It was apparent that your compressed air cannon packed sufficient wallop to KO the target (overshooting the castle TWICE on an ARC); so why didn't the Rusty Juveniles just wet the sites and aim DIRECTLY AT the castle? Even that little 6 lb. pumpkin, travelling at 70+mph, would have DISMANTLED a loose cinderblock structure.

VeIocity@aol

-- Charles Austin (Veiocity@aol.com), January 05, 2001

Answers

Even aiming straight at the castle, there would have been an arc, and I suspect aiming would still have been quite tricky -- though a near-horizontal arc would intersect far more area of the structure.

I think the real challenge was that the projectiles were not a consistent weight, so there was a lot of guessing involved.

The winning team just managed to splatter some pumpkin bits on their target by luck...

I wonder what would have happened had both teams totally missed all 3 times?

(To reply in email replace blort dot invalid with anime dot net)

-- Dan Hollis (goemon@blort.invalid), January 05, 2001.

We knew the pumpkins had to be approx. the same weight and size, and sorted them accordingly. We had them within 1oz of each other and real close to the same diameter. Believe me we would have blown the castle apart given that option, it's a long story. JustJay

-- justjay-Captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), January 05, 2001.

If both teams had whiffed every time, it would probably have gone on distance to target. Remember George informing the Rustys that they were "in the lead" when their second pumpkin landed seven feet away.

-- YCDK (ycdk@hotmail.com), January 05, 2001.

We believed that had pieces not hit the castle, and the distance from point of impact was measured. the outcome might have been different. We had a side view. The change in the order of competition made the most difference, they were supposed to go first. For some reason that was changed, altering our strategy. JustJay

-- justjay-Captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), January 05, 2001.

>>>I think the real challenge was that the projectiles were not a consistent weight, so there was a lot of guessing involved.<<<

Weight was more a concern of the mechanical launch team. The pneumatic team was closer to a firearm approach. With a bundle of shredded newspapers, the Rusty Juveniles would have the wadding necessary to launch ANY projectile at maximum velocity. I didn't GET the mayonnaise and plastic bucket factor. Was your team captain SO FOCUSED that REAL WADDING never entered his brain? Would not wadding have have advanced the team objective? Why was a plastic bucket lubed with mayonnaise a viable alternative?

VeIocity

-- Charles Austin (Veiocity@aol.com), January 05, 2001.

Jay, you guys need to put up a team web page!

Are you going to have another go at the next JW season?

(To reply in email replace blort dot invalid with anime dot net)

-- Dan Hollis (goemon@blort.invalid), January 05, 2001.

The mayo was our experts idea, as was the bottom of the bucket. When that combo didn't work very well, and everyone went to lunch Waddy and I made the large plug you saw on the show, it worked perfectly and was very consistant.

-- justjay-Captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), January 05, 2001.

Charles The bucket was what is known to the artillery trade as a Sabot. They let you use a projectile other than the size of your barrel. (ex: a special narrow, very high speed anti-armor round)

-- Jeff - The NERDS (dp@the-nerds.org), January 05, 2001.

Cool, it is nice to see some of the real contestants of the game responding to these questions. Thanks kevin

-- kevin (ryelliott@onebox.com), January 05, 2001.

What kind of mayonayse did you use? and why was it there?

-- Ryley Felver (CSjACKhANDEY@aol.com), January 05, 2001.

The Mayo was bought by Waddy to try to get some of the grease off his hands. He brought it along originally for everyone to use to help with cleanup. When we started thinking about some sort of lubricant it just sort of poped up, the rest as they say is history. I have no idea what brand it was. I can only imagine what that cannon smelled like after a couple of days in the sun. JustJay

-- justjay-Captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), January 05, 2001.

I got the mayo at a grocery store near the motel where we were staying. I couldn't find an auto parts store to get lanolin hand cleaner, and detergents just soak the grime into the pores of your hands. I figured (correctly) that mayo would have about the same grime lifting properties. The reason we used it is because when shooting watermelons with our air cannons, we gained about 1/4 to 1/3 in range using top secret "melon lube", which is so secret that the container label even says "unknown ingredents," which I have never seen on any other label. Hope that helps clear up some of the mayo mysery. Musketeer Waddy

-- Waddy Thompson (cthomp3851@aol.com), January 06, 2001.

The deal here is the people who make Melon Lube can't spell what's in it. Right Waddy.

-- JustJay-Captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), January 13, 2001.