“Flying Cars” Draw Big Crowds To Rural Gravel Pit

“Flying Cars” Draw Big Crowds To Rural Gravel Pit FARM HOME Cars Brett Moravitz has helped his uncle Bob fly cars a bus and even a pontoon boat to the wild cheers of big crowds What started as a small gathering of friends driving cars over the edge of an old gravel pit grew into a crowd of 2 500 this past summer with a variety of “flying” vehicles     “We don’t do it every year and now we’re not sure we’ll do it again ” says Moravitz “As it went from 50 to 2 500 people it has become a lot of work even with lots of volunteers ”     The idea for the car launch grew out of a discussion about the abandoned gravel pit on his uncle’s farm “There is a long hill that leads up to the edge of the pit ” explains Moravitz “Somebody suggested that before it was reclaimed they should run a car up and over ”     At the first gathering the launch consisted of setting a brick on the gas pedal of a car that was no longer road worthy Aimed at the hill when put in gear the result was less than hoped for     “A cousin and his friend knew a bit about remote controls and rigged up the next car with remotes ” says Moravitz     The results got a lot of attention in the community and more people showed up for the next event and it has grown every year This year’s event involved more than 20 cars a 60-passenger bus and a pontoon boat mounted on a stripped down Buick One vehicle flew over the edge about every 15 min     Part of the preparation for the launch includes removing all glass from the vehicles Kill switches are installed for safety in case remote steering fails     Expenses include insurance toilets and fuel Area organizations serve food as fundraisers This year the event raised about $17 052 for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital     “A lot of people donated more than the $10 admission ” says Moravitz “Donations also came from local businesses the Turtle Lake Fire Department and scrap proceeds from donated cars ”     Volunteers are key to the event notes Moravitz Local school groups even return the next day to pick up remaining debris     “There is concern that something could go wrong and we don’t want that to happen There are no more car launches planned as of this time ” says Moravitz     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Brett Moravitz P O Box 966 Cumberland Wis 54829 ph 715 205-9268; brett@lakeplace com

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