Points Champion &
Puller of the Year!!!
Team Loaded Gun
A special thanks goes out to all who assisted us in obtaining
the championship! All of the fellow competitors
for their help in the pits during times of need, businesses, and the OSTPA
Executive Board, Sponsors and Promoters for all of their support and
willingness to put on a show! Without
everyone’s help and dedication we would not be able to participate in this
great sport! Thank You Everyone!
The Loaded Gun Super Stock Tractor is a John Deere model
4440. The production years of the John
Deere 4440 series tractor were from 1977 thru 1982. In the Super Stock Class,
it is a requirement that the tractors have more than one but less than five
turbo chargers. This tractor has a total
of three turbo chargers. The engine is
currently a 466 cu. in. diesel engine.
The stock horsepower of this six cylinder tractor was approximately 130
hp. Now, with all of the modifications
and updates we are projecting the horsepower range to be 1500-1750 hp.
Many modifications have been done to the tractor. In fact, the only items that are still stock
are the crank shaft and the transmission housing! All of the parts that are left have either
been modified in some manner or have been removed. Much time , knowledge, money, and effort goes
into all of the pulling teams you see at your local events.
The tractor was purchased by Team Loaded Gun in the mid summer of
2001 from a local brush puller. Located
in
The Loaded Gun Pulling Team
competes in the 8,300 lb Super Stock Class In the Ohio State Tractor Puller’s
Association (OSTPA). In the
The Loaded Gun Pulling Team
also competes in the 8,000 lb Super Stock Diesel Class in the National Tractor
Puller’s Association. In this class,
only those tractors that are fueled by Diesel Fuel compete with one another.
Keep in mind these are just
the major differences between the two organizations and the variances between
classes. There are many other rules that
are to be followed and are always changing.
Jeff Hothem (email jeff @ loadedgunsuperstock@juno.com)
Jeff Hothem is the
Driver and Co-Owner of the Loaded Gun.
He currently resides in
John Hothem (email John @ hothem@raex.com)
John is
a retired Ceramic Engineer and a semi-retired Farmer who, about four years ago,
received a call from his son asking if there was any interest in buying a
pulling tractor. John was thinking
Antique tractors and Jeff was thinking Super Stock, so we compromised and
purchased a John Deere Super Stock tractor.
This was the start of a family endeavor now known as the “ Loaded Gun
Pulling Team”. We started with “Brush
Pulls’, just to get our feet wet and have competed successfully on the Ohio
State Circuit for about three years.
John has found the best parts of pulling are the family times, the
friendships, and the camaraderie that develops as we participate and compete
with others in this sport.
MS. OSTPA 2006 Barbara Hothem (email Barbara @ hothem@raex.com)
CONGRATULATIONS TO
BARBARA HOTHEM on
becoming Ms. OSTPA for the 2006 season.
On
Barbara is a retired elementary teacher who became a full time Mom
of one son, 28 years ago and is presently learning about diesel mechanics. She
and her husband of 36 years reside in
Below
are listed Team Loaded Gun Accomplishments with the OSTPA:
2002 12th
place finish in overall points
2002 4th
place finish in OSTPA Southern Ohio Championship Series
2003
OSTPA Super Stock Puller of the Year
2003 2nd
place finish in overall points
2003 2nd
place finish in OSTPA Eastern Ohio Championship Series
2003 4th
place finish in OSTPA Southern Ohio Championship Series
2004
OSTPA Family of the Year
2004 3rd
place finish in overall points
2004 1st
place finish in OSTPA Eastern Ohio Championship Series
2004 2nd
place finish in OSTPA Southern Ohio Championship Series
2005
OSTPA Super Stock Points Champion
2005
OSTPA Super Stock Puller of the Year
2005 1st
place finish in OSTPA Eastern Ohio Championship Series
2005 2nd
place finish in OSTPA Southern Ohio Championship Series
This
past year Team Loaded Gun has purchased and enclosed hauler for the Pulling
Tractor. We have spent numerous, countless
hours thus far trying to install living quarters, a shop/work area, space for
the tractor, space for the ATV, and finally space for the Support vehicle. This has been a tremendous undertaking for
the team, not including tearing down the tractor and making improvements to it
as well. Check out the new pictures of
the almost completed hauler on the Loaded Gun
Team Photos page.
The
Loaded Gun will also be renovated a little as well. The tractor differential drive unit is being
refreshed by Steve Holmes, in
Our goal
this year in 2006, as in the past, is to run the OSTPA season circuit for the
points championship. Hopefully the work
schedule along with minimal breakdowns and lots of good luck we will be making
it to all of the pulls this year.
2 Garrett H3
complete turbos. Exhaust wheel measures
3.38 intake wheel measures 2.88. 27
Holset Exhaust housings on both
$800.00 each o.b.o. Will sell separate or together.
14 high performance pushrods for a non-roller-cam 466 JD engine measures
12.5" in length $200.00.
2 sets (for two pistons) of stock JD 466 piston rings $50.00 for both
1 set of new stock JD Rod Bolts $50.00.
Please
check back in the future as we are always updating and changing parts and
pieces!
Special
Thanks To Those That Keep Us Running!
We
would like to extend our appreciation and thanks to following individuals and
companies for all of their help and support in making our pulling team as much
of a success as it is!
D+B
Fleet Maintenance- Jon Burgess Grodhaus
& Young- Tom Witts
Holmes
Farms-Steve Holmes Family Nichols
Precision Tire Cutting- Bob Nichols
Riverside
Engines-Phil Schaulk Schindler
Farms- Lou Schindler Family
Slesnick
Steel Inc.-Steve Null Trushel
Welding & Fabricating-Tom Trushel
And all my friends and family
who have helped over the years! Thanks!
We will
make every attempt, time allowing, to keep this web site updated. We look forward to seeing you and meeting you
all at the pulls this summer! Don’t
forget to check out the action packed photos of Team Loaded Gun!!
Thanks
for stopping by and be sure to visit the Official NTPA website at www.ntpapull.com and the Official OSTPA
website at www.ostpa.com for the schedule
of events nearest you!
Last
revised:
The John Deere Logo and words “Nothing
Runs Like A Deere” are registered trademarks of the John Deere & Co..