Red Power Roundup

They went that'a way!
It's been 11 years since I've been to an IH winter show but but I had better not wait that long again, and neither should you.

It was a sea of red and black in Grand Rapids, MI over the weekend. After arriving at the airport, I caught a hotel shuttle back to the Crown Plaza. The driver asked if I was in town for the IH convention and I said "yes". He leaned over and whispered to me "Don't say John Deere around them." I laughed because it was obvious he had already made that mistake.

I had a nice visit with many of the collectors whom I had never met. And it's always great to visit with Dennis and Sallie of the Red Power magazine as we share thoughts and ideas for providing the best magazines we can to the tractor enthusiasts.

Up until this past year, my literature collection has only consisted of the Meadow Green colors. However, I've had to expand my search for other colors providing a rainbow of flavor to my literature room. This show caused me to rob the ATM machine twice! When it was all said and done, I had acquired 27 pounds of literature that had to be shipped home.

The banquet is the grand finale of the event. Machinery Pete played the role of guest speaker as he talked about auction prices and where he thinks equipment values are at this time. He brought up the subject of tractors from the 60s and 70s and said the interest in that equipment was causing prices to rise and he thought that series of tractors was the wave of the future in collecting. As I sat there smiling, the man sitting next to me leaned over and asked "Did you pay him to say that?" Nope, but I'm sure glad that he validated what I've been saying for the last year. That leaves one direction for Heritage Iron.....UP!

The next issue of HI features the V8 Internationals. While I was in Grand Rapids, I interviewed the engineer who worked in the engine plant for IH. He had quite a few noteworthy comments. Check out the next issue to read all about it.