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Bowling Green, Missouri and
Vaughansville, Ohio found out farmers were doing this and that it drew spectators. By 1950, county fairs across the country started featuring tractor pulls. Spectators found it fascinating to see machines that would âPull on Sunday, plow on Mondayâ. At first competitors would use a âHuman Dragâ, meaning a drag that was weighted by humans, different people would be added as the tractor made it down the track. However, organizers began to look at different ways to add weight to the drag, as spectators walking on the drag while moving proved to be a hazard. In the late 60s, a weight-exchanging drag was created, the drag that was created was basically a flatbed truck trailer with wheels near the back and a drag at the front. A mass that is moveable of up to 65,000 pounds or 29,000 kilograms, the mass starts at the back of the sled, slowly working its way up to the top as the drag moves down the track.
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they weigh only 930 kilograms (2,050 lb). Today's engine is capable of a minimum of 1,800 kilowatts (2,500 PS) on methanol or ethanol. Their reputation is known as the wildest ride in pulling, as naturally it is a very high horsepower to weight ratio. Whereas, their larger counterparts, the
Modifieds, will weigh 2,700, 3,400 and 3,600 kilograms (6,000, 7,500 and 8,000 lb), utilizing the same engine that a Mini has, but, with multiple powerplants per custom built tractor chassis. Usually, a maximum of five engines is all that will make the 3,600 kilograms (8,000 lb) weight limit.
446:(3,700 PS) and 7,500 newton-meters (5,500 lbfâ
ft) of torque In recent years, new classes have been created to appeal to different groups of pullers. There is now a class called Limited Pro Stock that is limited to 10,500 cm (640 cu in) engine and 100 millimeters (4.1 in) turbocharger. This class typically pulls at 4,200â4,300 kilograms (9,300â9,500 lb) and is slightly restricted, as opposed to the Pro Stock class, which can run up to 11,100 cm (680 cu in) engine and an unrestricted size
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230:. This means that, as it is pulled down the track, the weight is transferred (linked with gears to the dragâs wheels) from over the rear axles and towards the front of the drag. In front of the rear wheels, instead of front wheels, there is a "pan". This is essentially a metal plate, and as the weight moves toward it, the resistance between the pan and the ground builds. The farther the tractor pulls the drag, the more difficult it gets.
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286:. In other situations, a flat board or skid would have a horse or team of horses then hitched to it; weight would be added, usually in the form of rocks, and the driver would urge his horses to pull the load, with more weight added as competitors were eliminated; the animals pulling the most weight or for the greatest distance were judged the strongest. These events became the formalized sport of
332:(NTPA). The NTPA's early years were events that used standard farm vehicles, with the motto "Pull on Sunday, plow on Monday". Pulling remained basically the same through the '70s, with only stock and modified tractors. Stock tractors were commercially available tractors produced by manufacturers, and modified tractors were the basic tractor chassis with another non-tractor engine mounted on it.
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tractors may use up to four turbochargers in three stages. The Diesel super stock tractors generate close to 3,700 kilowatts (5,000 PS) and 8,100 newton-metres (6,000 lbfâ
ft) of torque and are allowed to compete in the Open class, which very rarely occurs anymore. However, a true Open (methanol fuel) tractor is not allowed to compete in the Diesel class.
