Wilton Scarecrow Fest: Decorated pumpkins race

WILTON – As the spectators cheered, decorated pumpkins sped down Lake Road during several heats on Saturday afternoon in the second annual Pumpkin Derby Race held as part of the annual Wilton Scarecrow Fest.

Most of the wheeled squashes had been decorated using a Halloween theme. Riley Hall, 7, of Chesterville, painted his pumpkin racer to look like an eyeball. His uncle, Randy Stewart of Livermore Falls, went a different direction, giving his entry a warthog shark bomber look. Hall and Stewart worked long and hard together to design and build their cars.

“It took three nights this week,” Stewart said. And I mean working from 5 to 10, for three nights.”

While the pumpkin cars had a weight limit of 20 pounds, some kept their derby racers whole and smaller in size to meet the  criteria. Others used larger pumpkins that were hollowed out to keep the weight down.

Racing kits with instructions were picked up earlier this week at the Wilton Hardware Store and the pumpkins were available at Rocky Hill Landscaping. Racers were offered the opportunity to consult with the “pit stop crew” at Collins Enterprises for proper axel and wheel alignment help, if need be.

It turned out that wheel alignment for most of the pumpkin vehicles was off and pulled left or right. The starting line was at the top of a slanted wooden ramp a few feet off the ground with three racing shoots. A gate was lifted and off the pumpkins raced.

Stewart’s racer went the furtherest down Lake Road. Hall’s started off pretty straight down the ramp and road but then veered off to the left. One rather rotund entry came off the ramp and rolled down the raceway like a bowling ball.

This year those participating in the race purchased the kit for $12, which also afforded a second kit to go to someone who might not have the funds to participate.

Organizer Betty Shibles gave out prizes to the children participating and congratulated each. Although last year the event drew more entries and spectators, many thought the intermittent rain on Saturday may have kept the numbers down.

The event was inspired by a similar event held in Damariscotta and the racing ramp was built last year by Dennis Medeiros of Wilton.

The Scarecrow Fest also featured pumpkin carving and scarecrow building in Bass Park and the annual Polar Plunge into Wilson Lake held for local charities.