BY JEFF SMYTH

                Tearing down the interstate at speeds far surpassing the legal limit I find little need for idle chitchat. There are more than 2,250 miles to cover before arriving at the final destination -- Seattle, Wash. -- and each bend in the road and click of the odometer is enough distraction for me. I instruct my copilot to buckle in and fire up the iPod. There won’t be any father-daughter bonding happening here.

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By Jeff Smyth

                Blaine Kauffman and Danny Vaugh stood under a shade tree at the American Thresherman Association (ATA) show in Pinckneyville looking like a couple of rival gang members. Both were flying their colors; Kauffman in green because he’s in the John Deere tribe, and Vaugh in red declaring his allegiance to International Harvester. They began to talk smack.

                “The only tractor company in the United States that hasn’t gone under is John Deere,” Kauffman crowed. “International has, Oliver has and Allis-Chalmers has.”

                “That because all those companies were run by very honest people,” Vaugh swiped back. “Tractors are like tomatoes. They are best when they are red.”

                The 51^st Annual Steam, Gas and Threshing Show will be held Aug. 18-21 at the Perry County Fairgrounds. This year’s featured tractor is the Massey-Ferguson line.

                Charles Greer, president of the American Thresherman Association (ATA) that hosts the event, said he expects 1,300 exhibits including 900 antique tractors of all makes to be displayed. Greer also anticipates huge crowds including attendance of more than 10,000 on Saturday alone. He figures the total gate will be around 14,000.