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The
Australian Tractor Pullers Association (ATPA) is a non-profit organisation that governs Tractor Pulling in Australia. Their events (Tractor Pulls) are held in conjunction with a promoter. This is often a local school, sporting, service or community club (for example; Apex, Rotary, Lions, Netball,
445:
Diesel Pro Stock
Tractors are limited to one turbocharger and diesel fuel is the only allowable source for power, in keeping with the 'spirit' of the original tractors. The maximum engine displacement is 11,100 cubic centimeters (680 cu in). These engines can achieve around 2,700 kilowatts
482:
The tractors are divided into different weight classes based on the tractor weight, the weight classes starting at 2,500 and ending at 14,000 pounds (1,100 to 6,400 kg). The tractors could go in any class they choose, with many adding weight for the higher weighted classes. In order to be able
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Antique tractor pulling is how tractor pulling first got started (although the tractors were just modern tractors at that time). As early as 1929, farmers began attaching their tractors to drags, and dragging it down a field to see who could pull it the furthest. People who were event organizers at
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Super Stock tractor Open class uses primarily methanol fuel (some are diesel versions). The Super Stock Open machines can generate over 4,400 kilowatts (6,000 PS) an 5,400 newton-meters (4,000 lbfâ
ft) of torque, with billet or re-cast engine blocks. Super Stock Open and Super Stock Diesel
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The
National Tractor Pullers Association restricts engines to 9,420 cm (575 cu in) and two valves per cylinder. They permit tubular steel frames. The maximum tire size for the 2WD class is 470 mm Ă 410 mm (18.4 in Ă 16.1 in), with a maximum circumference
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In the early days two main techniques were used. Either a dead weight of fixed mass was dragged, or the step-on method was used, where people stood at fixed positions and stepped aboard as the drag passed. Another rule which has now been dropped was that a speed limit should be observed because of
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The mini-modified class is a highly specialized and custom built tractor to be fitted with a naturally aspirated engine, at minimum. NTPA Minis are limited to 9,420 cm (575 cu in) (always an aftermarket V-8 engine block) and uses up to a 14-71 hi helix supercharger. With the driver,
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The division imposes a weight-limit of 2,800 kilograms (6,200 lb) on each competing truck, a maximum width of 2.4 meters (8 ft), and a maximum distance of 4.6 meters (15 ft) from the centerline of the rear axle to the front of the vehicle (including weight racks and tow hook). (The
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Today's drags use a complex system of gears to move weights up to 29,000 kilograms (65,000 lb). Upon starting, all the weights are over the drag's rear axles, to give an effective weight of the drag plus zero. As the tractor travels the course, the weights are pushed forward off the drag's
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The tractors are divided into classes and comply with either "Limited" or "Open" rules. The classes are Open
Modified, Super Modified, Limited Modified, Open Mini Modified, Mini Modified, Pro Stock (diesel) and Two Wheel Drive Trucks. The distinction between classes is determined by the overall
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The latest addition to Pro Stocks is the Light Pro Stock Class that typically pulls 3,800â3,900 kilograms (8,300â8,600 lb) depending on location. These tractors are limited to 8,800 cm (540 cu in) engines but can run any size turbo. They are not allowed to run intercoolers,
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Apart from modified standard diesel tractors, a variety of high power engines are used in tractor pulling, which started in the late 1970s. In the early years, mainly single, double or multiple US-made big block dragster engines were used, but nowadays, a lot of parts from discarded military
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Cricket, Football) who use the event as a fundraiser. Tractor Pulls are held in locations throughout
Australia, predominantly in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. In the west the Western Australian Tractor Pullers Association (WATPA) runs events and is affiliated with the ATPA.
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in 1976, which captured a large fan base. The engine sizes in these vehicles continued to increase, from 7,400 cubic centimeters (450 cu in) up to 11,000 cubic centimeters (700 cu in) and probably would have continued, but the NTPA limited it to 10,700 cubic centimetres
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Most antique tractors when pulling use about 14â15 pounds (6.4â6.8 kg) in their tires. There is also a drawbar rule, it is to be a minimum of two square inches (13 cm) in total steel at any point, as well must be rigid in all directions. The hitching device can be no more than
102:
343:. Other innovators during this period included Bruce Hutcherson, with his triple Rodeck engine powered "Makin Bacon Special", Dave and Ralph Banter and their Chevrolet powered tractors, and the "Mission Impossible" tractors of Tim Engler, which at one point had up to seven
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inches (76 mm Ă 95 mm) diameter. The drawbar on a tractor should be no shorter than 18 inches (460 mm) from the center of the rear axle to the point of the hitch. All the weights on a tractor must be fixed. All drivers when pulling must remain seated.
103:
278:, farmers would boast about the strength of their teams and seek to compare and contest in teams with one another to see who had the most powerful animals. In some cases, they compared horse teams pulling large loads over distance, such as a fully loaded hay
578:
The ATPA is focused on actively promoting this spectacular sport and working with communities to not only establish a unique annual event, but more importantly to assist communities financially through the influx of spectators, sponsors and promotion.
571:. It has developed over the years into a highly competitive and technical sport, where the difference between first and last place may be as small as one or two metres. Often the top tractors are separated by mere centimetres.
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completes the course, more weight is added to the drag, and those competitors that moved past 91 metres (300 ft) will compete in a pull-off; the winner is the one who can pull the drag the farthest. The drag is known as a
586:
Competition is open to both women and men, the only restriction being that competitors must at least hold a current
Learner Driverâs Permit. It sometimes comes down to members of the same family competing for the trophies.
