Looking back it seemed like a good idea, maybe even a great idea. Now, I’m not so sure. I’ll let you be the judge. I was surfing around the other day and I saw this post over on CarDomain.com (for those of you that don’t make the jump, it’s a post about pumpkin carving and cars) I thought, hmmmm, I wonder if I could do that with a Porsche? Man of action that I am, I fired off a quick email to Paul Chenard asking if he could put something together for me (Paul’s the artist that designed my new logo and built that gorgeous Porsche 934 Turbo RSR I posted about the other day.) Paul responded almost instantly saying “no problem” and a couple hours later the design below arrived in my mailbox.
Perfect, I thought! Let’s put my pumpkin carving skill (or lack there of) to the test. Following the instructions, I printed out the template, pasted it to the pumpkin and began to transfer the outline onto the skin of the pumpkin using both a push pin and a pen. The design is a simple negative; cut out the black areas and leave the rest. If done correctly, you get a nice carving that you would proudly display in your garage. At least that’s how it’s supposed to go. I rapidly realized that I possibly bit off more than I could chew.
The design, while a classic pumpkin carving negative, is quite intricate. Having never done this before I thought my little pumpkin carving kit from the local hardware store would be just fine. What I didn’t count on was a pumpkin skin tougher than titanium and thicker than well… my head. Regardless, I decided to push ahead. If you decide to try one for yourself, I would highly recommend some type of rotary tool. Looking at the finished product in the light, I didn’t think I had done such a great job. See for yourself.
Thankfully, just as people tend to look better in candle light (or after a few beers) the same can be said of my Porsche Pumpkin Carving. See for yourself below. What do you think?
Carve a Porsche Pumpkin, Win a Porsche Book
Here’s the deal. Try carving one yourself by using this template and the instructions at the end of the post. Once you’re done, leave a comment on this post and I’ll send you an email address to send me a picture of the completed pumpkin carving. All entries must be received no later than 3:00 pm EST on October 30, 2008. An independent panel of judges (my wife, dogs and a few friends) will decide which Carrera carving is the best and declare a winner on Halloween (complete with the winning picture.) What do you win? How about a copy of Porsche: The Road from Zuffenhausen. This lavishly illustrated hard cover history of Porsche has a $75.00 cover price and is currently selling on Amazon for $47.50. Good luck and have fun carving!!!
Porsche Pumpkin Carving Instructions
- Purchase a pumpkin large enough to manage the stencil. In my case I had someone else pick it out and deliver it.
- Have your wife, girlfriend or significant other cut off the top and clean the pumpkin
- Ask very nicely and she might just clean, bake and salt the pumpkin seeds for you
- Print out the template and tape to pumpkin as securely and as flat as possible
- Use a pin or pen to trace/outline the black areas. Remember you are only going to be cutting out those areas in black
- Remove the template
- Using a pumpkin carving kit or a rotary tool carve the template that you have outlined above
- Clean up all the mess on the inside leftover from your carving
- Put a small candle inside, light and put the top back on
- Turn out the lights, take a picture of your latest creation and enter to win a great Porsche book
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