Welcome to Bob

IMPORTANT MACKINAC BRIDGE INFORMATION.

RE: Flow of Bridge Traffic Concern by the MBA

Date: July 26, 2010

From: Bob Baumgras

www.owossotractorparts.com

To All Club Presidents and Club Representatives, visitors and all member's families and friends.

My last meeting with the Mackinac Bridge Authority resulted in a request from the MBA to all tractor participants, families and friends..

During our 2009 Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing the general traffic became congested and caused numerous delays and backups on the bridge. We are not talking about the tractors on the bridge, just the general public.

The MBA observed cars slowing down beside tractor drivers to video tape and photo tractor drives while on the bridge side by side at the same speed. This resulted in the general public, cars, trucks, campers to backup on the bridge considerable. Once the slow down starts, it's hard to get traffic flowing again. They DO NOT have a problem with video and photos of tractors being taken while crossing the bridge in a car. The problem is those who slow down side by side and keep pace with a tractor and even stop to video or take photos. This starts the backup.

While they realize not all of these car drivers were even related to the tractor event, they want us to pass on the word to keep moving and not to drive side by side a tractor at the same speed.

On the Mackinac Bridge a single lane should handle 800 cars per hour. After that it backs up and causes delays for the general public who may or may not have anything to do with the tractor crossing.

We will have further discussions on this at our representative meeting in August. However, I would like to get the word out now for those who still have meetings and newsletters coming out.

I will also post this information on the web site.

Your co-operation and that of your members is truly appreciated so we can keep this a successful event. Please pass on this information so we can avert possible alternatives in crossing the bridge.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Sincerely

Bob Baumgras