Who's Ready for Punkin Chunkin?

Cafe Society
1

Someday, I’m going to see this in person. There is some *serious *engineering going on at this event, but of course, the real joy of it is to see punkins flung for huge distances and gleefully watching them explode into tiny pieces.

Sad am I, that they aren’t broadcasting this until Thanksgiving, and a little surprised that it isn’t scheduled until the weekend after Halloween. The weekend before is only off by one day, and punkins and Halloween go together!

Who else is watching? Anyone here attending?

2

The World Record (A bit over a mile) was set near here in August.

3

The Family and Graduate Housing Office throws a Pumpkin Festival every fall, and a chuckin’ competition is one of the events. It’s not nearly as large-scale as the one you’re talking about, but I’ll be there in person, which counts for something.

A few years ago, I led the team that built one of the entries. We won first place in one of the categories and second in the other two.

4

What all did you build? Which categories? What was your furthest shot?

5

Bog and I have considered taking the trailer there and watching. How about a punkin chunkin watchin party at our place?

6

Instead of the football games? :wink: I’m there!

(I’d be there, anyway, but hey …)

7

1: A floating-arm trebuchet. It was an extremely efficient design, and got very close to the maximum possible range for our counterweight and drop height. Unfortunately, it also wasn’t a very robust design, which limited how much counterweight we could put on.
2: We got second place in the “most distance” and “most accurate” categories, and then won the “most pathetic” category on the last launch, when our device self-destructed and in the process launched the pumpkin about -10 meters. Like I said, not very robust.
3: IIRC, our longest positive throw was something like 30 meters, while the one built by the engineering students (which was less efficient than ours, but strong enough to use much more counterweight) got about twice that. Subsequent years’ entries have left those both in the dust, though.

8

mrAru and I would love to attend in person, maybe when we get thegimp-sprinter [and arranging $75K+ will unfortunately take my mom dying :frowning: so we hope it isn’t for a long time…]

Our roomie, and the occasional guest love making a party and watching this type of show, best we can do until we can get there in person. Nothing like setting up with drinks and munchies and cheering on our favorites :smiley:

9

I went. Once. It was a muddy hillbilly tailgate. I’ll pass.