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Saturday's fair wind helps Punkin Chunkin records fall

Nick Wendel of Buffalo Wing Slinged celebrates after launching into first place in the human-powered division during the second day of the 28th annual World Championship Punkin Chunkin. BY NICK ROTH
November 1, 2013
Will Bennett of Dover, Pa., gets the crowd going as the human-powered division takes its turn in the second day of Punkin Chunkin. BY NICK ROTH
A Yankee Siege II team member climbs onto the trebuchet to search for the pumpkins landing. The team second toss landed in the campground and set a new world record of more than 2,300 feet. BY NICK ROTH
Mythbuster Tory Belleci shares a laugh with some of the competitors between shots. BY NICK ROTH
Punkin Chunkin staple Fat Jimmy cheers on his team High X. BY NICK ROTH
Nick Wendel of Buffalo Wing Slinged is interviewed by Mythbuster Tory Belleci. BY NICK ROTH
Frank Shade emcees the opening ceremonies Saturday morning. BY NICK ROTH
Sharon Bennett cheers on her friends in the human-powered division. BY NICK ROTH
Ray Leenhouts of Old Farts Construction Knightmare celebrates a nice toss in the second round. BY NICK ROTH
Nick Wendel of Buffalo Wing Slinged cranks his contraption in the human-powered division. BY NICK ROTH
Harry McCormick tries to figure out what went wrong with the second throw for team Smokin Llamas. BY NICK ROTH

The 2013 World Championship Punkin Chunkin kicked off Nov. 1. A light crowd braved a windy, misty day in Bridgeville to watch the first round of competition. The weather was perfect on Nov. 2 before a front blew in Nov. 3.

It was a world-record breaking event. American Chunker Inc., from Merrimack, N.H., lived up to its promise made two years ago and shattered the world air cannon record Nov. 2 with a shot of 4,694 feet. With a rare tailwind blowing, nine air cannons eclipsed the 4,000-foot mark.

Last year winner in the trebuchet division, Yankee Siege II, eclipsed its own world record with a Day 2 launch that landed in the campground more than 2,300 feet away.

Frank Shade officially kicked off the competition with opening ceremonies, which included a moment of silence and Punkin Chunkin's version of a 21-gun salute for recently passed founder Joe "Wolfman" Thomas. Each air cannon team took a shot to honor Thomas before family and friends gathered to launch Thomas' Old Glory cannon.

 

 

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