Czech’s to Film Rt. 66 Apple Pie Eating Contest

[May 29, 2014]  ATLANTA - A film crew with the Czech Republic Rt. 66 Association will capture a bit of Americana when it stops in Atlanta, Illinois on Sunday, June 1^st to film a Rt. 66 Apple Pie Eating contest.

After the success of its 2010 feature film “ROUTE 66 - MAINSTREET USA,” the Czech Rt. 66 Association has decided to make another feature-length documentary about the America’s legendary Mother Road. This second film will feature Rt. 66 as a place to have fun, unusual experiences. The Czech Rt. 66 Association film crew has been in the U.S. filming since May 19^th and will wrap up its shoot on June 3^rd.

The Atlanta Betterment Fund is partnering with the Czech Rt. 66 Association to organize the Rt. 66 Apple Pie Eating Contest that will commence at approximately 11:30 a.m. beneath Atlanta’s iconic Bunyon Statute located along Historic Rt. 66 in downtown Atlanta.

The Rt. 66 Apple Contest will feature five contestants, including Atlanta locals Jerrod Mattingly and Kris Langly. They will be up against two Czech natives, plus Pat Bertoletti of Chicago. Pat is of Czech descent and holds a number of competitive eating contest records. In 2012 he took first place in The Isle Boonville World Boneless Buffalo Wing Eating Championship by eating 6.75 pounds of buffalo wings in 10 minutes. That same year he also took first place in the Wild Eggs National Pancake Eating Championship by eating 50 king pancakes in 10 minutes. In February of 2013 Patrick took first place in Fat Tuesday King Cake Eating World Championship by eating 12 king cakes in 8 minutes. Later that year he took first place in the Z-Burger Independence Burger eating Championship by eating 28 burgers in 10 minutes.

In honor of the Mother Road’s numerical designation, participants in the Rt. 66 Apple Pie Eating Contest will see who can consume the most apple pie in six minutes and sixty seconds.

According to its producer, Zdenek Jurasek (founder of the Czech Republic Rt. 66 Association) and director Tomas Zindler. this new film project of the Czech Republic Rt. 66 Association is designed to bring the legend of Rt. 66 closer to the European public. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this free event.

[Text received; BILL THOMAS]