Pumpkin chunking
Encyclopedia
Pumpkin Chucking, or for rhyming purposes Pumpkin Chunking (also called Punkin' Chunkin', Pumpkin Chunkin', and Punkin Chuckin') is the sport of hurling or 'chucking' a pumpkin
by mechanical means for distance. The devices used include slingshot
s, catapult
s, centrifugals
, trebuchet
s, and pneumatic air cannons
.
A pneumatic air cannon named 'Big 10 Inch' holds the current world record by firing a pumpkin 5,545.43 feet (1,690.247 meters). The world record shot took place September 9, 2010 in Moab, Utah. The shot received certification from Guinness World Records
in early January, 2011.
Pumpkin chunking competitions, formal and informal, exist throughout the United States in the autumn, and often occur when pumpkins are harvested. World Championship Punkin Chunkin, held in Delaware, is the oldest and largest annual competition. The event began in 1986 and featured over 100 teams in 2010. A European Championship is held in Bikschote, Belgium
, and has been held there each year since 2004.
The range achieved by devices greatly depends on their mass, shape, and size; the yield limits, stiffness, pitch, and elevation of the hurler; and the weather. The pumpkin is another important variable since sabot
s are often prohibited in competitions. The most common pumpkin varieties used are Caspers, Luminas, and La Estrellas - these varieties typically have thicker rinds and can better withstand the forces of launch. A usual rule is that the pumpkin must remain whole after leaving the device for the chunk to count. Pumpkins that burst after leaving the barrel are referred to as "pie" (short for "pumpkin pie in the sky").
in Sussex County
, Delaware
. It is governed by the World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association (WCPCA).
Teams compete in the following divisions: Air Cannon, Female Air Cannon, Centrifugal, Catapult, Torsion, Trebuchet, Human Powered, Youth Air Cannon, Youth Catapult, Youth Trebuchet, Youth Human Powered, Youth 10 & Under, and Theatrical. Each division competes strictly for distance except for the Theatrical division which relies on a fan vote. The teams get three shots, one taken on each of three consecutive days. Only the teams' farthest shot is scored for official results. Spotters riding on ATVs
find the impact point, and then a professional surveyor calculates the distance based on GPS coordinates of the impact and the machine. The impact point is marked with color coded spray paint to avoid confusion with future shots.
For the entertainment of spectators, the event also features amusement rides, food vendors, fireworks, live concerts, a pumpkin cooking contest, a chili cook-off, the Miss Punkin Chunkin pageant, et al.
Safety has remained the number one priority of the WCPCA. The sole fatality was a duck
hit by a pumpkin that had been shot out of an air cannon.
The event originated in 1986. One of the event's early locations was in Lewes
just off of DE Rte 1 - at the end of the field was a church that was thought to be out of reach. Due to increasing space requirements (distance of shots, number of teams, and number of spectators) the field was moved elsewhere in Sussex County.
In 2006, the first ever UK team, "The Scrapheap All-Stars" took part in the Centrifugal class representing UK TV show, Scrapheap Challenge
where they finished 2nd. This was the first time the "World Championships" featured international competition.
In 2007, WCPC moved to its current location in Bridgeville
, near the intersection of Seashore Highway (DE Rte 404) and Chaplains Chapel Road. About 75 teams competed, the event drew more than 20,000 people, and grossed more than $100,000 in ticket sales and associated revenues. More than 70% of that money will be donated to a variety of community organizations.
. Each year of coverage thus far has featured an hour long special titled "Road to the Chunk" that preceded coverage of the WCPC event. The previous year's contest is shown around Halloween and sporadically throughout the year. Road to Punkin Chunkin 2011 will feature at least three 30-minute episodes (airing November 3, 10, and 17).
In 2002, the Discovery Channel
aired the initial Punkin Chunkin special and it was hosted by Bryan Callen
.
In 2008, after a six year hiatus, Punkin Chunkin returned to cable television on the Science channel. Brad Sherwood
hosted the one-hour program.
