At LAMMA today, one of the best-known tractors in British pulling was given a permanent CESAR identity.
David Jones – 14-times British Champion, Case IH ambassador and the man behind Just Smoky – had his tractor marked and registered with its own dedicated CESAR number: 14 SM0K – a personalised identity created specifically for this machine, and one that could never belong to anything else.
CESAR already protects more than 700,000 machines across the UK. Owned by the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) and powered by Datatag, it provides a single, police-recognised identity that links equipment to a national database used by every UK police force.
The connection came at a British Superbike event, where David was a guest of Datatag. That’s where he met Datatag’s Managing Director, Kevin Howells. They started talking about machines, engineering and what goes into building something at that level. Kevin understood immediately what Just Smoky represents. David was clear about how much it matters.
CESAR came up in that conversation as a practical way to protect a high-profile, irreplaceable machine. With more than 700,000 machines already registered, CESAR gives equipment a unique, police-recognised identity, making it far harder to steal, disguise or move on. For a tractor that travels, appears publicly and carries that level of personal and financial value, it made sense. Kevin followed it through and made it happen.
Built from the ground up by David and his team in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2005, Just Smoky is a triple-turbo, methanol-fuelled Case IH MX340 producing around 4,500hp and competing across the UK and Europe. It carries a family story that began in 1978 with Smoky Joe. This tractor is the product of decades of hands-on work, engineering knowledge and pride.
David Jones said:
“This tractor is part of my life. You don’t replace something like this. Knowing it has its own identity and sits on the same system used by the police just makes sense.”
Simon Pratt, Case IH Business Manager UK & ROI, said:
“David is a Case IH ambassador and a true champion of what these machines are capable of. Just Smoky is something special – built with skill, commitment and a huge amount of pride. Seeing it protected by CESAR makes complete sense. It gives a one-off tractor a clear, recognised identity and adds a level of security that matters for a machine of this profile. It’s a sensible step and a strong example for others to follow.”
Kevin Howells added:
“CESAR now has over 700,000 machines on the system. This one just happens to be called Just Smoky. It’s another machine that’s been marked, recorded and won’t simply vanish if it’s taken. That’s the job. This one just happens to be rather special.”
From Stratford-upon-Avon to pulling arenas across Europe, Just Smoky now carries a CESAR identity that is uniquely its own. 14 SM0K is a permanent, personalised mark that ties this one tractor – built by one team – to a single, recognisable identity for life.