The crew of the American Chunker would like to formerly recognize the team's "Offensive Coordinator" Pete Colantonio for his efforts in successfully designing and implementing both his internal and external ballistics simulators this past season into the teams strategy. Pete has been instrumental in the current success of team American Chunker. Pete designed and developed a one of a kind program that proved to be accurate within 4 ft on game day. We can't go into detail on the programs specifics but let's just say when Charlie the Pit Boss asked for an approximate distance so he could place his spotters, Pete was accurate within 4ft 2 days in a row! Just ask Charlie, he couldn't believe it. So we humbly give credit where credit is due! Pete's tireless calculations paid off and will continue to in 2012! Thanks Pete - This Bud's for you!
TEAM AMERICAN CHUNKER JUST MISSED FIRST PLACE BY 48 INCHES. THE CREW GOT CAUGHT IN ANOTHER ALL OUT SLUG FEST THIS PAST WEEKEND. YOUNG GLORY III AND SECOND AMENDMENT TOO PUT UP A FIERCE BATTLE.
This past Saturday Team American Chunker traded shots with veteran team Big Ten Inch in Nobleboro Maine at the annual "Splash Down" event. Team American Chunker was able to defeat the 3 time world champs after a hard fought battle of the bay. The weather conditions were perfect.
TEAM AMERICAN CHUNKER STOPPED BY THE ANNUAL WOOFSTOCK EVENT LAST SATURDAY AND PRESENTED A SMALL DONATION HOPEFULLY TO BE FOLLOWED BY A BIGGER ONE IN NOVEMBER.
TEAM AMERICAN CHUNKER IS THE FIRST TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF PUNKIN CHUNKIN TO EMPLOY THE FUNCTIONING USE OF SOLAR POWER. IN A YEAR MARKED BY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS TEAM AC HAS ADDED A "GREEN" POWER-SOURCE TO THE LIST OF NEW AND CUTTING EDGE IDEAS.
Team American Chunker is proud to introduce Mike Manfreda. Mike is a former Assistant District Attorney for the City of Boston. Mike currently has his own practice located in Beacon Hill. Mike has proven to be a well versed team member in everything from legal council to geometry and mathematics. Mike also brings a very calm demeanor to the hard charging team. Mike is considered to be the teams grounding rod -Welcome aboard Mike - great to be working with you!
YOU'VE HEARD OF THE MANHATTAN PROJECT BACK DURING WWII RIGHT....? WELL NOW TEAM AMERICAN CHUNKER BRINGS YOU THE BRIDGEVILLE PROJECT. NOT QUITE AS NUCLEAR IN DAMAGE BUT JUST AS POWERFUL IN TERMS OF MEASURING SUCCESS. STAND BY...... TO STAND BY - THERE ARE JUST 10 DAYS TO THE UNVEIL OF PUNKIN CHUNKIN'S MOST COMPLEX AND INNOVATIVE CUMULATIVE TESTING AND TRIALS PROJECT. THE TEAM HAS RECRUITED MASSIVE COMPRESSORS, AIRCRAFT AND EVEN A FEW LOCAL POLITICAL FIGURES. PUNKIN CHUNKIN WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AFTER SATURDAY THE 16th OF JULY! STAY TUNED FOR THE PUMPKIN SHATTERING RESULTS.........
Veteran Chunkers, Ralph and Wayne from Chunkin Under Da Influence stopped by to visit team American Chunker at Heritage Harley Davidson for Bike week 2011. Ralph and Wayne are long time chunkers and outstanding people. They represent the best of what Punkin Chunkin is all about! Good to see you guys!
THE AMERICAN CHUNKER CREW HAS ONCE AGAIN WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD ALL WINTER LONG ON RECREATING BOTH THEIR CANNON AND STRATEGY. 27 MAJOR UPGRADES AND AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN ADDED OR INTEGRATED SO FAR AND THERE ARE STILL MANY MORE TO COME.
QUOTE: "KNOW THIS....OTHER TEAMS MAY TEMPORARILY OUT SHOOT US, BUT THEY WILL NEVER OUT WORK US - IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THAT TROPHY IS OURS!" BRIAN LABRIE - CAPTAIN
Douglas Sommer, Age 39
Doug's role for Team American Chunker is actually two-fold. Primary duties will include developing a testing method that quickly eliminates wasteful strategy's and crazy, unreliable game time tactics. Doug's goal is to implement a testing method that will ultimately help Team American Chunker fast forward 20 years into the future. A secondary role will consist of supporting Tom Sommer with general electronics integration. Doug is also an extremely valuable member of the 2011 squad!