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The Junior
Modified Pulling Association conducts an "introductory" class for 8- to 16-year-olds to develop driving, mechanical and competitive skills. The Modified Mowers pull their own smaller version of the big sled.
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pull a heavy drag or sled along an 11-meter-wide (35 ft), 100-meter-long (330 ft) track, with the winner being the tractor that pulls the drag the farthest. Tractor pulling is popular in certain areas of the
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however these tractors are making an average of 1,800â2,100 kilowatts (2,500â2,800 PS). The light overall weight makes this a driver's class as significant skill is required to keep the tractor on the track.
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of 3,600 mm (143 in) when mounted on an 460-millimeter (18 in) rim and inflated to 190 kilopascals (28 psi). The ground patch is not to exceed 480 millimeters (19 in) on original tread.
294:, specially bred to have high strength for pulling heavy loads. Today, fixed weights on drags are dragged for a set distance and additional weight is added in successive rounds. While it is said that the term
101:
317:. Although the sport was recognized then, it did not really become popular until the '50s and '60s. It was also realized, at that time, there were no uniform set of rules. The rules varied from
483:
to compete in
Antique tractor pull competitions a tractor must perform at its original speed. Some pulling competitions will have a âdynoâ, connecting the PTO shaft on the tractor to a
673:, refuse to sell engines from their collection to customers that wish to use them for tractor pulling. In recent years a number of agricultural engines have been converted to run on
368:
Throughout the '70s and '80s the modified division continued to thrill crowds by adding more engines, and soon the tractors lost their tractor appearance and turned into high 'spec'
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to test the horsepower. If a tractor shows it has more horsepower than the original tractor is supposed to have, it is placed into an alternate class called âModified Tractorsâ.
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All tractors in their respective classes pull a set weight in the drag. When a tractor gets to the end of the 100 meter track, this is known as a "full pull". When more than one
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in 1989. Today the 4-wheel drive division is one of the most popular with the success of trucks like the Holman Brothers "4-Play" Chevy and Bob Boden's "Studley Studebaker".
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The first Australian Tractor Pull was held at the Elmore Field Days (Victoria) in 1976. The following year saw Tractor Pulling begin in the Victorian rural town of
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There is light Super Stock class which is 2,800 kilograms (6,200 lb) and the Heavy Super Stock Classes that are 3,630â3,740 kilograms (8,000â8,250 lb).
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axles, pushing the front of the drag into the ground, synthetically creating a gain in weight until the tractor is no longer able to overcome the force of
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injuries resulting from the increased speed at which they boarded. Today's tractors can achieve theoretical speeds over 200 km/h (125 mph).
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In 1969, representatives from eight states congregated to create a uniform book of rules to give the sport the much needed structure, and created the
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365:. Soon tractors became single-use machines that were not used on the farm, making the "Pull on Sunday, plow on Monday" motto obsolete.
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Subsequently, modified tractors with four engines were common, while stock tractors tried to catch up by adding multiple large
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could pull a heavy load over the longest distance. The first known competitions using motorized tractors were held in 1929 in
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Alcohol methane engines with up to eight cylinders are permitted, but diesel engines are not. Any wheelbase is permitted.
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2010 Pulling Rules, National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA), A division of World Pulling International, Inc. (WPI)
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218:. The sport is known as the world's most powerful motorsport, due to the multi-engined modified tractor pullers.
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to county, and competitors never knew what standards to follow. This made the sport difficult for new entrants.
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is derived from this event, the concept was developed earlier, in experiments and measurements performed by
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in the 1950s and 1960s. From there it gradually spread to Canada, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.
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length restriction allows for up to 250 millimeters (10 in) of cosmetic fiberglass, however.)
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Tractors remained single engine until two Ohio brothers, Carl and Paul Bosse, introduced the
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624:. Most drags have grouser bars that act like teeth and dig into the soil to stop the sled.
8:
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533:-inch (29 mm) round stock (1 in or 25 mm square), the hole has to be 3 by
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372:. The limit was reached in 1988 when a tractor with seven engines was built. As well as
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It wasn't until 1929 that motorized vehicles were put to use in the first events at
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competitions in which farmers would compete with one another to see whose teams of
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Light Modified (5,700 lb.) class tractor, Weeping Water, Nebraska
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engines remaining, some organisations that own them, such as the
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The growing popularity of the sport caused the creation of a new
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maximum weight, engine modifications, fuels and physical size.
