Hundreds turned up to watch machines with names including ‘Disorderly Conduct’, ‘Plum Crazy’, ‘Red Devil’ and “She’llberite” send dirt and smoke streaming across the Kalkee venue, as they sought to make it from one end of the clay track to the other while carrying a 15-tonne weight.

Down Under Modified Tractor Pull Association competition President Brendan Cornfoot praised the volunteers and Horsham Motor Sports Club for their many hours of work to make the event happen.

"They’ve done an exceptional job to get clay in from off-site, much appreciated by DUMTPA,” he said.

“We’d love to come back to Kalkee next year.”

Raceway President Richard Wilken said some rain overnight had wet the track and briefly made it harder for the vehicles to gain purchase, but this was only a minor inconvenience.

“It’s certainly one of the largest crowds we’ve had for a long time, I think due to the fact this is something a little bit different,” Mr Wilken said. “We’ve had excellent feedback from the vintage tractors.”

Naracoorte’s Eric Mattis was one of many who came from beyond the region to watch his favorite driver in action.

“I follow ‘Blown Income’ around a bit, and I’ve been to the one in Keith (South Australia). This one’s pretty good,” he said.