It is our sad duty to report the passing on Sunday, November 3 of Sidney Broughton, 74, of Silver Springs, New York. Mr. Broughton competed for decades on the Grand National, Regional National, New York state, and Wolverine circuits with various iterations of “Desperado” International/Case IH Super Stocks. He was also the father of Wolverine entry official Melinda (Rob) Trowbridge.
Mr. Broughton began his pulling career with two of his brothers, Colin and Randy, in 1973 after a trip to Louisville inspired them to take up the sport. Sid was the mechanic of the group and kept his brothers’ International 1466 and 806 in running order on their family’s 1,000-acre Wyoming County farm.
Mr. Broughton himself started off with a Farmall M Modified powered by a fuel-injected 427 Chevrolet engine in the 7,000- and 9,000-lb. classes. He upgraded to the “Binder Rat” W9, still powered by the 427, for 1977, and self-sponsored it by his Sid’s Repair shop.
By the early 1980s, Mr. Broughton had moved on to the Super Stock division with an International 686 diesel he pulled in the 55, 75, and occasionally the 95 on the Grand National and Region I circuits. This tractor was the first to wear the “Desperado” badge and in 1994 earned both the New York Tractor Pullers Association 5,500-lb. and the Empire State Pullers 7,500-lb. titles.
With the turn of the millennium came a change in fuels (diesel to methanol), sheetmetal (International to Case IH), and name, when “Return of Desperado” became a regular on the GN Super Stock Open circuit. The label was later shortened to “Desperado,” and Mr. Broughton moved his home base to South Haven, Michigan and teamed with son-in-law Rob Trowbridge (“Disturbed” SF/PS 4.1) on the GN and Wolverine tours.
In addition to Mindy, Mr. Broughton is survived by his wife Jeannie and his daughter Amber (Daryl) Robb. His full obituary appears here.
Visitation for Mr. Broughton’s family and friends will be held on Thursday, November 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Robinson & Hackemer Funeral Home, 246 North Main Street in Warsaw, New York. His funeral mass will be conducted at St. Michael’s Church, 171 North Main Street in Warsaw, on Friday at 11 a.m.
Following his burial, friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at Broughton Farm, 5622 Broughton Road in Silver Springs.
Online condolences may be submitted at www.robinsonandhackemer.com.
We mourn with Jeannie, Mindy, Rob, and the Broughton and Trowbridge families the loss of this devoted father and dedicated NTPA competitor.