen is often referred to as my living room as well,” says Schnackenberg, and recalls: “I’ve spent so many hours in the kettle and experienced so many beautiful things that it’s hard for me to name a few important events or specific situations that are unforgettable. “But the moderation from a helicopter over the witch’s cauldron in Grimmen or from a moving car is certainly one of the absolute highlights of the last 30 years.
A man living in Osterholz-Scharmbeck met his wife in Grimmen. “I love the Baltic Sea and the entire Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region. This is where my career as a moderator began in 1992. It is very emotional for me to be able to celebrate my 30th anniversary here as well. And that’s with the Mega-Race of the North. One of the best motorsport events in Germany. And so Ulf Schnackenberg celebrated – how could it be otherwise on this anniversary – 30 hours of motorsport in his “showroom” – the “Hexencauldron” in Grimmen.
Reinhard Baase has developed a procedure that is copied all over Europe
When the first Appelshof turbines roared at the agricultural airport of the former agrochemical center 30 years ago, Reinhard Baase was already there. He prepared a track and local tractors, and guests from the Netherlands pulled around “Full Pull”. Since 1995, the track in Grimmen has become increasingly popular with participants and the DTTO. So professional Danish teams as well as the then European champion Heinz Josef Hörstkamp came to Appelshof with their “Green Fighter”.
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Reinhard Baase was the co-founder of Tractor Pulling Events in Grimmen.
© Source: Raik Mielke
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The toughest and strongest motorsport in the world was rapidly developing in Grimmen. In 1997, professionals from the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden drove to the “witches cauldron” with their trucks and transported wonders of technology. 11,000 spectators lined up on the 100-meter track in Appelshof. Everyone wanted to see the PS monsters.
Races for the German championship became more and more popular and also more and more known in other European countries. In 1998, for example, twenty German tractors took part in the championship heats at Appelshof. In summer 1999 there was a big stage for the Grimmen Tractor Pulling event: Under the slogan “Grimmen welcomes Europe” all the big names from the stage came to Appelshof. The German stars competed against pros from Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Norway and England in the first Eurocup run in Grimmen. Sports broadcaster “Eurosport” broadcast a performance from the “witch’s cauldron” to European salons.
And Reinhard Baase has always been a supporter of this spectacular motorsport event. He made sure there was a process in Grimmen that is now being copied all over Europe. Each tractor has its own tractor. This way, visitors and fans can experience a “full stroke” every minute. In addition, Landmaschinen Baase provides a wide range of technologies with which the track can be optimally prepared.
Heike Hübner: “Benno is proud to watch from above”
Meanwhile, Heike Hübner took over command of the 1st Grimmen Passenger Car Legion. After the death of the forefather of local motorsports – Benno Rüster – she continued her life work “Benno” with the team. “We had a fantastic event today. The ranks were also rarely filled. The atmosphere was indescribably wonderful – she is delighted.
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Thousands of visitors celebrate the strongest motorsport in the Grimmen Cauldron.
© Source: Raik Mielke
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After a three-year hiatus, the strongest motorsport in the world was finally able to return to the boiler. “Benno is proud to watch from above because we intend to keep doing it and so many people are excited,” Heike Hübner addressed the fans emotionally.
An absolutely perfect day for the Department. “The weather was good, the guests had a good time, and the runs were difficult to beat in terms of action,” he says, and at the same time asks the visitors for understanding. Because one thing motorsport fans needed on this day: patience! Because in times of the pandemic, many showmen passed away. The lines at the stands were long enough. “But now the time has come,” emphasizes Heike Hübner.
By Raik Mielke