RE: JCB Fastrac 2 hits 150mph | Time For Tea

[Benbay001]

bobtail4x4 said:

I have to ask?

WHY?

who cares? the punters who buy tractors dont care.

Oh, really?

Only yesterday i could have sworn i saw a Facebook post from a friend who owns a agri contracting business who was posing next to this exact tractor at some sort of trade expo, and he had tagged his mates who were all commenting.

Great marketing ASAIK.

[stinkyspanner]

It was quite interesting how the JCB effort, which is very impressive I must say, was almost bettered by a girl and her dad in some old tractor in the USofA that had a monster engine in it..

[cobra kid]

Was an interesting watch but couldn't avoid the fact it was just a huge advert for JCB. So much yellow.

[Mr E]

Record attempt should require a field of ploughing between the two runs to be valid.

[Deefor62]

I had the pleasure of working at the JCB factory when the first Fastrac was developed and launched. Back then it was light years ahead of anything else.
This modded one must be absolutely brilliant to drive, and hats off to them for building something so wacky.
Have to admire the fun attitude they have to things like this. Long may it continue.

[Jon_S_Rally]

bobtail4x4 said:

I have to ask?

WHY?

who cares? the punters who buy tractors dont care.

Why not? Shouldn't some things be done just 'because we can'? Does everything need to be justified? It makes me so sad when I read those sort of comments on things like this and Bloodhound. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible is one of the handful of things that human beings are actually good at.

Anyway, this is clearly about marketing and raising brand awareness. I would also almost guarantee that, while working on it, they've learned some stuff that will help them to improve the mainstream stuff in the future, so there are plenty of sensible reasons why in reality.

[Peppka]

The MB trac was first similar to Fastrac but lacked rear suspension top speed around 30 mph, Fastrac front and back suspension and top speed of 45+ mph, in my time I have used both.
If I am correct MB trac had already ceased production when the Fastrac became available, I had one of 12 pre-production Fastrac prototypes on test in 1990.
Both MB trac and Fastrac were well liked for their abilities with trailers on public roads (fast, air braking systems) and both capable of having demount sprayers and fertiliser spreaders put on the back of them and being ideal for contractors wanting to get from one customer to another quickly, so a number of basic similarities then.
MB tracs were very expensive compared with a conventional 4WD Ford (now CNH) or John Deere tractor of similar horsepower +25-30% in price terms but would last longer since they had de-rated MB truck engines.

[grumpy52]

Jon_S_Rally said:

bobtail4x4 said:

I have to ask?

WHY?

who cares? the punters who buy tractors dont care.

Why not? Shouldn't some things be done just 'because we can'? Does everything need to be justified? It makes me so sad when I read those sort of comments on things like this and Bloodhound. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible is one of the handful of things that human beings are actually good at.

Anyway, this is clearly about marketing and raising brand awareness. I would also almost guarantee that, while working on it, they've learned some stuff that will help them to improve the mainstream stuff in the future, so there are plenty of sensible reasons why in reality.

I was thinking exactly the same whilst watching the programme.
I used to deliver parts to various bits of the JCB empire and was always impressed with peoples attitudes where ever I went . It is something that I noticed with the more modern and forward thinking of the automotive companies that I used to visit . There seemed to be an enthusiasm throughout these companies with everyone trying to get it right and enjoying what they are doing .

[DogLog]

Benbay001 said:

bobtail4x4 said:

I have to ask?

WHY?

who cares? the punters who buy tractors dont care.

Oh, really?

Only yesterday i could have sworn i saw a Facebook post from a friend who owns a agri contracting business who was posing next to this exact tractor at some sort of trade expo, and he had tagged his mates who were all commenting.

Great marketing ASAIK.

Quite.
So many people making comments on farmer's behalf.
They should take a look at tractor pulling!!!
Oh hold on, that was on the show too.

[FA57REN]

Peppka said:

The MB trac was first similar to Fastrac but lacked rear suspension top speed around 30 mph, Fastrac front and back suspension and top speed of 45+ mph, in my time I have used both.
...

Very interesting info comparing the tracs, thanks!

[Fore Left]

Mr E said:

Record attempt should require a field of ploughing between the two runs to be valid.

This. While I appreciate the engineering that went into it I was wondering how it could be a tractor when they'd removed everything that makes a tractor a tractor. Ditto the US effort.