[Hydriv]

We are pretty sure that some of you guys have hidden talents. Here's your chance to have some fun and show us what you've got.

The Contest

Members are invited to submit a short story that is 1000 words minimum and 2000 words maximum. The story can be fiction or true. The theme of the story is wide open but it must include a Colt, Case or Ingersoll GT or LT in some way that is highly relevant to the story line. The choice of tractor model is up to you as long as it is either a Colt, Case or Ingersoll branded product. How that tractor is used in the story is also up to you. Pulling contest, tractor show, plowing match, tractor racing, barn/field finds, family tractor passed down, modified tractor, fantasy tractor….you name it. All entries will be accepted and posted. Your fellow members will decide who comes up with the most enjoyable story.

Contest Rules

1. - The four members in Admin are disqualified from entering the contest.
2. - Judging will be done solely by the membership by way of open vote in a Poll.
3. - Voting will not take place until all entries are in place
4. - There will be a closing date of midnight EDST April 30th, 2011 for entries.
5. - At that point, a voting poll will be added to the forum. The Poll will close at midnight EDST May 15th.
6. - The order that entries are posted in the LOCKED contest thread will reflect the order in which they were received. Nothing more should be construed from the order.
7. - Members will be allowed to cast one vote each
8. - Admin members will be allowed to cast one vote each except for Mastiflawyer because he will control this contest.
9. - All entries become the property of coltcaseingersoll.com
10. - All entries are to be submitted ONLY to Mastiflawyer by way of e-mail.
11. - Entries that are not submitted directly to Mastifflawyer by e-mail will be automatically disqualified.
12. - All late entries will also be disqualified.
13. - Because the story is to be anonymous, the author must not include any information in the story that would allow other members to conclude the identity of the author but must provide that information to Mastifflawyer with their submission.
14. - Photos or illustrations will not be permitted as part of the story.
15. ALL entries must include a clear digital photo of the author - no exceptions. Do not risk disqualification by sending a photo with you in sunglasses and wearing a hat that hides your face.
16. By way of entering this contest, you are giving your consent to having your story and photo published in Lawn and Garden Collector (LAGC) magazine.


The PRIZE -

The WINNER gets a free one-year subscription to LAGC. If the winner is already a subscriber, their current subscription will be extended for another 12 months/ 6 issues from the current expiry date of the subscription.

Included with that subscription will be one back-issue of LAGC that featured much of Steve Guider's amazing collection of Colt and Case tractors plus a story about Fred Young, the drummer for the country rock band, Kentucky Headhunters. That issue will bear the personal autograph of Steve and Fred.

The winning story/essay will be featured in the next issue of LAGC, following the announcement of the winner, along with their photograph.

The second and third place entries will also be printed in subsequent issues of LAGC along with their respective photo.

 

[99flhr]

" Once upon a time, there was a little boy in Canada...

 

[Hydriv]

" Once upon a time, there was a little boy in Canada...

Once upon a time, there was a little boy in Canada..............but he is disqualified from entering this contest.

But let me ask this question. Is anyone interested in this contest or are we wasting our time? I'm curious because I see all these hits but Randy is the only one to comment.

 

[99flhr]

Just exercise your Admin powers and assign the task to "Rob P", he`s a shoo in to win anyway. :thumbup:

 

[Ted Miller]

Sounds like fun, but would like to be able to save it somehow so it could be refined as thoughts come to us. It would take me all day to type 1000 words. :sidelaugh:

Ted

 

[99flhr]

BUMP ^

I`ll suggest the following plagiarised themes

" The Crankshaft Redemption"

" The Power Red Mile"

" For whom the Blade turns"

" Mow and Peace"

" The Hydraulic Code"

" Driving Miss Ingersoll"

 

[Hydriv]

Sounds like fun, but would like to be able to save it somehow so it could be refined as thoughts come to us. It would take me all day to type 1000 words. :sidelaugh:

Ted

All anyone needs is a word processor software such as MS's WORD or the old WORD PERFECT. There are FREE word processing software packages on the internet for those who don't have one. You can type what you wish, save it, alter it, whatever... until you get it the way you want it. You can also dictate it to someone with decent typing skills and then change it as you see fit later. 1000 words isn't that hard to do.

