WARREN — Tucked away in the Charles H. Giancarlo Engineering Laboratories in Brown University, students competed in the Edible Car Competition last Friday - using Frerichs Farm produce to create their tasty models. And as the wheels were rolling, so were the Food Network's cameras.

But Frerichs Farm didn’t just donate the materials. The scenic vista will be featured the Food Network’s “Glutton for Punishment” television show. Brown University engineering major Holly Lauridsen and a member of the Society of Women Engineers hosted the event. She served as the emcee of the event and traveled to Frerichs Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 27. With Lauren Brennan, media relations spokeswoman for Brown’s Division of Engineering, she was interviewed by the Food Network’s Bob Blumer, as part of the series “Glutton for Punishment.”

According to Cailtin Dowling, head researcher for the show, the national television network wanted to depict a typical Rhode Island backdrop in addition to the footage shot at Brown University in Providence’s East Side.

“For every show, we try and feature as many local places as possible. We picked up the pumpkins at the farm and thought they would make a beautiful autumnal background,” said Ms. Dowling.

And then the mad dash was on. Students in search of ideal materials to build their wheeled contraptions ran to a food station propping up piles of gourds, zucchinis, pumpkins, carrots, bagels, pretzels and celery sticks. Slamming into fellow engineers next to them, they grabbed handfuls of edibles, then ran back to their station. Some dropped prized materials on the floor. Food Network camera crews rushed to capture the faces of students, frenzied with stress and sweat.

“It’s organized chaos,” said Ms. Brennan.

Students had one hour to construct their vehicles. Many teams brought drawings or the designs. Olive oil was available to lubricate parts of the vegetables. After the hour time limit was up, the students headed to Manning Walk, a red brick slope leading out to Brook Street. Qualifying cars were required to have three wheels and be entirely constructed of edible materials provided by the event. Judging weighed both the distance the car traveled and the aesthetics of the piece.

Mr. Frerichs monitored which vegetables were used for wheels and the body of working vehicles.

“Those wheels are made out of my pumpkins,” said Mr. Frerichs with a smile.

As models approached the ramp, opposing teams chanted “Eat it, eat it!” and “Your team is toast!”

Most teams vehicles didn’t make it very far. After being dropped from a steep ramp, most flew apart, unable to handle the inertia. But Team Pumpkin Express took the title, rolling 174 feet down the grade into the street narrowly missing being squashed by two RIPTA trolleys.

“It’s still rolling,” announced the emcee through the megaphone.

The crowd roared after the vehicles came to a stop.

William Curtin, an engineering professor and parishioner of St. Alexander Church in Warren, competed with his son. They used an eggplant and axles made out of pretzels to make their model. Before the competition, they drafted designs and made prototypes. However, because they had to wait towards the end to roll their craft, the eggplant’s juices permeated the pretzels, making the axles soft. Their contraption flew apart after running down the ramp.

“Racing is dangerous,” said the emcee.