2014 NTPA Hall of Fame: Gardner Stone

Our first inductee into the NTPA Hall of Fame became a popular figure in the sport as his unabashed personality and drive for success by means of being different gained him fans across the country. Similar to his successful business ventures in his hometown of Middlebury, Vermont, Gardner Stone has found success on pulling tracks across the nation.
Gardner had an interesting start to his pulling career. He was familiar with competing as he drag raced locally in Vermont. After watching a local pulling event in Rutland, Vermont, Stone was impressed with what he saw. He also attended an NTPA indoor event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and witnessed for the first time the Modified Tractors, and he decided to get into the sport in time for the 1978 season.
He elected to start small-literally-as he had Pro Trac Engineering build a Mini Rod frame equipped with a 427 carbureted Chevy with aluminum heads producing 500 horsepower. Gardner chose the name “Widow Maker” for the Mini and was eager to see what it could do. Incredibly, Stone had never seen the division compete, so the first Mini class that he entered in Walton, New York was also his first time witnessing the class. Wouldn’t you know, Stone drew the first hook and watched the class for the first time from the driver’s seat. One full pull later, which led to a pair of wins for the event, and one could say that Stone was “hooked.”
In the winter of 1988, Stone traveled overseas, making exhibition passes at the European Championships in Holland with “The General” as well as hooking in France. However, Gardner was feeling that he had gone about as far as he could with the Allison engines (as he was pushing them to their limits) and concluded that a new power plant was in order. He spoke with pulling legend Art Arfons about what turbine engine would best suit and then worked with Marv Kottman to purchase four General Electric T-55 Lycoming turbine engines.
In 1988, the “General Stage IV” was created, and it took a full season to dial in the very powerful jet-turbine configuration. In true Gardner Stone spirit, it was unique in every way. After all, it was the first time that anyone had utilized four turbine engines in one application-including the military, which used a pair in Chinook helicopters-and Stone was admittedly a novice when it came to the turbine, as it was 10 years earlier with the Allison powerplant. But he figured it out.
By 1989, Stone was beginning to find reliability and wins with “The General Stage IV.” And by the end of the 1990 season, he had earned a pair of NTPA Grand National titles in both weight categories that were offered; his first and second titles came in that one magical season. In 1991, Stone ended up a runner-up to the Banter Brothers in the points race.
All told, Gardner Stone earned five NTPA Grand National titles, won classes at all of the major pulling events of his generation, and supported the organization during its tougher days. Many times Stone was heard to say, “Run what ya brung, and hope ya brung enough,” and over the NTPA’s storied history, more times than not, Stone brung enough-enough to place himself among the sport’s best of the best.

[@wickedwieselmachine2790]

a legend of pulling! guys like him are what keeps my pulling dream alive

[@markbranthoover9198]

Gardner called me on nite, asking me to come to middlebury to test his new creation with my sled, so technically i was the sled to hook a 4 turbine tractor, i was there a week till the bugs and chassis were ironed out!

[@bigredracer7848]

Thanks for the great video upload guys

[@maynardreed4036]

G stone motors is just over the mountain from me. I remember Gardner pulling back in the old day with the original general.

[@douglasadams6024]

blowing up 12 allisons what a shame!!

[@veravanheeswijk2027]

Die Gardner Stone kon er wat van maar die turbines bij elkaar op geteld doen al wel 12.000 PK!

[@SOU6900]

I want to say I've seen him pull at Pinetops, but it's hard to remember really. I know I have seen some turbines though for sure pull at Pinetops.

[@lowellmiller6663]

Thanks for the nice video. It would be much better without the music that makes it hard to understand

[@shawnjerome8599]

His 428 Chevy engine came out of my family's long time friends son's 1970 1/2 Z28 COMARO, true story,car lived on monkton VT owned by the late,charle ( little Charlie) Parker, engine was sold because he almost lost his life then when he totalled the Z28, I'd love to get my hands on that motor,RIP little Charlie and the 427 big block, PS,this was told to me over 35 yrs ago so if I'm wrong about anything,I apologise

[@gordmcdonald2807]

Nice video but the music was louder than the speaker.

[@bigredracer7848]

RUclips is not let me give you 👍 up look in to it