Magpie in the vintage tractor world

When you are born into farming, especially in a crop-growing area, getting in the driver’s seat and actually taking the wheel of your father’s tractor is an early ambition.

Richard Sturdy realised this when he was very young and although he turned his back on the family farm near Spofforth at 29 to pursue a business career that ultimately saw him take major roles in companies in the oil industry, he has maintained his love of tractors to this day.

He is a self-confessed enthusiast who enjoys collecting vintage tractors 
and is currently chairman of the Yorkshire Vintage Association that organises the Newby Hall Tractor Fest held in the marvellous grounds of the hall, courtesy of the Compton family. Their latest event takes place next weekend, June 8-9.

“My first proper experience at tractor driving came when I was eight. Our pig man at the time, Brian Rogers, let me drive the Fergie through a field of sows whilst he got on the back of the trailer and shovelled the feed out as we went along.”

That same tractor Richard drove all those years ago is now part of his collection, although it is there more for sentimental reasons than his others.

“Fergies, on our farm, were only considered good enough for scuffling sugar beet, rowing up potatoes and doing the odd jobs around the outdoor sows. We also sold the tractors on fairly often as my father kept changing them.

“I received a call out of the blue about six years ago from a friend who told me he had seen this Fergie and its logbook showed the company name ER & TW Sturdy of Newsholme Farm. It was the same one I’d been driving as an eight-year-old and I had to have it.

“When I went to York Machinery Sales and saw it my first thought was that it was a wreck but I’ve had it professionally restored by Gary Burbridge who looks after most of my collection and he has sorted it out through every nut and bolt.

“My father had mostly Fordson tractors. We had a number of tractors at any one time and he employed tractor drivers as well as farm hands on our mixed farm that included cereals, potatoes, sugar beet and 350 sows taken through to bacon.

“The first diesel tractor that we ever had on the farm though was a Nuffield with a B4 engine. It was a rotten engine and terrible starter but once it was running everyone wanted to be on it.

“I’m a magpie in the vintage tractor world. It’s the having of them, owning them and enjoying them that is most important to me – and I particularly enjoy the quest for a model I want.”

And he has quite a number of them in his shed ranging from brands such as the Rugely, International (Titan), Twin City and Allis Chalmers to Case and Marshall.

Although every tractor Richard has in his collection is important to him he does have his favourites:

“It’s not the rarest tractor by any means but the Case LA has to be up there. It was the best tractor ever manufactured any time from the beginning of tractor production to today. It was on the market in 1943 and is such a perfectly balanced tractor with a very large engine. It relies on torque rather than horsepower and the torque is immense, like that of a lorry engine. Its weight distribution is perfect. It was also made to last and is pretty much indestructible.

“I’m also very fond of the International Titan I have which was manufactured in 1918 and was a landmark tractor. It was the first tractor to be sold in large numbers in the UK and became the tractor that farmers used during the First World War. In the Second World War it was the Fordson Model N that held sway. I particularly like my Allis Chalmers tractor too.”

Whilst you can get started in the vintage tractor collecting world from just under £1,000, Richard has attended sales in the US where tractors go for massive sums. He recently saw the world record of $450,000 set for a Mogul Junior.

“We’re finding that vintage tractor ownership is on the increase. I’m amazed at how many are now getting involved.

“Most start with tractors from their youth and then their interest broadens and they graduate to the really old stuff. It’s all about the love of having them rather than the money because you put in far more to them monetarily than you ever get out.”

Richard’s involvement with the Newby Hall Tractor Fest came about as a result of a decision made by the National Vintage Tractor & Engine Club some years ago.

“Each of the three Ridings had its own show at one time and it was suggested that we would be better putting all three together and creating a show that would create a bit of a buzz. That’s how the Yorkshire Vintage Association was formed – purely to organise and run a successful show.

“Our first year was at Tockwith Showground, but then we found Newby Hall. One of our committee members is Brian Chester who is a tenant on the estate and through his connections we have developed a really nice working relationship with them and we have been here ever since.

“It is a beautiful venue and really a dream site for us. The parkland is extremely picturesque and the Compton family are very tolerant. We are also very grateful to their events manager Stuart Gill.”

This year’s event will see over 1,000 exhibits with close on 600 tractors, around 200 cars and commercials and many more associated exhibits. There will be a celebration of 100 years of tractors and all manner of activity during the two days.

“As visitors come in to the show they will walk through an entrance alley that will show a tractor from each decade since 1913. We also have a Tractor Drive Through during the day. This distinguishes us from the summer agricultural shows that will have a parade of vintage machinery in the main ring – because we don’t have one.

“Michael Hart is a real character and provides a commentary on the tractors as they go past. He’s amazing and knows something about every machine.

“This year’s display of Nuffield tractors looks set to be spectacular. It was the iconic British tractor of its time and the Nuffield & Leyland Tractor Owners Club will be out in force.”

The Allis Chalmers Club; Ferguson Club; Friends of Ferguson Heritage; and Fordson Association will all have a presence too along with the most recent tractor club Blue Force.