 

[Hydriv]

BUMP ^

I`ll suggest the following plagiarised themes

" The Crankshaft Redemption"

" The Power Red Mile"

" For whom the Blade turns"

" Mow and Peace"

" The Hydraulic Code"

" Driving Miss Ingersoll"

Now that's the spirit.

C'mon guys.. We are five away from 600 members... R U telling me that there is no writing talent in that pool?

 

[BushBoneYard]

Sounds like fun, but would like to be able to save it somehow so it could be refined as thoughts come to us. It would take me all day to type 1000 words. :sidelaugh:

Ted

What I used to do before downloading a free Word Processor was use my email program. You just need to save your work as a draft and re open it at a later date to do more work. When it's all done just copy, cut and paste.

 

[InTroubleAlltheTime]

Sounds like fun, but would like to be able to save it somehow so it could be refined as thoughts come to us. It would take me all day to type 1000 words. :sidelaugh:
Ted

Ted: Most all PCs have at least "Wordpad". It should be in All Programs from Start, lower left, could be within accesories there. You can save simple word documents with that. That's all I have on my laptop.
:222: :446: Best Regards, Rich

 

[InTroubleAlltheTime]

I`ll suggest the following plagiarised themes
" The Crankshaft Redemption"
" The Power Red Mile"
" For whom the Blade turns"
" Mow and Peace"
" The Hydraulic Code"
" Driving Miss Ingersoll"

Those are some cool themes! :thumbsup: :usa: :usa: :usa:
Best Regards, Rich

 

[Snotrocket]

Sounds like fun, but would like to be able to save it somehow so it could be refined as thoughts come to us. It would take me all day to type 1000 words. :sidelaugh:

Ted

Right click on your desktop, scroll down to "new" and select "text document".

 

[BushBoneYard]

Sounds like fun, but would like to be able to save it somehow so it could be refined as thoughts come to us. It would take me all day to type 1000 words. :sidelaugh:

Ted

Right click on your desktop, scroll down to "new" and select "text document".

As Johnny used to say "I did not know that". :thumbsup:

 

[Hydriv]

Here is an example. It is a page and a half on WORD, my word processor software. It is 1120 words and it took me less than one hour to bang it out as a first draft.

If I can do it, why can't you? After all, I'm an idiot. What's your excuse?
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The Promise of Summer

A soft breeze wafted through the open window in my bedroom and gently caressed my naked body as I awoke to the familiar sound of chirping birds. I rolled out of bed and stumbled toward the window to get a glimpse of what the day might have in store for me. As I wiped the sleep from my eyes, I took in the blue sky and fluffy wisps of the odd white cloud. It was Saturday once again and the fast growing grass of June awaited my attention.

The warmth of the stream of water from the shower head felt invigorating as I quickly washed the night from my body before heading to the kitchen for a light breakfast. My mind wandered as I consumed my bowl of Raisin Bran, back to the days when my wife Valerie would be sitting across from me. That was five years ago; before some alcohol saturated maniac had crashed his car into ours and killed her. Suddenly, the sound of Jim's lawn tractor starting up next door, jerked me out of my daze and reminded me that it was time to get busy with my own yard work. Back I went to my bedroom to dress for the day and then headed outside to the large four car garage situated slightly behind the house.

The garage door opened on cue after I punched my code into the keypad on the door frame to reveal my pride and joy. I beamed with pride at my 1975 Case 446 that was dressed in the familiar Desert Sunset and Power Red colours that I had lovingly applied only months before Valerie's untimely demise. Like always, I yanked out the dipstick from the Onan, wiped between my thumb and index finger and plunged it back in momentarily. The oil level was right at the line. Perfect, I thought to myself as I wiped my fingers with a rag. As I slid onto the operator's seat, I pushed the choke and throttle levers with my right hand and twisted the key with my left.

The Onan sprang to life and emitted a tiny bit of white smoke from the twin pancake mufflers. The temperature was already in the seventies so I applied some pressure to the travel lever and eased my way out of the garage. By the time I reached the lawn, the smoke was long gone and I moved the choke lever to fully open. There's something magical about the sound of a Case deck in perfect repair spinning up as you quickly engage the mechanical clutch.. The tractor was now fully on the lawn and the throttle was wide open. I was looking forward to the seat time on my two acre property but it went by all too quickly and I yearned for more.

