Full Text
ANNUAL PUMPKIN RACE HELD AT THE PARK CENTER OCTOBER 25, 2013 from 6-9pm READY, SET, GO! Gather your family and friends and get your little pumpkins to the our Annual World Famous Pumpkin Race and Family Sock Hop. Enjoy this spectacle where creativity runs wild and cheaters never prosper. Dress in colorful costumes, enjoy fun activities for all ages, make your own Pumpkin Racecar and feel the thrill of competing in the fun-spirited World Famous Pumpkin Race. Free and fun for the whole family! WHAT'S THE WORLD FAMOUS PUMPKIN RACE? - Handcrafted Pumpkin Racecars racing side-by-side “pinewood derby” style! Families and friends race for fun and the coveted Championship Trophy. Pumpkin Race History The World Famous Pumpkin Race has rekindled a sense of good old-fashioned family fun for our own families and for hundreds of other families and friends who attend the race each year. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, teens, and younger siblings can all be seen working together as they build their very own Pumpkin RaceCar and then cheer it on to victory. After a loss, families and friends gather to support one another and vow to return the following year with an even better Pumpkin RaceCar! In addition to enhancing a sense of family and community, the World Famous Pumpkin Race embodies other traditional American values such as ingenuity, creativity, equality, fairness and diversity. People of all ages and abilities enjoy the thrill of participating in the race, the old fashioned family fun, the community spirit that is shared by all who attend. There is a keen spirit of teamwork and competition among the more advanced Pumpkin RaceCar builders that often results in dramatic races that get the crowd roaring. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to enter the race as the event is much more thrilling and light-hearted than it is competitive. How to Create your own Pumpkin Racecar Be sure that you understand how to build a "legal" Pumpkin Racecar. There are only a few simple rules to follow, so let your imagination run wild. A bigger or heavier Pumpkin RaceCar is not a faster Pumpkin RaceCar. Rarely does the biggest win. The best way to build a fast RaceCar is to make sure the axles are parallel so it will roll straight down the track. Many racers are eliminated because their racer veers into the side wall before it crosses the finish line. Check to make sure they are parallel before every race. Make sure all of your wheels spin freely! ---PAGE BREAK--- Be sure your RaceCar has enough ground clearance! The race takes place on a track with bumps and dips. Be sure your RaceCar is high enough to clear them. Have fun making your RaceCar! Pick a theme and be creative. Often, the crowd favorites are the most fun and creative ones. If you can't win, then lose with style! Be sure to visit the “Murray Auto Mile” Race Booth for more expert tips & tune- ups. MOST IMPORTANTLY---HAVE FUN! The Official Pumpkin Race Rules The Rules have been established to promote fair play and inspire good old-fashioned American Ingenuity. All Pumpkin Racers must design and race their Pumpkin Races according to these few important rules to ensure that the Pumpkin Race is fun and fair for everyone. RULE #1 Craft your Pumpkin RaceCar using a single pumpkin. RULE #2 Insert two independent axels through your pumpkin and attach wheels to the axels. Spice up your racer with style. RULE #3 You may not attach your pumpkin onto a pre-fabricated chassis of any kind (skateboard, stroller, Tonka truck, etc., etc...) A.K.A. The "Anti-Stealth" Rule. RULE #4 NO EXPLOSIVES or PYROTECHNICS. RULE #5 No pushing or "helping" your Pumpkin Racer on the starting line. Our Race Officials have seen it all - the last minute shove, the hidden thumb flick, the early release, the remote control chassis, etc. etc. See Rule RULE #6 NO CHEATING. Feel great about being honest and fair. Don't be tempted to be a Cheater Pumpkin. Use the honor system and obey the spirit of these rules. Our Race Officials have a keen eye and the Mallet-O- Justice ready to bring a Cheater Pumpkin down. What is the World Famous Pumpkin Race? A fun-spirited festival like no other! The highlight of the Pumpkin Race is a unique side-by-side single elimination race featuring handcrafted, decorated Pumpkin RaceCars in a funky, hilarious, suspenseful, and dramatic display of American ingenuity. Excitement will builds as Pumpkin RaceCar teams battle head-to-head for the coveted Pumpkin Race Championship Trophy. We also award other prizes for Best Decoration, Most Innovative Design, and Best Crash. What are Pumpkin RaceCars? Pumpkin RaceCars are made to conform (more or less) to the Official World Famous Pumpkin Race Rules. The Official Rules state in part that a Pumpkin RaceCar must be made from a carved pumpkin with two independent axels and wheels attached. Pumpkin RaceCars come in all different shapes, sizes and speeds. Some are elaborately decorated and ready to race. Others appear as if they can't make it down the race track at all. A well-crafted Pumpkin RaceCar can easily cross the finish line first, or it can catch an unfortunate break and come up short. One never knows. There are always a few mighty Pumpkin RaceCar underdogs who somehow manage to come up with a victory over a seemingly superior opponent. Despite their different ---PAGE BREAK--- appearances, all Pumpkin RaceCars (except Cheaters!) are given an equal opportunity to participate and advance toward victory. Does anyone ever cheat? See the LEGEND of the CHEATER PUMPKIN below In a word - Yes. However, our vigilant Race Officials make sure everyone plays by the rules - fair and square. If a Race Official determines that a Pumpkin Racecar is in violation the Official World Famous Pumpkin Race Rules it is immediately declared a cheater! The penalty for racing a cheater Pumpkin RaceCar is instant destruction by a large wooden mallet administered by the Head Race Official. It is important to note that several race entrants routinely enter "cheater" pumpkins with full knowledge that their Pumpkin RaceCar will be smashed to bits for all to see and cheer. You may enter the race as a “Cheater”. These pumpkins will race in the FINALS See Legend of the