USVI-On-Line

Team claims record-breaking pumpkin launch in Utah

The Associated Press
Friday, September 10, 2010; 3:01 PM
MOAB, Utah -- A team that shoots pumpkins from a giant air cannon says it achieved the holy grail of the sport - chucking a pumpkin a distance of more than one mile.
The "Big 10 Inch Team" from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey says it launched the 9.5-pound pumpkin at Moab's old airport on Friday.
The team used a 90-foot, compressed-air cannon and traveled to southern Utah hoping the high elevation and thin air would help the vegetable sail farther.
The group launched a pumpkin near Moab last year that traveled short of a mile, or 4,623 feet, but still set a Guinness World Record.
A licensed professional surveyor was to verify the distance later Friday.

With a subject line like that I just had to click.

A mile!! WOW! I LOVE Punkin Chunkin! Where's JT??

I found this pic from the 2005 World championship Punkin Chunkin Festival of the Big Ten Inch:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12829989@N00/4979752725/" title="IMG_1484 by taterjoes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/497 ... 6987_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="IMG_1484"></a>




Here's one of me firing MackDaddy:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12829989@N00/4980359848/" title="IMG_1514 by taterjoes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/498 ... 9209_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMG_1514"></a>

And this is one of the other guns from my neighborhood:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12829989@N00/4980359714/" title="IMG_1482 by taterjoes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/498 ... a259_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="IMG_1482"></a>


These two outlaws are both regulars at the festival, Pedro, owner and builder od MackDaddy, and Wolffie.[Guess which one is Wolffie]. Wolfman has been the champion with his gun called Old Glory a couple of times, and a couple of years ago his son carried on an old family tradition and won with Young Glory:


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12829989@N00/4980359912/" title="IMG_1519 by taterjoes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/498 ... fba8_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMG_1519"></a>

One more:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12829989@N00/4979811301/" title="IMG_1481 by taterjoes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/497 ... 7752_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMG_1481"></a>


There is no purpose other then bragging rights. There is no money for winning. These guys invest thousands of dollars and countless hours for ego gratification. It really is Jerry Garcia meets Nascar.

JT wrote: It really is Jerry Garcia meets Nascar.

Wow...I'm missing out on something here and Moab isn't that far away.

Is it launching pumpkins and folks shoot at them or is it just launching and see how far they go?

Signed,
Stupid on Pumpkin Launchin!

Launching to see how far they'll go!

Mack Daddy in action:

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Would they shoot a chicken instead of a pumpkin? If it were under 10 inches, of course.

TM

ToonMann wrote:Would they shoot a chicken instead of a pumpkin? If it were under 10 inches, of course.

TM

Certainly, though they travel a lot further if they are frozen.

Maybe Ruth could get a cannon and shoot all the chickens to St. Thomas!