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Norton, MA

Someone put this idea into my head a few weeks ago and I think it's a great one! Something for those of us who do not have access to, or do not like water as much as land. All you would need is a steel frame, a set of wheels, and a hill. I'm sure one of us can draw up some actual plans. I can unfortunately only volunteer to participate in it because I don't have a hill. Before anything gets going I need to know if people would be interested in an RI, MA, NH, CT sort of thing. All other areas would be allowed to race I'm just talking about location. Also where and when? Any volunteers? Thanks, Alex Noel.

4/6/2004 9:49:06 PM

Key West, FL

you can come roll your pumpkin down my hill if you want, extra points if you make it to the bottom without hitting a tree.

4/6/2004 10:06:54 PM

Deer Park WA

HillBilly Ben, you need all the help you can get rolling anything down to Canby without splitting it! haa,haa,Ha; and I saw your diary postof your HillBilly patch and I have realitives in West V. with more leveler patches....

4/7/2004 12:19:25 AM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

hey gads take it from a true west virginia hillbilly our hills are rugged and steep so steep that the deer and cows have both short and long legs short ones for the up hill side and long ones to keep em rolling down the hill he he just an old hillbilly! burrhead

4/7/2004 1:56:56 AM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

oops from rolling down hill

4/7/2004 1:57:40 AM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

Sounds like a fun idea, would need to know more , I would grow the pumpkin, but this old body would need a driver.

4/7/2004 6:08:59 AM

[email protected]

Alex,

This idea reminds me of the bed races. These are often carried on the evening news & papers as a "special interest" item. But pumpkins should be even more marketable due to the uniqueness. Like regattas, but easier to view & faster paced for more excitement.

I really like this idea. Our nearest weigh-off is the Durham Fair. It is nearly impossible to find level ground there. Indeed the hills are dangerously steep in many areas.

Durham has several little used areas where the slope is gentle enough to insure safety & still offer exciting heats. And Lord knows Durham could use more "Pumpkin Press".

Steve

4/7/2004 6:28:51 AM

Norton, MA

Who runs Durham? How could we get in touch with them? Thanks, Alex.

4/7/2004 10:28:22 AM

I have a hill that my patch is on that would work good if there were wheels...Ben's is steeper though. Nice joke Gad's. My road is also on a hill....LOL that would be hilarious....giant pumpkins rollin' down the hill. Shannon we have to do this!

4/7/2004 10:40:35 AM

Key West, FL

Ya Gads, my patch aint the best of patches. I live on the edge of a forest on a hill.

4/7/2004 5:24:18 PM

Key West, FL

I know you're just affraid of me.

4/7/2004 5:24:30 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

All right let me see if I have your thoughts right on this. You want to basically put wheels on the bottom of a giant pumpkin and go down a huge hill. I will have to think on this.
Law of Inertia: A body will maintain in a state of rest or constant velocity unless acted on by an external force.
A body in motion will tend to stay in motion, and a body at rest will remain at rest.
For any given velocity the greater the mass the greater the inertia.
For any given mass the greater the velocity the greater the inertia.
I am not thinking Newton had this in mind when he came up with this.
Will there be Beer involved, ambulances in waiting maybe..lol I'll have to think harder on this one.

4/7/2004 5:35:36 PM

Eugene, OR

LOL, sounds like a good time. Linus, don't forget that a nickel accelerates and falls just as fast as a pound of lead! They'll go as fast as a derby car but I definitely wouldn't want to be hit with one once they get up to speed. That's a whole heck of a lot of KE.

4/7/2004 5:52:23 PM

C N Y

hey, make it really fun and have the steel framework on CASTERS! no direction except dowwwwnnn the hill!
kind of like snow tubing. well, okay, they'd have to be really really BIG casters. lol. and the helmits have to be
pumkins also.....Howden Biggie, i think.....awww, too funny!

4/7/2004 7:15:02 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Yikes! Thanks but no steering....nah!

4/7/2004 7:35:08 PM

Key West, FL

Or you could just get in one and be rolled down my hill like you were inside a barrel. It would be lots of fun. One of the trees or blackberries would stop you if your pumpkin didn't already break apart yet. .

4/7/2004 7:42:31 PM

Key West, FL

Or maybe you can hit a car if your pumpkin is really strong and makes it all the way to the road.

