its almost punkinchunkin time!

[gun-fucious]

Medieval catapults and their modern variants have re-emerged in recent years and taken a new foothold in popular culture. They are the centerpiece to a new variety of brain and brawn sport: Punkin Chunkin — a contest to catapult a pumpkin as far as possible.

The sport officially began in 1986, when founding fathers John Ellsworth, Trey Melson, Bill Thompson and Donald "Doc" Pepper got together in a small Delaware field and decided to chunk a pumpkin. Their pumpkin flew 126 feet (the current world record is 4,086 feet).

Today competitors trailer their gigantic, home-built catapults and head to contests held throughout the country. The annual Punkin Chunkin World Championship takes place the first weekend in November. This two-day contest attracts more than 30,000 fans and 81 competitors from 11 states to a 280-acre field in the small town of Millsboro, Del.

The rules are simple: The pumpkin has to weigh between 8 to 10 pounds. The pumpkin has to leave the machine intact, no part of the machine can cross the firing line. No explosives.

There are eight different competition categories or machine classifications: Air Cannons, 10 and under, 11 to 17 Youth, Human Powered, Catapult, Centrifugal, Trebuchet and Theatrical, with the Air Cannons being the most powerful hurlers.

According to Siege-Engine.com, "catapult builders seem to come from all sorts of backgrounds, with the only real common denominator being a deep seated need to chuck stuff really far."

http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/catapult/chunkers/chunkers.html

http://www.atbeach.com/punkinchunkin/video.html

Friday October 31, 2003

8:00 am Setup time for machines
12:00 noon Chunkin for Charity begins
4:00 pm Charity Chunk Ends
Dusk Halloween Activities
Saturday November 1, 2003

8:00 am Gates Open to the Public
8:30 am Competition begins with Air Cannons
8:45 Opening Remarks & Welcome
10:00 Opening Ceremonies on the ING-Direct Stage
Star Bangle Banner - Cathy Gorman
10:00 Punkin Chunkin Anthem - Dawn Thompson
Pledge of Allegiance
11:00 Cooking Contest begins Auction of Baked Goods for Charity
11:00 - 12:30 Barron Creek Band
12:45 - 2:15 The Dory White Band
2:30 - 4:00 Street Survivors
3:30 (tentative) All machines free for all
4:00 Competition ends for the day
4:15 - 5:45 Mary Roades Band
Dusk Fireworks followed by Randy Lee Ashcraft & The Saltwater Cowboys


Sunday November 2, 2003

8:00 am Gates Open to the Public
8:30 am Competition begins with Air Cannons
10:00 Opening Ceremonies on the ING Direct Stage
National Anthem - Cathy Gorman
Pledge of Allegiance
Punkin Chunkin Anthem
Dawn Thompson
11:00 - 12:30 Barron Creek
12:45 - 2:00 Street Survivors
2:15 - 4:00 The Mary Roades Band
4:00 pm Awards Ceremony
Crowning New 2003 World Champion

50/50 Drawing - Winner Announced

http://www.punkinchunkin.com/03_Schedule_of_Events.htm

http://www.siege-engine.com/PunkinChunk2002Pg2.shtml

 

[SteelyDan]

Will they kill a bear?

I actually wish I had more time to do--absolutely no offense intended--stupid stuff like this, just for the pure fun of it. My new theory, as of 30 seconds ago, is that we just don't spend enough time doing stupid fun stuff. When we're laying on our deathbeds, I think we'll all look back on our lives, and it will be the stupid fun things that still make us smile.

As an aside, the thread title inspired another thought (hijack in progress--apologizing in advance--call it a stupid fun thing). I'll bet that on November 1 one can buy all sorts of pumpkins for just about nothing. I'll also bet they might make some fairly fun 100-yard targets. Maybe even really fun...

 

[BerettaNut92]

Korean pumpkin mortars

Reeehaw!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Punkinchunkin! LMAO

 

[Standing Wolf]

Don't let Sarah Brady find out about this!

 

[who me]

I usually watch the Discover Channel when it has the pumpkin chunkers on.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Their pumpkin flew 126 feet (the current world record is 4,086 feet).

 

[Kharn]

I just hope my profs refrain from dumping any big stuff on me for that weekend. UDel is close enough that a bunch of my friends are already intending to show up for Saturday, and I've just gotta be there. (And if I remember, I'll wear one of my TFL shirts)

Kharn