Are you excited for Punkin' Chunkin' 2017?!

We are still in need of teams (or ambitious individuals) to compete and show off their engineering talents! If you are interested but not quite ready to register, please let me know so I at least have an idea of who to expect. Also, PLEASE SHARE with your friends and fellow makers. We definitely want to encourage new teams to join us this year! If you have suggestions for folks I should reach out to, please email me at education@sciencefactory.org.

In planning the event so far, we have booked the Most Wanted Espresso food truck to be on site, and the Eugene Public Library Maker Hub and Science Factory Educators will be entertaining guests from 10am to noon while the competitors set up. This year, it looks like we may have up to 1,000 spectators interested in cheering on our Punkin Chunkin Competitors (based on facebook interest).

Register your team here: https://goo.gl/forms/dsios9WWjB29NddO2

Need some ideas, inspiration, technical assistance, or maybe just a place to work? The folks at Eugene Maker Space are happy to help out. Visit them for their Open Hack Nights every Tuesday and Friday at 6.

Need materials to build your pumpkin (or apple) chunker? Ask us about discounts or donations from MECCA: Materials Exchange Center for the Community Arts and BRING to get started!

All competitors will receive a free pass to our LASER LIGHT SHOWS in the Planetarium this Winter.

Competition Guidelines:

The Science Factory, in collaboration with Eugene Maker Space, will host its fifth annual Punkin' Chunkin' competition on Saturday, November 4. Team setup runs from 8:30 to 11:30 and the contest officially begins at 12 noon. Teams of up to six competitors are welcome to sign up and compete for fame, glory, and the coveted Golden Jack O'Lantern... not to mention free passes to our LASER LIGHT SHOWS in the Planetarium this Winter!

1) Teams may consist of 1 to 6 members. At least one team member must be 18 years of age or older. An individual may be part of more than one team as long as all other members of the teams involved are aware of it.

2) Teams may compete in either the Pumpkin-class or Apple-class divisions. Pumpkin-class machines will launch pumpkins between 1 and 5 pounds. Apple-class machines will launch standard-size apples. (Preferably Red Delicious. Have you eaten those? They're terrible.)

3) Machines MAY NOT USE compressed air/gas or combustion/explosives in their design.

4) Science Factory representatives will inspect machines prior to competition. We reserve the right to disqualify any machine that poses an unreasonable safety hazard to competitors or spectators. When in doubt, please consult with us during your build! E-mail education@sciencefactory.org with your questions.

5) Setup begins at 8:30AM and ends at 11:30AM on the Science Factory field. Vehicles and non-essential apparatus must be off the field at 11:30. Machines must be completely set up and ready to launch by 11:30.

6) Machines must be set up behind the designated firing line, and no part of the machine may cross the firing line during launch.

7) The competition will consist of three rounds; in each round, each team will fire one pumpkin/apple projectile. The team with the single farthest launch distance in each class will be declared the winner.

8) Teams will fire one at a time in a predetermined order. At the start of their turn, teams will have up to 5 minutes to load and launch their pumpkin/apple projectile. Teams may not load their projectile or operate their machine prior to their 5-minute window. At the judges' discretion, teams may load and launch a backup projectile within the 5-minute window if the first launch attempt results in a "misfire."

9) Projectiles will be provided by the Science Factory. Teams may bring their own projectiles if desired, subject to inspection by Science Factory judges. Projectiles may not be altered in any way, except for paint/marker on the surface.

10) Projectiles must remain intact until hitting the ground. Distance will be measured from the spot of first contact with the ground.