Cheater Pumpkin The Legend of the Cheater Pumpkin Twas the night of all Hallows Eve. 1955 when the Hoffman Brothers happened upon their first Murray Park Pumpkin Race, and were inspired by the intriguing twist on the classic tradition of the Pinewood Derby. They were hypnotized and spellbound by the good-spirited fun and hilarious competition of the Pumpkin Race. Unfortunately, their Pumpkin Racecar “Hell Squash” suffered an unfortunate loss in its first heat. However, the brothers took it in stride and vowed to return the next year with “the Winning” Pumpkin Racecar. True to their word the brothers returned with bright beams of hop in their eyes and their new and improved Pumpkin Racecar with straight axels and better wheels held in their arms. They guided their Pumpkin Racecar ---PAGE BREAK--- “Screamin’ Skull” on to win two glorious qualifying heat victories. Both brothers in their excitement managed to live up to their “Screamin’ Skull” name. Unfortunately, the brothers suffered a heartbreaking loss in the semi-finals to the Brilliant Professor and his granddaughter. Using friction-free professional grinding pads for wheels (did she think of that all by herself?) their Pumpkin Racecar flew down the track and easily captured the coveted Pumpkin Race Grand Champion Trophy. Encouraged by their advance to the semi-finals the Hoffman Brothers returned the following year with a new and improved Pumpkin Racecar. But, their hopes of winning the race were soon dashed. It turned out that “SpongeBob” a friendly Pumpkin Racecar with square pants, crooked teeth, and crooked axels veered into their helpless Alfalfa Pumpkin Racecar and forced it out of the race. Thrice defeated the brothers became upset, however their fury soon rose to apocalyptic proportion when they inspected “Scary Fireman II”, the newly crowned Pumpkin Race Grand Champion. The brothers made a shocking and life changing discovery, the “winning” Pumpkin Racecar was in direct violation of the most important Official Pumpkin Race Rule which states: “You cannot mount your Pumpkin Racecar to a pre-fabricated chassis of any kind.” They discovered that the winning pumpkin was, in fact, a cheater pumpkin! On their long and dark ride home, the Hoffman brothers threw their principles (you know- sense of morality, fair play, and stuff like that) right out the window. They began to dream up a pumpkin Racecar design so sinister that it would surely secure them certain victory… by cheating. Their cheater design was mounted on a hidden prefabricated chassis, it had powerful and dangerous rocket booster engines to propel it past all the other Pumpkin Racecars, as well as a few other violations way too graphic and dangerous to mention publicity. They named their Omen-child gourd creation “The Cheater Pumpkin.” The brothers arrived at the next Pumpkin Race with “The Cheater Pumpkin.” Their every move was a well- orchestrated and evil scheme to win by cheating. First, there was the successful distraction of the starting line referee forgot to conduct his pre-race inspection. There was also the successful hidden booster engine whenever they needed a little extra to pass another racer. They propelled their Cheater Pumpkin Racecar on to victory through several qualifying rounds and into the finals. Both kids and adults cheered uncontrollably and “The Cheater Pumpkin” soon became a favorite. Everything was going according to the brother’s grand cheating plan when their booster rocket sputtered, caught on fire and lost the final race. Seeing “The Cheater Pumpkin” for what it was (a big bad cheater!), the children in the crowed began to chant “CHEAT-ER!” “CHEAT-ER!” and then “SMASH IT!” “SMASH IT!” Motivated by the crowd the referee smashed “The Cheater Pumpkin” into a million bits with his “Hammer of Justice”. The crowd cheered as the referee rested the Hammer of Justice on his shoulder and stared coldly at the cheating Hoffman Brothers. ---PAGE BREAK--- Did the brother’s learn their lesson that year at the Pumpkin Races? Did they realize that Cheaters never prosper? Did they then decide to try to win with honest, hard work and ingenuity? Unfortunately not! They vowed to continue to improve their cheating skills in an effort to become even better cheaters next year. AND so it goes….. Every year at the Pumpkin Races fans anticipate the arrival of the Hoffman Brothers and their latest Cheater Pumpkin creation. As they have done for more than 15 years, the cheating, deceitful brothers will slowly make their way to the starting line with their Cheater Pumpkin. They will place it on the line (or perhaps just a little bit over the line) along with the good people who play by the rule fair and square. Amazingly, the brothers’ cheating ways will somehow slip right past the highly trained referees. But the children will slowly begin their truthful and powerful chat “CHEAT-ER!!” “CHEAT-ER!!” “CHEAT-ER!!” “CHEAT-ER!!” A collective force of good and justice will be created once again at The Pumpkin Race. It will all prove to be all too much for the brothers and their Cheater Pumpkin to overcome. The pre- fabricated chassis… the flaming tailpipe exhaust… the remote controlled steering mechanism… all will be exposed for what they are - the empty bag of tricks of a cheater trying to win. With the crowd as his inspiration the referee will toss his penalty flag and disqualify The Cheater Pumpkin. As usual, the cheating Hoffman Brothers will quickly propel their Cheater Pumpkin down the track in a fiery display. But no matter how fast The Cheater Pumpkin races down the track it will not win! For it is a cheater. And we all know that cheaters never prosper. The crowd will go wild and justice will prevail for another year at the Pumpkin Races. Will The Cheater Pumpkin ever win? Come find out on October 25th beginning at 6:00 pm at the Park Center in Murray. (202 E Murray Park Ave, [PHONE REDACTED]) www.murray.utah.gov Join the cool band of kids and adults playing by the rules, competing fair and square. Some will win their race using a combination of scientific mastery, others with a powerful combination of creativity and ingenuity. A few will win with that magic touch on their side. Win or lose, all will have the time of their lives.