THAILAND: DRAG RACING - THAI FARMERS AT THE IRON BUFFALO DRAG RACING TRACTOR COMPETITION AT NAKHON PRATHOM.

Record ID: 649313

  • Title: THAILAND: DRAG RACING - THAI FARMERS AT THE IRON BUFFALO DRAG RACING TRACTOR COMPETITION AT NAKHON PRATHOM.
  • Date: 3rd November 2003
  • Summary: NAKHON PRATHOM, THAILAND (NOVEMBER 1, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF THAI FARMER PLOUGHING FIELD WITH TRACTOR ("IRON BUFFALO") 2. VARIOUS OF MEN UNLOADING RACING TRACTORS FROM TRUCK 3. VARIOUS OF TEAMS DOING LAST MINUTE TUNING ON TRACTORS 4. MAN WINDING UP TRACTOR ENGINE OT START 5. TRACTORS DRIVING INTO POSITION 6. TRACTOR DRIVING PAST TEAMS PREPARING 7. SPECTATORS WATCHING 8. VARIOUS OF TRACTOR PROCESSION BEFORE RACE 9. SPECTATORS WATCHING 10. TRACTORS GETTING INTO POSITION 11. COMPETITOR WITH "IRON BUFFALO" HORNED HELMET STARTS RACE 12. VARIOUS OF COMPETITORS RACING 13. SPECTATORS 14. WINNER OF STANDARD TAXI COMPETITION RACING 15. WINNER GETTING OFF TRACTOR AT END OF RACE 16. WINNER RECEIVING TROPHY FROM ORGANISER THONGCHAI WONG SAWAN 17. SOUNDBITE (English) THONGCHAI WONGSAWAN SAYING: "Yes, this is the only one event for the iron buffalo racing in Thailand, and maybe it's the only one in the world". 18. VARIOUS OF TRACTORS RACING 19. SPECTATORS 20. COMPETITORS RACING MODIFIED TRACTORS Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAKHON PRATHOM, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Reuters ID: LVAEQYMKLCFT9SR9S8R1EVX68KVA
  • Story Text: Thai farmers get their tractors racing in the first
    Iron Buffalo competition.




    In the rice paddies of rural Thailand, millions of
    farmers rely each day on their iron buffalo -- the
    long-handled, multi-purpose tractors which are used for
    everything from ploughing fields to carrying heavy produce
    or even as engines for water pumps and rice mills.

    But in recent years, Thai farmers have been paying
    tribute to their hard-working machinery through a more
    light-hearted pursuit -- Iron Buffalo drag racing.

    The first weekend of every month, farmers from across
    four provinces descend on a small racing ground in the
    province of Nakhon Prathom (Pronounced: Na-kon Pra-tom),
    around 50 km northwest of Bangkok.

    The tractors they bring with them may be the same ones
    used for working the fields throughout the week, but come
    race day, they are lovingly tweaked, decorated, and
    souped-up into sleek, aerodynamic speed machines.

    Racing through knock-out rounds down a straight, 200
    metre track at around 65 km an hour, the men are competing
    for a 5,000 baht ($125.3) top prize -- a significant amount
    compared to their average monthly wage of just over 2,300
    baht ($57.64).

    But for many, the races are more about socialising,
    showing off mechanical know-how and of course, celebrating
    the machinery that plays such an important part in their
    life and work.

    The Kwai Lek (Iron Buffalo) tractor first started being
    used in Thailand in the 1960s, having been introduced by a
    member of the royal family well-known for his agricultural
    inventions.

    Cheap and easy to use, the mechanical plough soon
    replaced the water buffalo and is now believed to be a
    mainstay in the agricultural community -- which makes up
    54% of Thailand's workforce.

    And now tractor racing is becoming increasingly popular
    in Thailand's rural areas -- so much so that it is
    sponsored by a local energy drink and even televised on
    national channels.

    Important races have been known to attract thousands of
    spectators, who crowd in to drink, cheer and place bets on
    impressive-looking modified machines.

    Thongchai Wongsawan (Pronounced: Tong-cheye
    Wong-sah-wan), organiser of the iron buffalo races, thinks
    that the sport has been successful because it is so
    uniquely Thai.

    "Yes, this is the only one event for the iron buffalo
    racing in Thailand, and maybe it's the only one in the
    world," he said.

    The races are divided into two classes. In the standard
    class, tractor engines must be left as normal, and they
    must pull 250 kg of weight on a trailer.

    But the real attention is on the open class, where
    competitors can modify their engines, balance precariously
    on tiny trailers and race at top speeds -- it is here that the
    real track-side money can be made, and glory won.



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