More than 1,000 antique tractors Paradeen over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan – Jalopnik

Every weekend after Labor Day, the cities of Michigan of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace de Mackinac Bridge, which connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan while it extends over a straight between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing Is more than just the intersection itself, but a celebration of the agricultural heritage of this area. Although the bridge is technically 75, the event gets special permission to take over the correct lane from the northern side for the parade. The intersection lasts a few hours, with tractors starting their departure from Mackinaw City at 8.30 am and keep coming in St. Ignace until 2:00 pm

Food trucks parking and the two cities arrange different competitions and activities take place on either side of the bridge in the days before and after the intersection. Both cities can host displays of more than 1,000 vintage tractors, the highlight of which is the intersection across the bridge on Saturday. Participating tractors this year must be from 1982 or earlier, those owners can still repair themselves and are blessed from technology that can sometimes have modern tractors managed.

The Mackinac bridge is the only road connection between the two halves of Michigan. The Mackinac Bridge Authority Says the idea of ​​such a bridge since the end of the 19th century, but it took until the 1950s to become a reality, partly thanks to the two world wars that diverted financing and resources. The construction of the Five-Mile Bridge started in 1954 and it opened to the public on November 1, 1957. It is the third longest suspension bridge in the US and the longest suspension bridge in the world between anchorages. Jam made handy A short movie About the construction of the bridge shortly after completion, if you want to know more.

Our readers say that Mighty Mac is one of the best bridges in the world to drive over, as well as one of the scariest. The winds along the street of Mackinac can force high -profile vehicles to slow up to 20 mph and even need an escort. Sometimes of intense weather the mighty Mac closes completely and for a good reason; In 1989 a Yugo was completely blown off the bridge, killing the female driver. However, that is no problem for the ancient tractors, which are only necessary to keep 10 MPH during the parade and intersection.