PUBLIC Pumpkin Races Fundraiser

Keweenaw CAPE Pumpkin Race Fundraiser 2023

WHAT IS A PUMPKIN RACER?

Rules state in part that a Pumpkin Racer must be made from a pumpkin with two independent axles and wheels attached. Pumpkin Racers 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. You never know what's going to happen or who the winner will be. There are always a few mighty Pumpkin Racer underdogs who somehow manage to come up with a victory over a seemingly superior opponent. Despite their different appearances, all Pumpkin Racers (except Cheaters!) are given an equal opportunity to participate and advance toward victory and win a prize.

OUTLINE

The first annual Keweenaw CAPE Pumpkin Races Fundraiser (we would like to rename it the Deb Mann Annual Pumpkin Races, with family permission) will consist of community members making an optional donation to the Deb Mann and Keweenaw CAPE Fundraiser to register their pumpkin racer for a downhill race being held on Ryan Street in Hancock. Races will be held regardless of weather, but if a registered Racer does not attend due to inclement weather. REGISTER HERE: https://form.jotform.com/232684310750149

Donations will be divided 50/50 between Keweenaw CAPE and the Deb Mann Scholarship. With a planned scholarship, it is with the understanding that it may not be awarded for a few years so that money can be allocated over time after each Pumpkin Racer Fundraiser. Keweenaw CAPE will use their portion of the donation to continue to offer innovative educational opportunities to the public.

The race will be held on Saturday, Oct 21, 2023, from 12PM-4PM. Keweenaw CAPE will host a Pumpkin Racer Mechanics Station on the Quincy Green, if there is inclement weather we will host this in the Make It UP! Makerspace, where participants can use various tools to help ensure their racer is ready. There will also be a Pumpkin Racer Inspection Table where participants will bring their racer to be inspected to ensure that they have followed the rules and regulations. All Racers MUST have their Pumpkin Racer inspected BEFORE racing. From that point, racers will bring their Pumpkin Racer over to Ryan Street, which runs adjacent to the Quincy Green and prepare for their heat.

The heats for racers are as follows, with times varying depending on attendance:

Children Racers (ages 12 and under) 1:00PM-1:15PM

Participants must have created the Racer independently without major adult assistance. This includes decorations, fixing the axles/wheels, carving, and general design. There will be a prize for 1st-3rd Place in this heat.

Teen/Adult Racers (ages 13+) 1:30PM-1:45PM

Participants must have worked on their Racer independently, without group effort. This includes decorations, fixing the wheels/axles, carving, and general design. There will be a prize for 1st-3rd Place in this heat.

Family/Group Racers (ALL AGES) 2:00PM-2:15PM

Participants have worked as a group/family to complete their Racer. This means that many ages and experience levels have had a hand in completing the Racer, including decorations, fixing the wheels/axles, carving, and general design. There will be a prize for 1st-3rd Place in this heat.

Cheater Pumpkins (ALL AGES) 2:30PM-2:45PM

This heat includes any and all pumpkins (or non-pumpkins) that did not follow the rules/regulations and have items such as cages, non-sanctioned axles/wheels, chassis, or any other additions not allowed in regular heats, deemed unacceptable by the Racer Inspectors. There will be no prize for this heat, just the satisfaction of making a ridiculous Racer and winning!

If there are more registered Racers in a heat than can fit across the Start Line, Racers will be divided further into Sub-Heats. 1st through 3rd place from each Heat will be timed and the best times will be awarded 1st through 3rd place.

Participants are encouraged to create imaginative and creative Pumpkin Racers! A prize will be awarded to Most Creative Racer from EACH HEAT. So even if your Racer doesn’t win, you may still win a prize for the most creative Racer, so go wild!

Prizes will be awarded after all Racers have completed their Heats, with an estimated Award Ceremony at 3:00PM.

RULES

Design and construct your pumpkin race car from a single, real pumpkin in any shape and size. Anything besides a pumpkin will be immediately placed in the Cheater Pumpkin Racer Heat.

Pumpkin Racers can be whole or carved; outrageously decorated or just like it came from the pumpkin patch. But we encourage you to decorate and embellish your Racer to have a chance at winning Most Creative Racer.

