Caterpillar Operator Challenge Finals 2008

Everybody knows that a Caterpillar keeps on working, and working, and working…

The quality of the machine is legendary, stretching back to the early years of the 20′th century (See the latest issue of Cat Magazine for a 1929 Caterpillar 15 which is still working).

The quality was constantly proved in demonstrations by Dealers since Caterpillar started it’s business. An ancient Caterpillar Company book from the 1920’s praises how Dealers have proved the value and new techniques for operating Cat machines through their demonstrations. Maybe what isn’t so obvious however, is how Caterpillar machines have proved themselves IN COMPETITION since the early days.

And to prove that statement all we have to do is look at the amazing video of the Great Caterpillar Races from 1930 .

What you may not notice in the crazy antics of these men and their machines, is the attention to safety – that’s because there wasn’t any. None. Just ask your great-grandfather what it was like.

Unlike the hairy-chested, heart-in-mouth days of the Caterpillar Races, when death or serious injury were a constant possibility, Safety is now just as important as competing, and is strictly enforced. If a bad enough safety breach occurs, a competitor will be ejected from a test. Caterpillar’s safety.cat.com website gives the message which matters: “Safely Home. Everyone. Every day”. The machines in this test are not toys. Safety matters.

When we describe the tests this week, please keep in mind that it’s not just major safety errors which hurt a competitor (or a job site productivity), if a competitor does not adhere to all of the guidelines which surround these challenges, then maximum points are removed from his score. The will to compete must not override what is most important: Protecting the Operator, Ground Crew, and Machine. Nobody yet has successfully operated a machine while recovering in a hospital bed, or from a cemetery.

Having reinforced that message! Let’s get to the competition and start powering all those yellow, metal machines.