Now boarding ........Flight 5280 departing from Bridgeville headed for Victory. Your Flight Captain will be Mike Hughes and oh yeah he doesn't use a windshield, just check out the picture taken of him over upstate New York a few years back in a DC-9. Mike grew up in the Greater Boston area. Graduated Reading High School, class of ’69. Served in the US Navy stationed in the Philippines during Vietnam supporting the Naval Fleet. He had many jobs as a mechanic prior to achieving his Bachelor of Science degree for mechanical engineering from Northeastern University (yes for those keeping score we have 3 crew members that graduated from Northeastern). He learned to fly in ’78. He has worked in Aerospace for over 25 years. Mike currently owns an engineering consulting business and operates a prototype machine shop. Mike also has 2 patent awards with 2 pending. Mike has recently retired as an airline pilot and for awhile flew commercially for two major airlines.
Well I suppose someone has to keep the peace. So who better to do it than Nashua's very own Don Gross! Team American Chunker is happy to announce Retired Nashua NH Police Chief Don Gross as their new Sergeant At Arms and head transport officer. Don is an avid Chunker with the skills to pay the bills. A former officer of the law by trade, Don served NH's second largest city for over 30 years as an extremely well respected public figure. Don brings welding, mechanical and most importantly political skills to the table. Don has been a great friend and family member for many years, and his support and clam demeanor will be welcomed this season. Climb aboard Don - it's great to stand shoulder to shoulder with you once again!
Charlie Levine will be working with team American Chunker this year. Charlie is a multi-talented gentleman who's contributions will be welcomed for sure. Charlie holds a Civil Engineering degree from Northeastern University - Boston Ma., and has served his country proudly in the Coast Guard. Charlie's biggest role will be helping the team look for large parcels of land to practice on this year. A quite fellow Charlie is, however he is dedicated and determined to seeing this team succeed in 2011. Welcome aboard Charlie we all look forward to working with you this year.
NOW YOU CAN FOLLOW THE TEAM ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AS THEY PREPARE FOR BATTLE AGAIN THIS NOVEMBER IN DELAWARE. YOU'LL ALSO FIND SOME INTERESTING DAY TO DAY CHATTER AS WELL AS THE 2011 SCHEDULE AND A HOST OF OTHER RANDOM MAGICAL INFORMATION ON THE NEWLY RENOVATED PAGE. http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Chunker-Inc/371610396355
WELL, IT'S BEEN EXACTLY ONE WEEK SINCE THE 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP CHUNK AND THE AMERICAN CHUNKER TEAM IS TAKING SOME MUCH DESERVED TIME OFF. THIS POST WILL REPRESENT THE FINAL POST FOR THE 2010 SEASON. THAT BEING SAID, I'VE SAVED THE BEST POST FOR LAST.
IT'S NOW ONLY HOURS BEFORE TEAM AMERICAN CHUNKER HEADS SOUTH TO DELAWARE FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHUNK. I AM JUST FINALIZING A FEW DETAILS BEFORE WE SHOVE OFF SHORTLY AND ALTHOUGH AS ALWAYS, I SEEM PRESSED FOR TIME, I FELT IT NECESSARY TO TAKE A SECOND AND OFFER MY THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO TOM BINGHAM, HIS WIFE REBEKAH AND THE ENTIRE BINGHAM LUMBER COMPANY. THE GENEROSITY THAT THESE FOLKS HAVE SHOWN OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH THE UNLIMITED USE OF THEIR STATE OF THE ART FACILITY HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE! THIS 12 MONTH BUILD WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE USE OF THIS TYPE OF FIRST CLASS SHOP. SO, REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER HAPPENS AT THE CHUNK IN DELAWARE THIS YEAR, MY HAT IS OFF TO MY BEST FRIEND TOM, HIS FAMILY AND HIS COMPANY FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF MY CRAZY REQUESTS! THANKS AGAIN MAN! - BH
According to the WCPCA President John Huber and another reliable source at Discovery the Mythbusters will be the 2010 Punkin Chunkin hosts! What a great match for the event. You can expect to see Jamie and Adam all weekend in Delaware - who knows you may even get to meet them. They will certainly boost the events fan base by a substantial margin. We can't wait to work with these guys, what an outstanding selection for this years hosts, the WCPCA has gone all out for the 25th anniversery!
