Cloud Nine Tractor pulling team
Cloud Nine Tractor Pulling Team
The Cloud Nine tractor pulling team is active in the Dutch A-division. The principle of tractor pulling is to tow a sled as far as possible on a clay track. The sled gets heavier during the attempt (also called run). If a participant covers 100 meters this is called a Full Pull. If several full pulls are made in the same category a final is being held. This is the so-called Pull Off. The contestant with the most meters is the winner.
In the early eighties, the Cloud Nine Team was formed when brothers Hans and Pleun van Strien decided to build a tractor pulling machine. Both men wanted something different to put on the track, so they built a minipuller. This would be the first European minipuller. This first machine was called Heartbreaker and had a 350 hp V8 engine.
In the years that followed, the machine was constantly developed and in the late eighties a new machine called Cloud Nine was built. This machine was fitted with a blown Chevy V8 engine on methanol. This was revolutionary at the time and the team was one of the first with a blown Chevy V8 that produced approximately 1000 hp. In this period Biggelaar Motors (then called Bigtuned) began to support the team and various parts were overhauled and adapted in Made.
After successful years with the Cloud Nine minipuller a new Cloud Nine was brought to the track. This time it was not a minipuller, but a Twowheeldrive. This 2.6 ton machine was fitted with a blown V8, of which the power was already risen to about 1250 hp.
This cooperation between Biggelaar Motors and the Cloud Nine Team has remained intact all these years, but in the autumn of 2008 the ties became a lot closer still. Jan-Willem van der Hoek was employed by Biggelaar Motors and is also a team member of the Cloud Nine Team.
As a completely new chassis was being built in the period 2008/2009, there was no space left in the workshop of the Cloud Nine Team to build the burly Chevy V8. This is why the team was offered the space and possibilities to build up the engine in the workshop at Biggelaar Motors. And so happened.
During the winter the team worked hard. Several parts have been modified of constructed from scratch, to make the Chevy stronger than ever. Components such as the crankshaft support, the front cover for the oil pump, the complete fuel system, between plate for the blower, etc, etc are all made in Made. Currently the Chevy delivers about 1900 HP.
In the future, both Biggelaar Motors and the Cloud Nine team have several ideas which will be developed in (close) cooperation.
Technical Data
Chassis
Frame: DIY
Rear axle: DAF house, ROCKWELL inside and MB planetaieren.
Drivetrain: DIY
Tires: Dick Cepek GIANT PULLER (circumference 3,50 meters)
Calipers: Peter Moerman
Brake pumps: Tim Engler
Body: Fiberglass Ford Aerostar
Chair: DG custom leatherFront axle: DIY
Engine
Engine block: Merlin 500 cubic inch (about 8,1 liters)
Pistons: CP Pistons aluminium
Rods: R&R Billet aluminium
Crankshaft: Callies
Crankshaft support: DIY in association with Biggelaar Motors
Camshaft: Compcam
Intake manifold: DIY in association with Biggelaar Motors
Blower: Kobeko Superman 2 14-71
Blower snout: DIY in association with Biggelaar Motors
Inlet coop: Enderle Big & Ugly bij 5 ¼ butterfly valves
Ignition: MSD Promag 44
Fuel: Methanol
Consumption: 1,2 liters per second at 7500 rpm
Oilpump: Wulf segments pump, modified by Biggelaar Motors BV
Exhausts: DIY in association with Biggelaar Motors
Power: around 1900 HP
Team
Hans van Strien: owner, administration and ordering parts
Ed van de Hoek: 1st rider, construction and maintenance engine and all the spraying
Ruud van Oers: 2nd rider, electronics, construction, maintenance frame and PR
Jan-Willem van de Hoek: Structor and motor maintenance , turning and milling
Sander Dijkhuizen: Support for all activities
Wim van de Hoek: Transportation
Andre Klok: Support fot all common operations and catering
Ron Nieuwland: Webmaster
www.cloudnine.nl
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