For [MU’s Torq’N Tigers](http://www.facebook.com/MizzouTractor?sk=wall&filter=2), competition day is more than just showing up in a shiny tractor.

Teams bring their literal A-game to the [International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition](http://www.asabe.org/pr/recent/QS11PostEvent.pdf), which is hosted by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. A tractor that has never been shown to the judges before is referred to as the A-Team tractor.

The Torq’N Tigers competed June 2-5 in Peoria, Ill., where its tractor represented at least one year’s worth of work. As part of a 2,320-point evaluation, retired engineers from Caterpiller and John Deere judged the tractors on overall design and presentation, co-captain Seth Wheeler said.

In the annual competition, the quarter-scale tractors, which are no bigger than the average lawn tractor, are put through rigorous tests involving maneuverability, safety, ergonomics and sound levels. And, of course, the actual tractor pull.

The Torq’N Tigers won the 1,500-pound weight class at the competition, securing a seventh-place finish for tractor pulling.

“A sled is hooked on to the tractor and more force is added,” co-captain Del Appleby said. “The object is to pull it the furthest. There were the 1,000-pound and the 1,500-pound classes. Each tractor will run each twice. We were the middle of the pack for the 1,000.”

After winning the sound level category, MU placed 13th place overall. Kansas State took first for the eighth time in 14 years.

Next year, ASABE will shake up the competition by changing the engine requirements. Previously, the stock engines were twin 16-horsepower, and consistent among all the tractors to level the playing field. For the 2011-2012 school year, tractors will be fitted with one 31-horsepower engine. A higher horsepower engine correlates with a more powerful tractor.

“It’s lighter than in previous years,” team adviser Dan Downing said.

To prepare for next year, the team will pay precise attention to the rules, Appleby said.

“We were playing in grey areas,” he said.

His co-captain agreed.

“We need to go over safety and ergonomics,” Wheeler said.

The tractor that just competed becomes the X-Team tractor, meaning it can come back a second year for evaluation, Downing said.

“If they make the modifications to it that are recommended by the judges, then they have the opportunity to pull the tractor again,” Downing said. “So that’s what I hope they’ll be able to do (next year), and then also develop a new tractor from scratch.”

Appleby said he gets a kick out of the team’s name, Torq’N Tigers, because it puts some torque on the ground.