Medieval catapults and their modern variants have re-emerged in recent years and taken a new foothold in popular culture. They are the centerpiece to a new variety of brain and brawn sport: Punkin Chunkin — a contest to catapult a pumpkin as far as possible.

The sport officially began in 1986, when founding fathers John Ellsworth, Trey Melson, Bill Thompson and Donald "Doc" Pepper got together in a small Delaware field and decided to chunk a pumpkin. Their pumpkin flew 126 feet (the current world record is 4,086 feet).

Today competitors trailer their gigantic, home-built catapults and head to contests held throughout the country. The annual Punkin Chunkin World Championship takes place the first weekend in November. This two-day contest attracts more than 30,000 fans and 81 competitors from 11 states to a 280-acre field in the small town of Millsboro, Del.

The rules are simple: The pumpkin has to weigh between 8 to 10 pounds. The pumpkin has to leave the machine intact, no part of the machine can cross the firing line. No explosives.

There are eight different competition categories or machine classifications: Air Cannons, 10 and under, 11 to 17 Youth, Human Powered, Catapult, Centrifugal, Trebuchet and Theatrical, with the Air Cannons being the most powerful hurlers.

According to Siege-Engine.com, "catapult builders seem to come from all sorts of backgrounds, with the only real common denominator being a deep seated need to chuck stuff really far."

For more information, check out these Web sites:

Punkin Chunkin Association
2002 World Punkin Chunkin Results
Philosophy
The International Registry of Hurlers
Hurling Community Calendar