Noll project turns into "Bad Habit"

KENNETH LASSITER/OSKALOOSA INDEPENDENT
Vol. 149, Number 2

Chris Noll admits his senior project from this past school year at Jefferson County North High School has turned out better than he expected.

Noll, with some assistance from his cousin, JCN junior Matt Noll, and buddy and fellow senior, Joel Wallace, turned an old 1972 Ford 120 lawn mower his dad, David, had sitting around on their rural Winchester farm into "Bad Habit," a souped-up, high-powered garden tractor now reaping the "Noll Pulling" team accolades at area garden tractor pulls.

Chris Noll's interest in the project began after seeing some garden tractor pulls last summer in the area. When the modified garden tractors began pulling, Noll said he discovered his senior project idea.

"They started rolling out the (machines) like this, and I decided that's what I was gonna do," he said. Chris is the son of David and Jeanette Noll.

Starting after Christmas, he began working after school and basketball practice late into the night to convert the old mower into a finely tuned pulling machine. Matt, who like Chris has interests in small engine work, chipped in while Wallace helped mainly as what he calls a "go-fer" for the project while working on his own senior project for a computer presentation for the county health department.

The mower was rebuilt almost from scratch as only the frame, grill, dashboard and foot pegs remain from the original mower. A 1979 Ford Ranger four-cylinder engine was installed along with modifications of corrugated metal for the sides and other major work. By the time Chris' senior project rolled around April 4, the machine wasn't complete but was almost ready to go. Chris and Matt had a goal that the machine would be running by the time of the presentation and, the night before, they got it running. Chris received an outstanding mark on his presentation but, b y that time, was too engaged in the project to let it stop there. Matt came up with the name for the modified garden tractor while sitting in class on day and found it fitting.

"I was sitting there trying to think of a good name and was trying to think of something to go with 'Bad,'" Matt said. "Somebody mentioned 'Bad Habit,' and it just worked."

Chris agreed the name fits well.

"This really has become kind of a bad habit for us, working on this," he said with a laugh.

"Yeah, we like to say, 'It's a little more than a hobby, it's a Bad Habit,'" Matt added.

The duo continued working on the tractor along with some help from Wallace and, by the time summer vacation rolled around, they had the machine ready to go for the pulling season. the tractor was repainted bright blue to match the original Ford colors and Chris' sister, Laura Noll, who attends Kansas State University, designed and had stickers printed for the tractor. She has also chipped in with some public relations work and work on the team's website at www.nollpulling.com.

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"I figured we'd have to work with it a little bit and figure everything out for a few weeks," Chris said. He plans to study heavy equipment and diesel mechanics at North Central Kansas Technical School in Beloit, while Wallace plans to study computer science and Kansas State University and Matt hasn't set plans yet as an incoming senior but is also leaning toward NCKTS. "I really didn't expect to do as well as we've done."

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The work will continue on "Bad Habit" as Chris and Matt would like to add a roll cage and lighten the frame. both Chris and Matt, who is the son of Tom and Claudette Noll, said their family has been very supportive of their efforts. Chris said he thinks his dad is happy to see what had been just a mower sitting around the property turned into what "Bad Habit" has become.

"We've got a small following going already, which makes it more fun," Chris said. The team has already picked up several sponsorships from area businesses. "The website has been pretty popular, and we had some business cards printed up. (they've since given them all out and need some new ones.) It's turned out to be more than I figured it would be by now."