The Great Pumpkin is Headed Right for You, Charlie Brown!!

Charean · 10-18-2002, 09:32 AM

Pumpkin Cannon Set to Squash the Competition
Oct. 18, 2002

(Ellettsville, Ind) - When Jim Bristoe told his wife he wanted to build a cannon that would shoot a pumpkin a mile, she told him he wasn't all there.

But he built one anyway, with a 30-foot-long barrel. It is powered by a 700-gallon air tank and is appropriately named "Ain't All There." It looks much like a mobile anti-aircraft gun.

"You don't need to cover your ears, but you're going to know I shot it," the 42-year-old electrician and mechanic said during a demonstration on Wednesday.

When Bristoe fires the cannon, a 10-pound pumpkin is hit with 11,300 pounds of force. The pumpkin projectile leaves the muzzle at about 900 miles per hour, he said.

Bristoe plans to take the 2-ton pumpkin cannon to the first annual Pumpkin Propulsion Contest at Verizon Wireless Music Center near Noblesville on Saturday.

The contest is sponsored by Indianapolis radio station WRZX-FM. It's the brainchild of morning show host Gonzo Greg and his colleagues.

"It's more of an exhibition than a competition, and we don't know what to expect in terms of entries," said Greg. He added that it sounds like Bristoe will probably win.

During the test, the cannon fired a pumpkin through the rear of a Pontiac.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Sazerac · 10-18-2002, 10:12 AM

How would the pumpkin survive that much force?? [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] It seems to me that before it even left the barrel of the cannon it would be squashed like a p... er, nevermind.

Link · 10-18-2002, 10:32 AM

Yeah... Beats me too Saz [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] Even my high-school science can't come up with an idea.

Neb · 10-18-2002, 11:28 AM

I want one of those!

And a pumpkin-field worth of ammunition.

VulcanRider · 10-18-2002, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Charean:
During the test, the cannon fired a pumpkin through the rear of a Pontiac.

I used to have a car like that...

This guy needs to change channels once in a while -- he's seen to many A-Team reruns...

RevRuby · 10-18-2002, 11:49 AM

so will they be playing smashing pumpkins music at this contest???

Redblueflare · 10-18-2002, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RevRuby:
so will they be playing smashing pumpkins music at this contest???

Lol! That would be my guess. How bored do you have to be to build something like this anyway?

Downunda · 10-18-2002, 03:09 PM

I seen a bit on the Ripleys believe it or not about amonth ago all about the pumpkin launching contest and some of the machines they had were MASSIVE!!! And the pumpkins do stay semi-whole, that is until they land.

10-18-2002, 09:32 AM	#1
Charean Hathor Join Date: March 6, 2001 Location: Waxahachie, TX Age: 60 Posts: 2,201	Pumpkin Cannon Set to Squash the Competition Oct. 18, 2002 (Ellettsville, Ind) - When Jim Bristoe told his wife he wanted to build a cannon that would shoot a pumpkin a mile, she told him he wasn't all there. But he built one anyway, with a 30-foot-long barrel. It is powered by a 700-gallon air tank and is appropriately named "Ain't All There." It looks much like a mobile anti-aircraft gun. "You don't need to cover your ears, but you're going to know I shot it," the 42-year-old electrician and mechanic said during a demonstration on Wednesday. When Bristoe fires the cannon, a 10-pound pumpkin is hit with 11,300 pounds of force. The pumpkin projectile leaves the muzzle at about 900 miles per hour, he said. Bristoe plans to take the 2-ton pumpkin cannon to the first annual Pumpkin Propulsion Contest at Verizon Wireless Music Center near Noblesville on Saturday. The contest is sponsored by Indianapolis radio station WRZX-FM. It's the brainchild of morning show host Gonzo Greg and his colleagues. "It's more of an exhibition than a competition, and we don't know what to expect in terms of entries," said Greg. He added that it sounds like Bristoe will probably win. During the test, the cannon fired a pumpkin through the rear of a Pontiac. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) __________________ And then there were 6.

10-18-2002, 10:12 AM	#2
Sazerac Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Monroe, LA Age: 60 Posts: 7,387	How would the pumpkin survive that much force?? [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] It seems to me that before it even left the barrel of the cannon it would be squashed like a p... er, nevermind. __________________ "And all my days are trances, and all my nightly dreams, Are where thy grey eye glances, and where thy footstep gleams, In what ethereal dances, by what eternal streams..."

10-18-2002, 10:32 AM	#3
Link Jack Burton Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: The Netherlands Age: 39 Posts: 5,888	Yeah... Beats me too Saz [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] Even my high-school science can't come up with an idea. __________________ Rowing is not a sport, it's a way of life Goal: Beijing 2008

10-18-2002, 11:49 AM	#6
RevRuby Fzoul Chembryl Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: Limbo Age: 44 Posts: 1,720	so will they be playing smashing pumpkins music at this contest??? __________________ peek-a-boo

10-18-2002, 03:09 PM	#8
Downunda Set - Egyptian God of Chaos Join Date: January 7, 2002 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Age: 45 Posts: 2,975	I seen a bit on the Ripleys believe it or not about amonth ago all about the pumpkin launching contest and some of the machines they had were MASSIVE!!! And the pumpkins do stay semi-whole, that is until they land. __________________ \"Doing stuff is overrated, like Hitler, he did lots of stuff, but doesn\'t everybody wish he\'d just stayed at home and smoked pot?!?\"

10-18-2002, 11:28 AM	#4
Neb Account deleted by Request Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: . Age: 38 Posts: 8,802	I want one of those! And a pumpkin-field worth of ammunition.

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