To start the year 2023, and after a few months of planning, the Yellow Power Caterpillar Community was officially formed and held its first Director’s meeting. Congratulations to all who helped, participated and worked on this effort.
Approximately 35 people attended the formation meeting and the following Director’s meeting.
The following Directors and officers were elected:
- Director & President: Dave Wintermute
- Director & Vice-President: Bruce Vinkler
- Secretary: Dan Hansan
- Director & Treasurer: Peter Bloom
- Director: Jim Clack
- Director: Kent Bates
- Director: Loma Berndsen
- Director: Bill Robertson
- Director: Julie Russell
- Director: Nathan Duncan
The meeting worked thru the formal details of the formation as well as the general details of the start-up. Still a few items to be finalized yet. Great progress thanks to all.
I just wanted to share a few things about myself and the Yellow Power Caterpillar Community.
My Caterpillar experience started on the seat of a D-6 9U back in 1964. We used it for digging farm ponds and field terraces as the U.S., Conservation Service funded these projects back in the day. That long undercarriage, low center of gravity, and power made it the best grading machine of its day. We sold the D-6 in the 1980s and I was able to buy it back when I started collecting the old Caterpillar machines. I restored it and put it in the barn, graded my son’s house he was building, touched up the paint, and put it back in the barn where it resides today.
As my collection spans Caterpillar tractors from a 1923 Holt 10-ton thru a 1965 D4D, I have been thinking much about the Mission and Strategic Vision of Yellow Power Caterpillar Community as it relates to my life and career in the 52 years spanning from 1964 -2016 and how its relates to the younger generation of today. The evolution of Caterpillar machinery thru my 52-year span included many developments by Caterpillar machinery that greatly impacted operator proficiency and productivity which were beneficial and added to business success.
Yellow Power Caterpillar Community Mission Statement
“Provide a dynamic community to capture and share the evolution of Caterpillar equipment, products, and technology, including Caterpillar’s predecessors, Best and Holt.”
These are some of the Caterpillar developments and milestones that stand out in my memories over my career years in the earthmoving business:
- The change from the Johnson bar transmissions to the powershift transmission in bulldozers, track loaders, and graders.
- The development of the six-way blade D-3, D-4, and D5. (Back in the day our company philosophy was if a D-8 was too big for the job, we would use a D-6. I was never exposed to the smaller Caterpillars, D2 and D4 machines until the six-way blade machines came out - except for my hobby of collecting in later years.)
- The change from Bucyrus Erie Cable excavators to Caterpillar Hydraulic excavators in the 1970s. (225, 235, and 245) and a few other brands in between.
- The change from tractor pulled scrapers to the DW-21s, to the 627s, and eventually to the 637 push-pull scrapers.
- The development of the Caterpillar articulated truck.
- The development of the Caterpillar 4-wd integrated 416 loader-backhoe.
- The wheel loader development of the straight frame machine to the articulated frame machine.
- The development of integrated GPS grading systems in the bulldozers and graders.
- The manufacturing of milling machines, pavers, and compactors.
- Finally, the development of the rubber track skid steer machines.
The most pleasure I enjoy from the Caterpillar collecting hobby is the people I meet thru the various shows and events. My wife and I have made many long-term valued relationships that we have enjoyed over the years. We always enjoy the stories of people from all walks of life and the perspectives gained from these relationships and look forward to many more in the future. Hoping that you enjoy the people in the hobby (as well as the Caterpillar machinery) as much as we do.
All are welcome and looking forward to meeting you at a Yellow Power Caterpillar Community event.
Thanks,
Dave