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which could allow multiple engines to be attached to a single
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A truck pulling at the 2011 Mackville Nationals â 1.43MB
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252:. Tractor pulling became popular in rural areas across the
47:
850:. Lake Country Antique Tractor Association. Archived from
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History of tractor/power pulling and sled technology
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43:
Modified tractor with three 1500 hp V8 engines
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519: in or 38 mm square), or less than
797:"PEI Truck & Tractor Pull Championships"
270:Prior to the invention of the tractor, when
722:"Tractor Pulling during the 1950s and 60s"
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75:Super Stock class Tractor, Fonda, New York
999:Warbirds and Airshows - Fantasy of Flight
950:"-- Green Spirit tractor pulling team --"
434:Super stock, pro-stock, and mini-modified
137:competition in which antique or modified
939:2009-12-22 at the Portuguese Web Archive
873:Four different tractors of a German team
661:). Due to the limited number of vintage
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419:(2WD) division was introduced in 1983.
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462:and oxidizers were outlawed in 1976.
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233:Tractor pulling originated from pre-
1001:, website retrieved 20 August 2013.
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1025:the rules of tractor/power pulling
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975:"Roude LĂ©iw TRACTOR PULLING TEAM"
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641:from Russian helicopters, Soviet
411:Two-wheel-drive (2WD) truck class
910:"Kiepenkerl Tractorpulling Team"
677:with multi-stage turbocharging.
505:-inch (38 mm) round stock (
117:Problems playing this file? See
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1030:United Pullers of the Carolinas
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388:unit hitting the hook in 1989.
380:(frequently mistakenly called "
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801:www.peitruckandtractorpull.com
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32:For the human equivalent, see
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633:machinery are in use, like
450:, along with intercoolers.
27:Motorsport competition form
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59:John Deere Pulling Tractor
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1042:Tractor and truck pulling
824:"Pulling 101 - NTPA Pull"
127:Truck and tractor pulling
1015:Origins of horse pulling
466:Antique tractor pulling
311:Bowling Green, Missouri
645:torpedo boat engines,
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474:Oliver Antique Tractor
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258:Southern United States
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228:weight transfer drag
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651:Rolls-Royce Griffon
562:Sheffield, Tasmania
401:naturally aspirated
315:Vaughansville, Ohio
158:(especially in the
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266:History in the US
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227:
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204:South Africa
130:
126:
125:
116:
34:Vehicle pull
29:
18:Tractor pull
643:Zvezda M503
639:turboshafts
485:dynamometer
382:jet engines
216:New Zealand
176:Netherlands
168:Switzerland
1055:Categories
985:2010-05-22
960:2010-05-16
920:2010-05-16
895:2010-05-17
885:"Isotov 1"
848:"The Sled"
833:2015-09-07
806:2020-03-31
736:2020-03-31
693:References
669:museum in
569:Quambatook
386:turboshaft
341:driveshaft
321:to state,
300:James Watt
296:horsepower
254:Midwestern
135:motorsport
119:media help
637:(Isotov)
370:dragsters
196:Australia
1066:Tractors
937:Archived
681:See also
675:methanol
653:) or as
622:friction
396:division
337:crossbox
250:Kentucky
246:Missouri
139:tractors
1009:Sources
858:27 July
671:Florida
663:warbird
628:Engines
542:⁄
528:⁄
514:⁄
500:⁄
403:and no
363:tractor
348:alcohol
223:tractor
208:Vietnam
192:Germany
188:Denmark
180:Belgium
1046:Curlie
774:6 June
323:county
313:, and
276:horses
200:Brazil
172:Sweden
164:Greece
156:Europe
152:Canada
148:Mexico
345:blown
319:state
284:wagon
212:India
184:Italy
860:2011
776:2022
603:Sled
415:The
302:and
280:cart
256:and
248:and
214:and
190:and
1044:at
282:or
194:),
1057::
826:.
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198:,
186:,
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174:,
170:,
166:,
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154:,
150:,
146:,
988:.
963:.
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778:.
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544:4
540:3
537:+
535:3
530:8
526:1
523:+
521:1
516:2
512:1
509:+
507:1
502:2
498:1
495:+
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121:.
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