In 2009, Science channel expanded the coverage to two episodes (the first hour, a lead-up to the event; the second hour being coverage from the competition). This was hosted by Catch It Keep It
hosts Zach Selwyn and Mike Senese
.
In 2010, MythBusters
hosts Adam Savage
and Jamie Hyneman
covered the event. The coverage was simulcast on the Discovery Channel. The special earned the Science Channel its highest rating in the network's history (topping the previous year's coverage).
In 2011, MythBusters
hosts Kari Byron
, Grant Imahara
, and Tory Belleci covered the events.
The "Adult Centrifugal Human Powered" category is no longer recognized as an individual category at WCPC. At the 2010 contest, an adult centrifugal human powered machine named 'Smokin Lamas' shot a pumpkin 830.21 feet - the machine was entered in the Human Powered division. In 2011, Smokin Lamas raised the mark higher with a shot of 1,240.21 feet. The WCPCA has yet to recognize the shot as an event record.
Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae . It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata, and is native to North America...
by mechanical means for distance. The devices used include slingshot
Slingshot
A slingshot, shanghai, flip, bean shooter or catapult is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame held in the off hand, with two rubber strips attached to the uprights. The other ends of the strips lead back to a pocket which holds the projectile...
s, catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
s, centrifugals
Centrifugal force
Centrifugal force can generally be any force directed outward relative to some origin. More particularly, in classical mechanics, the centrifugal force is an outward force which arises when describing the motion of objects in a rotating reference frame...
, trebuchet
Trebuchet
A trebuchet is a siege engine that was employed in the Middle Ages. It is sometimes called a "counterweight trebuchet" or "counterpoise trebuchet" in order to distinguish it from an earlier weapon that has come to be called the "traction trebuchet", the original version with pulling men instead of...
s, and pneumatic air cannons
Air gun
An air gun is a rifle , pistol , or shotgun that fires projectiles by means of compressed air or other gas, in contrast to a firearm, which burns a propellant. Most air guns use metallic projectiles as ammunition. Air guns that only use plastic projectiles are classified as airsoft...
.
A pneumatic air cannon named 'Big 10 Inch' holds the current world record by firing a pumpkin 5,545.43 feet (1,690.247 meters). The world record shot took place September 9, 2010 in Moab, Utah. The shot received certification from Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
in early January, 2011.
Pumpkin chunking competitions, formal and informal, exist throughout the United States in the autumn, and often occur when pumpkins are harvested. World Championship Punkin Chunkin, held in Delaware, is the oldest and largest annual competition. The event began in 1986 and featured over 100 teams in 2010. A European Championship is held in Bikschote, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and has been held there each year since 2004.
The range achieved by devices greatly depends on their mass, shape, and size; the yield limits, stiffness, pitch, and elevation of the hurler; and the weather. The pumpkin is another important variable since sabot
Sabot
A sabot is a device used in a firearm or cannon to fire a projectile, such as a bullet, that is smaller than the bore diameter, or which must be held in a precise position. The term is also applied to a battery stub case, a device used similarly to make a small electrical battery usable in a...
s are often prohibited in competitions. The most common pumpkin varieties used are Caspers, Luminas, and La Estrellas - these varieties typically have thicker rinds and can better withstand the forces of launch. A usual rule is that the pumpkin must remain whole after leaving the device for the chunk to count. Pumpkins that burst after leaving the barrel are referred to as "pie" (short for "pumpkin pie in the sky").
World Championship Punkin Chunkin
World Championship Punkin Chunkin (WCPC) is the name of an annual pumpkin chunkin contest held the first full weekend after HalloweenHalloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
in Sussex County
Sussex County, Delaware
Sussex County is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 the population was 197,145, an increase of 25.9% over the previous decade. The county seat is Georgetown. The Seaford Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Sussex County.Sussex County is...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. It is governed by the World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association (WCPCA).