4/7/2004 7:43:22 PM

Indiana

How about going over Niagra falls in a pumpkin?

4/7/2004 8:50:30 PM

[email protected]

Alex, I'll email the information to you tomorrow from the "other" computer.

I have a mental picture of an old fasioned wooden kids gocart with the rope steering. The pumpkin could be hollowed out & "Great Stuff" foamed into place where the seat would normally go.

I'm thinking culls rather than prize winning fruit. Big enough for fun even if not a trophy contender.

4/7/2004 9:34:20 PM

Midway City, California

Will the pumpkins complete in different weight classes? Will the Squash be in a different class? Does the shape or color matter. How many per grower will be allowed to enter the race. Do we have to join the Association?

Water

4/7/2004 11:05:34 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

No color class. You must be able to sit inside the pumpkin. No saddle on this horse...lol... If you are crazy enough to do it more than once you can enter as many races as you wish.

4/7/2004 11:34:03 PM

Shannon, I think it's more like if you survive to do it more than once, not if you're crazy enough!

4/8/2004 12:08:06 AM

Wichita, KS

Brigitte, we are all obsessed with growing giant pumpkins. we are crazy enough.

I have some questions... can I attach an old roto tiller engine and build a hydrolic brake system?

If I can install the engine, will there be a horsepower limit allowed for racing, an octane limit, allowable modifications (jet fuel compatible engines, nitros, blowers, etc.) timed racing, track racing, standardized vehicle frame design, pumpkin/squash shell weight requirement (minimum and/or maximum)...

and will we have any of these races out here on the west coast? or will there be different leagues with conference and division championships, with an international championship held somewhere near Indiannapolis? cash prizes?

...or is this just supposed to be a roll-down-the-hill-bump-into-a-stump-fall-out-and-laugh type of event where everyone gets a beer, not just the winner?

4/8/2004 2:50:36 AM

Indiana

Restricter plates not allowed

4/8/2004 9:16:24 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

I rolled tree pumpkins off the roof (3 m) into the hail net above the pile and one survived! I guess I hold the free fall record :-) Jernej

4/8/2004 9:24:07 AM

Grants Pass, Oregon

I would be willing to try this, a little road rash wont hurt me. Hey shannon if there is beer involved I wont be good then for the race, one should be awake for this dont you think? Or maybe not.

4/8/2004 10:49:02 AM

Montoursville, PA

This be Jimminey better be on the back 40 acres. No self respecting fool or otherwise could or would be associated with this program. Sweet Sue lives to close to this activity. The foolishness you seek is not for the meek. I am inclined to agree it could be an exercise where in all fools abide and one shall live to be the biggest of all. Some may die but if it were legally sanctioned it would still appeal to this damn fool. What a way to go! Can there be a jump at the bottom of the hill? :)

4/8/2004 10:49:04 AM

C N Y

pumpkin lovers' leap. and strap-on a parasail 'chute and
as you go over a cliff pop that baby open. it will say BigPumpkins.com on the 'chute. and, as moondog
said, how 'bout a pumpkin-over the falls, but to commence
the Niagara Falls Seminar next year.......
PS-do not attempt this at home...or anywhere! lol....

4/8/2004 12:47:38 PM

[email protected]

Drinking, large framed adults, no seat belts, no brakes, hmmmmmmmm......Maybe the "Pumpkin Carts" would be better off with bicycle tires. Then the course can be a grassed field rather than asphalt.

Alex, I forgot to send you the Durham Fair info this morning. Here it is now.

By E-mail:
[email protected]

By Phone:
860-349-9495

By FAX:
860-349-3101

By Mail:

The Durham Agricultural Fair Association, Inc.
68 Main Street
P.O. Box 225
Durham, CT 06411

We have some "friends" involved with this group. Give me a call or private email if you think they're interested but hesitant.

Steve

4/8/2004 1:22:22 PM

Norton, MA

Thanks Steve, and uhhhh...others.?. I'll give it a try. I had a dream last night where I was racing and my pumpkin flew off the frame. LOL, this could be SOOOO much fun! Alex.

4/8/2004 9:49:40 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

hey guys my other hobby is racing latemodel cars with my buddies so maybe i could get the numbers and decals for the pumpkin cars cool heck if someone could fit me into one ide give it a go,i gotta need for speed lol!!burrhead

4/9/2004 2:58:20 AM