They call it tractor pulling and it's kind of like a visit to the speedway for revhead farmers.

Events attract farmers and DIY mechanics and engineers who modify farm tractors to maximise power and torque.

This week, Allan Arthur transported two hotted-up old tractors more than 1,200 kilometres from Albury in New South Wales, to participate in a tractor pulling exhibition in Miles, on Queensland's Western Downs.

In a competition setting, tractors are usually rigged to weighted sleds but in Miles, it was a 20-plus-tonne grader testing tractor pulling power.

At this tractor pulling exhibition at Miles, the challenge was to tow a 20-plus-tonne grader. ( ABC Southern Queensland: Nathan Morris )

One of the two tractors Mr Arthur competes with is a decades-old Super 90 Chamberlain, originally about a 90 horsepower machine.

"We've put a V12 GM two-stroke in it — it's about 450 horsepower," he said.

"We did it just as a bit of joke and blinged it up a bit."

To fit the larger engine, and compensate for the extra weight and power, the chassis of the Chamberlain had to be extended.

Allan Arthur turned this tractor into a 450-horsepower pulling machine. ( ABC Southern Queensland: Nathan Morris )

"Then we put a bit of power steering off a header on it. It's a bit of fun," Mr Arthur said.

His other tractor is an old John Deere 6030, once a trusty 200-horsepower piece of farming equipment.

"The motor was blown up in it. This was a about a $3,000 wreck," he said.

"What we did was put in a 1671 so, a 16-cylinder, 71-cubic-inch Detroit diesel it, and it's all about the noise it makes.

"It does really good circle work this thing."

Allan Arthur turned this $3,000 6030 John Deere wreck into a 16-cylinder racing tractor. ( ABC Southern Queensland: Nathan Morris )

Down the road from Miles, retired Dalby farmer Phil Kruger stands proudly next to his Ford Super Major, but he has made some changes under the bonnet.

"I'm just running a 302 Cleveland in an old Fordson Super Major that we built ourselves," Mr Kruger said.

As the chain tightens and the tractor lurches forward, the engine roars and the wheels spin, throwing dirt and rubber.

Highly modified old tractors lined up in Miles to show off their pulling power. ( ABC Southern Queensland: Nathan Morris )

"It's fun. There's nothing like pulling that throttle back on the V8 motor. It's great," Mr Kruger said.

He built the blue beast about eight years ago, and after thrashing it at events around the region, he has only had one minor repair.

The old Fordson just keeps on going.