Insert two independent axles through your pumpkin and attach any type or size wheels to the axles. Keep in mind that we are racing down a bumpy road, Ryan Street, and there may be slush or snow at the time of the race. Your wheels can play a big part in how well your Racer rolls!

You cannot attach your pumpkin to anything that creates a chassis of any sort, such as skateboards, cages, wagons, toys, strollers…. You get the picture. Otherwise, you will be placed in the Cheaters Heat.
Your pumpkin must be powered by the gravity from the downhill slope of the race track; no fans, motors, explosives, pyrotechnics or PUSHING. Pumpkin Racers must be released at the top of the track and allow gravity to do the work.
Pumpkins will race side-by-side; there is no penalty if pumpkins bump or collide with other pumpkins, the race track walls or anything else.
Pumpkins will be inspected at check in and any Racers not built to race regulations could be placed in the Cheater Pumpkin Racer Heat. It is at the discretion of the Racer Inspectors to determine whether a Racer qualifies for a Regular Heat or the Cheater Pumpkin Racer Heat.
Race Heats may be created at check-in based on the total number of special prizes for race winners plus prizes for creativity, as well as how many Heats will be occurring. Low turnout will result in more prizes being awarded for various categories. High turnout will result in prizes being awarded for places and Most Creative Racer, whether that is overall or from each Heat.
Have fun making your Pumpkin Racers; be creative and let your imagination run wild! If you don’t win you’ll at least be racing in style!

Please see below for acceptable axle/wheel orientation:

Please see below for unacceptable axle/wheel orientation:

WHERE TO FIND SUPPLIES?

We encourage participants to visit McGann’s Building Supply in Hancock to find all materials needed for building their Pumpkin Racer. Wheels will need to be ordered on Doitbest.com. They provide free shipping to McGann's! Please see the following list for items you will need to build a basic Pumpkin Racer:

4 Wheels (lawn mower, roller skate, skateboard, toy truck tires, or anything you can think of!) 6”x1 ¼” wheels will work very well, but it is up to you what you use! Wheels with bearings are also recommended.
2 Axles (Be sure to measure your pumpkin to determine how long your axles need to be.) two 3⁄8'' threaded rods that can be of any length you need. Remember, you can cut down your rods, if need be.
12 washers (3 for each side, one by the pumpkin, and one for each side of the wheel)
20 locking nuts (5 for each side. Two washers are used to lock the wheels in place on both sides, and one to hold the axle in place by the pumpkin.)

Materials to build your Pumpkin Racer can be found at any hardware store, scrap yard or ordered online. Have fun and be creative, just remember to follow the rules, or you will end up in the Cheaters Heat!

TIPS

Here are a few tips that we have for you when building your Pumpkin Racer:

Purchase 2 pumpkins, one for testing, and one to be your actual Racer. You want to try and find pumpkins that are similar in size/shape.

Pumpkins can become mushy rather quickly, or become damaged while testing, so having a backup is always a good idea!

Tall pumpkins, laid on their side, tend to work better. But, this is YOUR Racer, so do what feels right for you.
We encourage you to watch videos about how to build a Pumpkin Racer. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to help you gain an advantage over your competitors.
TEST YOUR PUMPKIN RACER! You want to ensure that your Racer goes as straight as possible, and this may require quite a bit of tweaking. So be patient and really hone in the spacing of your wheels and axles.
Take advantage of the Mechanics Station to ensure your wheels and axles are tight and aligned. Parallel axles are a key to a straight run.
Bigger isn’t always necessarily better. Sometimes a smaller pumpkin with a finely tuned wheel base will do just as well, if not better, than a larger pumpkin.
We will be racing down Ryan Street in Hancock, so be sure your pumpkin isn’t too low to the ground. The road has dips and bumps, and there is always the possibility of snow/slush.
Try to be on time for your Heat! Depending on how many registrants we have, Heats may start early or end late, so times may be adjusted slightly, so show up before your Heat begins.
Be sure to remember the name you used when registering your Pumpkin Racer. That is what you will use to check in at the Inspection Station.