When most people think of pumpkins around Halloween, they think of the traditional Jack-o-lantern. The Niles Noon Optimist Club has a different idea regarding pumpkins, mainly that with two axles and two sets of wheels they are built for speed.
Those who don’t believe it can witness first hand during this year’s fifth annual Great Pumpkin race at 12:45 p.m. Oct. 29, at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, 905 Front St.
Event coordinator and member of the Niles Noon Optimist Club, Shane Shidler, of Edwardsburg grew up building pine wood derby cars with his dad to race in the Boy Scouts. He wanted to help other families create memories like this.
“The big thing is it’s just a lot of fun,” Shidler said. “It is a family fun event. It is not competitive (and great) if you are looking for some good laughs or a heartfelt fun day.”
Over five years, the event has raised $8,000 to support the Niles Noon Optimist Club’s youth fund, which provides children with the opportunity to have the funds to go to local camps and youth scholarships. The funds also support the downtown trick or treat.
The majority of the funds come from local businesses that sponsor signs that are displayed on the racetrack. This year, Shidler said the group is anticipating raising about $2,000.
Shidler explained how an ordinary vegetable is transformed into a racing machine. The pumpkins, which can be decorated to the engineer’s taste, will have two independent axles affixed to the bottom, which can then be attached to two sets of wheels.
“We encourage people to build their own at home and get the family involved and the kids to take ownership,” Shidler said.
Over the years, Shidler has seen lots of creativity in the speedy pumpkins. His daughter, Naylee, 7, who often participates, designed her pumpkin in last year’s race to be a monster chasing a hot dog attached to a wire. Shidler has also seen turntable pumpkins, super hero pumpkins and many other stretches of the imagination.
Creativity is rewarded and a number of categories recognize the engineer’s abilities to use the imagination. In addition to, an award for the fastest pumpkin, there is also an award for, the cutest pumpkin, best-engineered pumpkin, the scariest pumpkin and the pumpkin only a mother can love.
Those who submit a pumpkin for racing have to follow a few guidelines. Participants can use only a pumpkin, no gourds or watermelon allowed, the pumpkins also can only be mobilized with two independent axles and wheels of the contestants choosing and pyrotechnics or other mechanical fixtures are not allowed.
The starting line is at the top of the YMCA’s maintenance access ramp, which stretches about 20 to 25 feet. Once at the top of the ramp, gravity does the rest.
The entry fee is $5 or five canned good items, which will be donated to a local food pantry. Those who need a little help transforming their pumpkin into a racing vehicle can buy a racing kit for $10 at the Niles District Library or at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.
Participants can also decorate the pumpkin and install the racing parts at the event. A member of the organization will be there to help drill holes in the pumpkin.