For the longest time, the property across the road had been empty and up for sale. It too, was another two-acre parcel with a beautiful Colonial style two-story home sitting proudly on it. No one had been by to cut the grass since late last fall and it was getting pretty tall. I zipped on back to the garage and re-filled the gas tank on the Case before slipping it into high range and drive to the house across the road. I had a new set of Meg-Mo blades on my J-46 deck and I thought that this would be a good test for them. At least, that's the excuse I was giving myself. Back into low range once more, I began to wade into the foot high grass with the Case. I made two passes around the front lawn to open it up and then changed direction on the third pass so that the clippings would now blow onto the area just cut.

In no time at all, I had the front lawn cut and looking pretty respectable, so I headed up the driveway to access the huge rear yard. The sun was now over the yardarm and I was feeling hungry and thirsty but I was determined to finish this up first. Apparently, I had been so absorbed in what I was doing, I hadn't noticed the arrival of a SUV in the driveway. Suddenly, I was aware of someone standing about 20 feet from where I was. Even though I still had about four of five more passes to make, I pulled back on the throttle to half speed, disengaged the clutch and raised the deck. The sun had been in my eyes but as I got closer, I realized it was a woman about my age.

By the time I reached her, the sun slipped behind a cloud and her long, brunette hair and well-toned figure revealed themselves. I twisted the key and the Onan slowed to a halt. Silence filled the air once again as she smiled and asked my name. The smile continued as I introduced myself and then I found out that she was Summer, the new owner of the house. Summer had moved from Mississauga, where she left an apartment and a failed marriage behind. This was her first house and it was close enough to Toronto International Airport that commuting wasn't a big deal for her. I asked her what she did for a living and found out that she had been a flight attendant for the past twenty years.

When I raised my arm to wipe the seat off my forehead, Summer asked if I was thirsty. I told her that I was just going to finish up her lawn and then head across the road to my place for lunch.. Without so much as a brief hesitation, Summer told me: "You'll do no such thing. Get off your tractor and walk with me to the house. I stopped in town and picked up a large pizza and half a dozen cold Cokes. You will dine with me.."

A gentleman never refuses a lady, so the two of us went inside to the kitchen where we chatted while we ate. I glanced at my watch and realized that it was now 3:30 in the afternoon. I excused myself from her company, headed back to the Case and finished up her lawn. As I exited the back yard, I waved to her as she sat on the porch swing rocking back and forth.

The Case soon found itself back in the cooler confines of my garage once more. While sliding off the seat, I mused at the thought of what a great season this might be since Summer did not own a lawn tractor yet.

The end.

OK... it still needs some work before I would be happy with it but so what? The point here is not to show you a finished story but rather a story in the making. It's not as tough as you might think it is. Especially if you put you mind to it and TRY.

 

[Bart]

I thought these were to be true stories, not dreams. :sidelaugh: :sidelaugh: :sidelaugh:

You lost me early on with the image of your naked body.

 

[Hydriv]

I thought these were to be true stories, not dreams. :sidelaugh: :sidelaugh: :sidelaugh:

You lost me early on with the image of your naked body.

Read the RULES - fiction or non-fiction - naked bodies are optional as long as your words are appropriate for children.

 

[geeco1]

Ohhhhh Boyyy. I can see these stories going south real quick. All of this talk about naked bodies, plunging, fingers.... :shock: :shock: . Who knew that tractor stories could be so sexy.

I may have to rethink my approach.

 

[Hydriv]

Ohhhhh Boyyy. I can see these stories going south real quick. All of this talk about naked bodies, plunging, fingers.... :shock: :shock: . Who knew that tractor stories could be so sexy.

I may have to rethink my approach.

Let's not get carried away. Don't go reading too much into what I wrote above. I was just having some fun since I cannot participate. :sidelaugh:

Whatever you submit, it must be suitable to be published in LAGC. There will be no editing of submitted articles except for corrections in spelling. Salacious material or double-entendres could get your story rejected before it even gets posted on the site.

 

[99flhr]

If I can do it, why can't you? After all, I'm an idiot.

In the two years since I purchased a C/C/I tractor I`ve heard virtually every pejorative under the sun applied to you and your various nom de plume`s. "Idiot" was never used by even your most virulent detractors. :wave:

 

[Hydriv]

Did you just call me a "pejorative".

I'll have you know that I resemble that remark.