Teams compete in the following divisions: Air Cannon, Female Air Cannon, Centrifugal, Catapult, Torsion, Trebuchet, Human Powered, Youth Air Cannon, Youth Catapult, Youth Trebuchet, Youth Human Powered, Youth 10 & Under, and Theatrical. Each division competes strictly for distance except for the Theatrical division which relies on a fan vote. The teams get three shots, one taken on each of three consecutive days. Only the teams' farthest shot is scored for official results. Spotters riding on ATVs
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
find the impact point, and then a professional surveyor calculates the distance based on GPS coordinates of the impact and the machine. The impact point is marked with color coded spray paint to avoid confusion with future shots.
For the entertainment of spectators, the event also features amusement rides, food vendors, fireworks, live concerts, a pumpkin cooking contest, a chili cook-off, the Miss Punkin Chunkin pageant, et al.
Safety has remained the number one priority of the WCPCA. The sole fatality was a duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
hit by a pumpkin that had been shot out of an air cannon.
The event originated in 1986. One of the event's early locations was in Lewes
Lewes, Delaware
Lewes is an incorporated city in Sussex County, Delaware, USA, on the Delmarva Peninsula. According to the 2010 census, the population is 2,747, a decrease of 6.3% from 2000....
just off of DE Rte 1 - at the end of the field was a church that was thought to be out of reach. Due to increasing space requirements (distance of shots, number of teams, and number of spectators) the field was moved elsewhere in Sussex County.
In 2006, the first ever UK team, "The Scrapheap All-Stars" took part in the Centrifugal class representing UK TV show, Scrapheap Challenge
Scrapheap Challenge
Scrapheap Challenge is an engineering game show produced by RDF Media and broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. In the show, teams of contestants have 10 hours in which to build a working machine that can do a specific task, using materials available in a scrapheap. The format was exported to the...
where they finished 2nd. This was the first time the "World Championships" featured international competition.
In 2007, WCPC moved to its current location in Bridgeville
Bridgeville, Delaware
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,436 people, 570 households, and 381 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,768.6 people per square mile . There were 636 housing units at an average density of 783.3 per square mile...
, near the intersection of Seashore Highway (DE Rte 404) and Chaplains Chapel Road. About 75 teams competed, the event drew more than 20,000 people, and grossed more than $100,000 in ticket sales and associated revenues. More than 70% of that money will be donated to a variety of community organizations.
Science Channel Coverage
The Science Channel currently owns the television broadcast rights to the WCPC contest. After the 2010 event the WCPCA and the Science Channel agreed to a new, 3-year contract that runs through the 2013 WCPC. In 2009 and 2010 the "Punkin Chunkin" special aired on tape delay on Thanksgiving DayThanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
. Each year of coverage thus far has featured an hour long special titled "Road to the Chunk" that preceded coverage of the WCPC event. The previous year's contest is shown around Halloween and sporadically throughout the year. Road to Punkin Chunkin 2011 will feature at least three 30-minute episodes (airing November 3, 10, and 17).
In 2002, the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
aired the initial Punkin Chunkin special and it was hosted by Bryan Callen
Bryan Callen
Bryan Christopher Callen is an American actor. Callen is notable for being one of the original cast of comedians on the sketch comedy series MADtv.-Early life:...
.
In 2008, after a six year hiatus, Punkin Chunkin returned to cable television on the Science channel. Brad Sherwood
Brad Sherwood
Bradley "Brad" Sherwood is an American actor and comedian. He has worked in entertainment as an actor, comedian, singer, writer, and producer.- Early life and career:...
hosted the one-hour program.
In 2009, Science channel expanded the coverage to two episodes (the first hour, a lead-up to the event; the second hour being coverage from the competition). This was hosted by Catch It Keep It
Catch It Keep It
Catch It Keep It is an American game show and reality television series hosted by Zach Selwyn and Mike Senese. It is broadcast on the Science Channel and premiered on July 17, 2009...
hosts Zach Selwyn and Mike Senese
Mike Senese
Mike Senese is an American television host. He hosts Science Channel's engineering show Catch It Keep It with Zach Selwyn, as the "engineer of destruction." He also hosted Science Channel's 2009 coverage of Punkin Chunkin, also with Selwyn...
.
