Punkin chunkin time

[jyoutz]

Every year the pumpkin farmers in our valley hold a punkin chunkin festival. I’m always amazed at the elaborate air cannons and the amount of effort that people put into building these things. And the distance they can hurl a pumpkin.

Town of Estancia - Events

 

[ponytug]

I have an acquaintance who has a trebuchet specifically for hurling pumpkins at his pumpkin patch. Apparently, it makes for a big draw, pun intended.

How did he end up with a trebuchet you ask? He bought it off of Amazon. (Just kidding!) He had a neighbor who decided it would be a fun, albeit large, wood working project, and then needed to move...

All the best,

Peter

 

[groundcover]

I have an acquaintance who has a trebuchet specifically for hurling pumpkins at his pumpkin patch. Apparently, it makes for a big draw, pun intended.

How did he end up with a trebuchet you ask? He bought it off of Amazon. (Just kidding!) He had a neighbor who decided it would be a fun, albeit large, wood working project, and then needed to move...

All the best,

Peter

A few years ago I saw a guy I knew at the chain division of our tractor dealer. He looked like he had spent the morning in the ring with Mike Tyson. I said whet the heck happened, he said a chain broke on his pumpkin trebuchet! He was there to get a new chain for it ! I think I would have set it on fire !

 

[Engineer42]

Punkin chunkin - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Dftodd]

We did it last year when they held flannel fest and the chili cook off at church.

I'm hoping they do it again.

The men's group made large sling shots for the pumpkins. The kiddos had a blast. They guys did too since they had to test them

We hold it just after Halloween since the church can purchase a butt load of small pumpkins for cheap just after Halloween

Just an FYI, ill be winning the chili cook off this year

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

There is a guy here in Princeton that has one and they set it up at the fairgrounds, I think next Saturday and throw a bunch of pumpkins.

 

[jk96]

As someone that owns a firework display company I've always wondered how far I could send an 8" pumpkin from one of our mortars before they start turning into mush on launch. An 8" display shell reaches around 800 to 900 feet vertical. Might be the year to find out. Lol.

 

[5030]

I'll be happy if no kids chuck one at my roadside mailbox this year.

 

[ponytug]

As someone that owns a firework display company I've always wondered how far I could send an 8" pumpkin from one of our mortars before they start turning into mush on launch. An 8" display shell reaches around 800 to 900 feet vertical. Might be the year to find out. Lol.

What does an 8" display shell weigh?

I wonder if you might need something like a sabot to stabilize the pumpkin at launch...though where it lands, or the pieces land, would be my concern.

The larger pumpkin catapults get some serious distance, so, yes, probably in that range (4,000'+ lateral distance, 1,400' vertical?).

Current Records

Adult Air American Chunker Inc4694.68 ft2013 Adult Catapult Chunk Norris4091 ft2016 Adult Centrifugal Bad to the Bone3245.58 ft2013 Adult Centrifugal Human Powered Smokin Lamas1776.3

www.punkinchunkin.com

Why do I have the feeling that you are going to find out?

All the best,

Peter

 

[jk96]

What does an 8" display shell weigh?

I wonder if you might need something like a sabot to stabilize the pumpkin at launch...though where it lands, or the pieces land, would be my concern.

The larger pumpkin catapults get some serious distance, so, yes, probably in that range (4,000'+ lateral distance, 1,400' vertical?).

Current Records

Adult Air American Chunker Inc4694.68 ft2013 Adult Catapult Chunk Norris4091 ft2016 Adult Centrifugal Bad to the Bone3245.58 ft2013 Adult Centrifugal Human Powered Smokin Lamas1776.3

www.punkinchunkin.com

Why do I have the feeling that you are going to find out?

All the best,

Peter

Anywhere from 7 to 10 lbs depending on the type of effect so a pumpkin is going to have more weight per inch of diameter than a display shell. Due to the increased lift and pressure I would probably have to find one of my old steel mortars to keep from blowing out the fiberglass ones we normally use. It's a lot of instant pressure lifting with powder so my guess is it would break apart before being able to lift to any significant height.