ISU Physics Club and Reggie's Chuckin Wagon

For the second consecutive year, the ISU Physics Club won first place in the Morton Pumpkin Chuckin contest on October 17-18. The team defended their first place title with a win in the Open Class Trebuchet Division. Their trebuchet is called Reggie’s Chuckin Wagon, and they took first prize with a chuck of 952 feet. The trebuchet began as a student design project for Professor George Rutherford's Experimental Physics class in spring 2001. Students used three concrete-filled tires as counterweight and won third place in the Morton Pumpkin Chuckin that fall with a toss of 613 feet. The machine is now in its third generation, has been mounted on a trailer, and has picked up several sponsors (Dennison Auto Center, Morris Tick Co., Inc., and Tremont Lumber Company). Click Read More for more photos.

The team won last year's competition, and Reggie’s Chuckin Wagon repeated its championship performance with its first place throw this year. Their success has placed them in national contention. They will continue to refine their design, make necessary adjustments and use their now-famous machine to entertain and educate school kids in the surrounding area. Once a new trailer is purchased for the machine, the team will make a serious attempt at competing in next year’s World Championship in Delaware.