The competition got tight this year. Now a half-dozen machines have achieved mechanical parity. Since this leaves one at the mercy of the “vagaries of vegetables”, it becomes an odds game. All competitors had the same wind, though, and the Big 10 Inch rose to the occasion — at the end of the first day we were in first place with a hurl of 3770 feet. It was not to hold and by the end of the second day we dropped to fifth.
We will NOT, in the coming year, be like the football coach who plays for the “long bomb” and loses games because he didn’t drill the less glamorous basics. We may have spent too much time, as seasoned competitors, worrying about refinements at the expense of basics.
2003 - World Championship Punkin Chunkin
Distance shooting needs good ammo. After two years of drought we had one of drenching rains. Every year it seems is the year of the pumpkin, and other stuff. After having been awarded the second-place trophy for Adult Air Cannon, web-posted results gave us third in the new Championship Air category. In ’04 the growing season and new changes may yield exceptional results.
2002 - World Championship Punkin Chunkin
Back in Delaware for the World Championships we lead thru all three of our shots. On their final launch, “2nd Amendment” beat our 3816 foot toss by 65 feet. Competition is keen with these big guns. Just wait ’till next year.
2001 - Pumpkin Chuckin - Illinois
We took the show on the road in 2001, traveling to Morton, IL, for their Punkin Chunkin contest. “The Big 10 Inch” finished “in the money”, placing 3rd behind the “Aludium Q36 Punkin Modulator” and “2nd Amendment”. These teams hail from Illinois and Michigan respectively.
Finishing third was a disappointment versus our expectations but a tribute to improvements by our competition. 2001 taught us it’s dangerous to rest on your laurels, and spurred us on to make improvements for 2002.
Finishing third was a disappointment versus our expectations but a tribute to improvements by our competition. 2001 taught us it’s dangerous to rest on your laurels, and spurred us on to make improvements for 2002.
2000 - World Championship Punkin Chunkin
The Big 10 Inch launched several pumpkins over 4000 feet
during the 2000 World Championships. Our best shot was hurled a
distance of 4111 feet (1.25 km), or about 4/5 of a mile, as accurately measured
by a professional surveyor. This record shot exceeded our best performance of
the previous year by 11%. It was the longest shot of any event held during the
year, including the original World Championship Punkin Chunkin contest, which
has been held every November in southern Delaware for the last 16 years. This
event draws over 80 entrants from as far away as Illinois, Michigan, and
Florida. The 2000 champion, “Old Glory”, won with a shot of 4086 feet, rivaling
our record shot. “Old Glory”, along with “Q36” and “2nd Amendment” are the
other members of the “4000 Foot Club”
