Roy Pristie of Sturgis recently acquired a 1970 Chevrolet modified pull truck with the name Wasted Wages. He purchased the truck from a Hodgins Auction in 2015.
"When I saw it come up for auction, I thought it was cool and that it would be very different to actually own one,” Pristie said. “I own a lot of vehicles but nothing as interesting as this truck.”
Pristie did some work to the truck and attended his first truck pull in Bruno this year when he came in first in his class. His second show was in Craven on August 27. He did not fare as well but he said the competition was challenging.
The 1970 truck has a 750-horsepower motor that has tractor tires mounted on the front with special truck- pulling tires on the back.
"It runs C12 leaded racing fuel that uses approximately $50 every 300 feet that I pull the weight sled. At a cost of $5.50 per liter it can be an expensive sport," he said.
The truck is pulled to competitions on a closed-in car hauler and has a small pit crew that helps Pristie on race day.
"I appreciated all the advice I have gotten from other professional drivers,” he said. “I have two main sponsors that help with the cost: Motor City and Peniuk farms."
Pristie hopes to build a weight sleigh of his own to bring the sport of antique tractor and truck pulls to the local area to help generate more interest in the sport.
“Next year I hope to attend more competitions and improve as the season progresses," he said.