In 2010, MythBusters
MythBusters
MythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
hosts Adam Savage
Adam Savage
Adam Whitney Savage is an American industrial design and special effects designer/fabricator, actor, educator, and co-host of the Discovery Channel television series MythBusters. His model work has appeared in major films, including Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and The Matrix...
and Jamie Hyneman
Jamie Hyneman
James Franklin "Jamie" Hyneman is an American special effects expert, best known for being the co-host of the television series MythBusters. He is also the owner of M5 Industries, the special effects workshop where MythBusters is filmed...
covered the event. The coverage was simulcast on the Discovery Channel. The special earned the Science Channel its highest rating in the network's history (topping the previous year's coverage).
In 2011, MythBusters
MythBusters
MythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
hosts Kari Byron
Kari Byron
Kari Elizabeth Byron is a San Francisco-based television host and artist, best known for her featured role on the Discovery Channel show MythBusters.-MythBusters:...
, Grant Imahara
Grant Imahara
Grant Masaru Imahara is a Japanese American electronics and radio control expert, best known for his work on the American television show MythBusters.-Education and early work:...
, and Tory Belleci covered the events.
World Championship Punkin Chunkin Champions
| Year | Team Name | Distance (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2nd Amendement Too | 4,329.37 |
| 2010 | Hormone Blaster | 3,755.65 |
| 2009 | Big 10 Inch | 4,162.65 |
| 2008 | Young Glory III | 4,483.51 |
| 2007 | Big 10 Inch | 4,211.27 |
| 2006 | 2nd Amendment | 3,870.50 |
| 2005 | 2nd Amendment | 4,331 |
| 2004 | Old Glory | 4,224 |
| 2003 | 2nd Amendment | 4,434 |
| 2002 | 2nd Amendment | 3,881 |
| 2001 | Old Glory | 3,911 |
| 2000 | Old Glory | 4,086 |
| 1999 | Big 10 Inch | 3,695 |
| 1998 | Q36 | 4,026 |
| 1997 | Universal Soldier | 3,718 |
| 1996 | Q 36 | 2,710 |
| 1995 | Mello Yellow | 2,655 |
| 1994 | Universal Soldier | 2,508 |
| 1993 | Under Pressure | 1,204 |
| 1992 | De Terminator | 852 |
| 1991 | Ultimate Warrior | 776 |
| 1990 | Ultimate Warrior | 775 |
| 1989 | John Ellsworth | 612 |
| 1988 | Melson - Thompson | 600 |
| 1987 | Melson - Thompson | 300 |
| 1986 | Melson - Thompson | 178 |
World Championship Punkin Chunkin Records
, the world records to have been established at the Punkin Chunkin event were:| Machine Class | Team Name | Distance (feet) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Air | Young Glory III | 4,483.51 | 2008 |
| Adult Female Air | Let's Bounce | 3,998.83 | 2008 |
| Adult Centrifugal | Bad To The Bone | 2,737.69 | 2006 |
| Adult Catapult | Fibonacci Unlimited II | 2,862.28 | 2005 |
| Adult Trebuchet | Yankee Siege II | 2,326.60 | 2011 |
| Adult Human Powered | Pumpkin Slayer | 1,984.37 | 2009 |
| Adult Torsion | Chucky III | 3,636.39 | 2011 |
| Adult Centrifugal Human Powered | M2S2 Spinumpkin | 229.59 | 2005 |
| Youth Air | Young Glory III | 3,945.28 | 2003 |
| Youth Catapult | The Plague | 1,568.82 | 2011 |
| Youth Trebuchet | Stomach Virus | 1,143.74 | 2011 |
| Youth Human Powered | Sister Slinger | 940.31 | 2006 |
| Youth 10 and Under | Little Blaster | 1,939.81 | 2002 |
The "Adult Centrifugal Human Powered" category is no longer recognized as an individual category at WCPC. At the 2010 contest, an adult centrifugal human powered machine named 'Smokin Lamas' shot a pumpkin 830.21 feet - the machine was entered in the Human Powered division. In 2011, Smokin Lamas raised the mark higher with a shot of 1,240.21 feet. The WCPCA has yet to recognize the shot as an event record.