Observer Online | 'Strongman Contest 2007'

Edition of Sept. 7, 2007

'Strongman Contest 2007'

Anyone who's ever stayed up late to watch mindless TV, or let a Sunday afternoon go by unnoticed while they camped out in front of the tube, has probably seen those "strongman" shows.

These are the shows (most of them seem like reruns from the 1970s) in which a group of men compete for the title of "Strongman of the Year," or "Musclehead 1972," or "Dumb as a Box of Rocks 1975" by participating in weightlifting games that highlight the practicality and usefulness of being able to lift a Chevy.

One of the games I remember seeing was lifting a boulder and carrying it up a small hill, then running back down for another. The winner was the first, and maybe the only, to carry three.

Well, one of the favorite games of the "strongman" shows was when the contestants had to pull some massive object in a race to the finish. In one episode, each man pulled a railroad car that probably weighed 9 billion tons.

This fantastic example of American television trivia was the inspiration for a great community event taking place in our backyard this weekend. The 15th annual Dulles Day Family Festival & Plane Pull will be Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Yes, the highlight of the event is watching, or helping, teams of 20 people pull a Boeing 727, weighing 127,000 pounds. But there are other activities, too. Aircraft are open and on display, there is a car show, some rides and attractions, and there's even the third annual school bus pull for children.

The event benefits Special Olympics Virginia, and The Observer is proud to be a sponsor. Please join us this weekend for a unique and entertaining fund-raiser.