2011 Punkin Chunkin World Championship - Photo trip report

[esvadj]

The Punkin Chunkin World Championship takes place the first weekend after Halloween in the town of Bridgeville Delaware. This year marked the 26th year for the competition, and my first visit. This is one of those events I have always wanted to go to, but have never been able to make it. Turns out, I should have gone BEFORE it became a "national phenomenon" due to the constant replaying of last years competition on Discovery Channel and Science Channel. Crowds were crazy, I went on Sunday with about 50,000 other people. I heard there were 75,000 there on Saturday and 3+ hour back ups trying to get into the event.

 

Anyway, pictures:

Welcome to Punkin Chunkin

Here are the catapults, you can see the camera in the background

This little catapult got 3rd place

Here is the Fibonacci catapult for 2011

Pumpkin Cornhole - redneck game or dirty joke punchline?

'Merica

Look at that cake - it has Tory, Kari, and Grant from the Mythbusters on it (guess which one was the nicest)

Well, there is Grant without a helmet...

..and Kari in the red helmet (wasn't quick enough with the camera but its her)

...and Tory, just out working the crowd. Nicest celebrity I met all year.

The cannons, this is why I came

More cannons

Just to send a 9 pound pumpkin 4000 feet

This must be true, its written on a banner

Did I mention the pumpkins travel so fast when they leave the barrel you cannot see them?

The American Chunker, thanks for reading

Edited November 9, 2011 by esvadj

[Meteornotes]

I watch this show every year (it's a Thanksgiving tradition!), and have thought about going to the event, but there's no way I'd want to deal with that crowd. Thanks for posting!

 

dt

[VinTheAttendant]

My school was going to participate, but the trebuchet design was a bit too complicated in the allotted time we were given. Oh well, maybe next year. I can't wait to see the final production! Who knew that tossing fruit with engineering marvels could be so much fun to watch.

 

Awesome pictures, btw. That second to last picture really captures the power of these contraptions.