Cambridge, Vermont - Sunday October 3, 2010
Harvest season is in full swing in Vermont. While many families are picking up pumpkins to carve and roast seeds, some in Cambridge are putting them to higher use -- catapulting them.
Some of the pumpkins were chucked over 400 feet, but one group there had a different number in mind. Although it is a medieval concept, the American Chunker has a pretty modern dream, to shoot a pumpkin over one mile. "This is our baby. We've been working on this for almost a year -- a lot of hours in this -- about 1800 man hours," said Brian Labrie, with the American Chunker crew.
The American Chunker, built by Brian Labrie, Mark McCalvey, Jim Moreau, Dave Bingham, Jeff Desrosiers, and Kyle Gesetto cost over 100-thousand to build -- which they hope to get a record beating chuck from. "I'm waiting for the results right now. I think we're well over 4,000 feet on that shot," Labrie said.
After an ATV ride, we learned the pumpkin was chucked more than 4,800 feet and had quite the landing.
"It's simple pneumatics and hydraulics, but they have to work together, so there's a little complexity with it," Labrie said.
Gina Bullard - WCAX News
NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT THE AMERICAN CHUNKER WILL HAVE IT'S FIRST OFFICIAL WEIGH IN. THE MONSTER MACHINE WILL FINALLY HAVE A SHOT TO "HIT THE SCALES"! IN CONTINUED EFFORTS TO REMAIN BOTH SAFE AND DOT COMPLIANT TEAM AMERICAN CHUNKER HAS OPTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO "WEIGH IN" AT A LOCAL CONCRETE PLANT. SEVERAL OF THE TEAMS FRIENDS HAVE INVITED THE CREW TO STOP BY THE PLANT AND JUMP ON THE SCALE. WITH ANY LUCK WE WILL BE RIGHT WERE WE NEED TO BE. STAY TUNED - POST YOUR GUESSES ON FACE BOOK, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE WEIGHS?
BEHOLD, THE FINAL BIO FOR THE 2010 AMERICAN CHUNKER TEAM. WHERE DOES ONE START IN DESCRIBING A VETERAN FABRICATOR AND TOP SHELF MECHANIC. DAVE IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT WOULD RATHER BUILD IT THAN BUY IT JUST BECAUSE HE CAN MAKE IT BETTER THAN ANYONE AROUND. DAVE IS UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS BUT HIS OVERSIGHT AND INSIGHT SET HIM APART. OWNING ONE OF THE NORTHEASTS TOP SAW MILLS FOR OVER 4 DECADES, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION DAVE HAS SEEN IT ALL! THERE IS NO PROBLEM DAVE CAN'T SOLVE, HE IS GREAT WITH MATH, FORMULAS, PHYSICS, HYDRAULICS, PNEUMATICS AND REAL WORLD DAY TO DAY MECHANICS. DAVE HAS BEEN A GREAT SOUNDING BOARD FOR THE TEAM THIS YEAR AND HE IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. THANKS AGAIN DAVE FOR ALL YOUR IDEAS AND HELP ON THIS UNIQUE BUILD.
THIS PAST SATURDAY WAS AWESOME. MR. MORAN INVITED THE AMERICAN CHUNKER TEAM UP TO THE BROOKLINE AIRPORT FOR THE DAY TO SHOOT SOME LONG DISTANCE SHOTS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE LET THE CANNON STRETCH OUT HER LEGS. WHAT A GREAT FIRST DAY IT WAS. PRACTICE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR SURE. WE SHOT 22 8LB HONEYDEW MELONS. THE MELONS WERE PAINTED FLORESCENT ORANGE SO THAT MIKE AND TOM COULD PICK THEM UP BETTER IN THE AIR AND RELAY THE LOCATION FOR MEASUREMENT PURPOSES. GPS & LAT/LON WERE USED TO DETERMINE EXACT POINT OF IMPACT. THE LONGEST DISTANCE OF THE DAY WAS .............OOPS SORRY I FORGOT THAT'S CLASSIFIED! GUESS YOU HAD TO BE THERE. THANKS AGAIN GUYS!