People obtain a sense of satisfaction when they accomplish something they have been working toward.

This satisfaction for James T. Johnson is in his "hobby" of building tractors. He builds tractors for working and for local tractor pulls. He takes pieces of automobiles and tractors and places them in a design for his purpose. "I always seem to have to have more fun altering it to fit myself" Mr. Johnson said.

Mr. Johnson, 43, has been designing and building things since he was a small boy in King George. He told of a time when his father brought home a wagon and he revamped it to make it better than what the other kids on the block had. While in high school, he put together a motorcycle just because others said he could not do it. He said he got the cycle licensed and rode it to work for a long time.

The natural talent has also helped Mr. Johnson in his work. He began refining his talent by attending adult classes in the evening hours after work. There he built a wagon that he uses to haul wood to and from his home. He said that while attending classes his instructors related that he was way ahead of his class. "I learned about about machines and always completed the projects I began," he said He attended these classes for five years.

Mr. Johnson began work at the US Naval Station, Indian Head, Md. a truck driver and through his instruction he applied for an engineering technician job and acquired it. He and others test explosive machinery. His occupation required more schooling-two years worth-and testing elements in rocket propellants. He has worked with the Navy for 22 years. "I took what I learned here to my job, not the other way around", he said.

Mr. Johnson has built three tractors that he uses for work around the house and tractor pulls. He also built a weight transfer machine for tractors involved in tractor pulls. This machine is a sled that works intrically with the tractor to distribute the weight accordingly in a pull. The machine moves a metal box filled with weight from one end to another.

He and others that are interested in pulls have formed a club named Tri- county Pullers. The club currently consists of four members - Ron Hubbard , Jim Clemmonts, George Parker and Mr. Johnson. The club has private pulls in Mr. Johnson's backyard on his personally built track as well as performs at area pulls such as those conducted in Manassas and Fredericksburg. "I'm going to have pulls here to test equipment', Mr. Johnson said. He does hope that sometime in the near future that organizations within the county would build a track and host pulls.