Can you
change your car's tires in 58 seconds ? Have you ever been snorting gallons and gallons of gasoline like Otto in that episode of The Simpsons? We think it's highly unlikely you answered yes to either of these questions, but hey, if you have any similar skills and think you're capable of breaking a surprising automotive record, don't tell us! Tell the Guinness Book of World Records!
History of Guinness Records
It's one of the most stolen books from libraries in the United States. And that's not a record per se, but it is a fact that confirms the human interest in competition, in knowing who can throw the class chewing gum the furthest or who can hold their breath underwater the longest. These would be mere anecdotal records if it weren't for the existence of a registry that measures and publishes them every year:
the Guinness Book of World Records .
The seed of the publication was planted in 1951 when Sir Hugh Beaver, then CEO of the legendary Guinness Brewery, was hunting with some friends in County Wexford, England. The idea sparked off a debate between shots about which was the fastest game bird in Europe, the golden plover or the Uruguayan. Years later, in 1954, good old Hugh would recall this and other heated pub arguments (not necessarily involving flying chairs), which today would be resolved more quickly and easily:
by Googling the answer. The fact is that Sir Hugh Beaver wanted to find a solution to the classic Christmas disputes between brothers-in-law and tasked twins Norris and Ross McWhirter with the arduous task of compiling, over a period of thirteen weeks, a series of significant data and facts about human or natural features that were truly surprising. Thus was born the Guinness Book of World Records, whose first edition was published on August 27, 1955, and
within a few months became one of the best-selling books in the United Kingdom . Today, more than 60 years later, it continues to break its own records and is never missing from the top of the sales charts in bookstores around the world.
But let's get down to the asphalt once and for all to discover the craziest, funniest, and, why not say it, sometimes even absurd records in the world of motorsports.
The smallest car in the world
It's not a Mini, it's not a Smart, it's not a toy: it's the
Peel P50 . Manufactured in 1962 on the Isle of Man, between Great Britain and Ireland, it's the smallest car in the world. It was designed as a city car; in fact, it was advertised as having a capacity of "one adult and a shopping bag."
It measured 1.37 meters long, 1.04 meters wide, and weighed 59 kilos when empty (almost the same as the 1,847 kilos of the Tesla Model 3). It could reach top speeds of 61 kilometers per hour, and only 50 units were sold, of which 27 are still in production. And, just in case you ever come across one: they are still legal on the roads of the United Kingdom and the United States.
How many people can fit in a car?
You're thinking about Fofito's clown car, right? Well, the record isn't his, as much as we all might dislike it. The mark was broken by a group of
28 women from East Sussex in 2012, and it wasn't, obviously, in a Peel P50, but in a four-seater Mini Cooper. The previous record was 27, and they had also achieved it, until they met their 28th friend and, well, they became completely unbeatable. Oh, and in case you feel like trying your luck and beating them, here are some of the requirements for the record to be valid:
no seats must be removed, the car must be properly closed, and everyone must be of legal age and over 1.52 meters tall.
Record for kilometers pushing a car
Notice to sailors: this record and the previous one cannot be achieved simultaneously. This time, the feat was achieved by Croatian physical education coach Tomislav Lubenjak, who at 27 years old
pushed a 730-kilogram Smart Fortwo for 107 kilometers . Breaking the Guinness record took him 23 hours and 20 minutes, surpassing the 82 kilometers in 24 hours achieved by a Pole with the same model. Throughout the journey, several drivers took turns steering and braking for four-hour periods, including
Tomislav's grandmother.
The car with the most kilometers in the world
We regret to inform you that, although you may think your car has seen a lot of life, it's not even close to being the one with the most miles. The record was held by
a 1966 Volvo P1800 S , owned by Irv Gordon, which after 52 years of service
, surpassed the five million mile barrier , specifically 5,250,000. In a world where planned obsolescence seems to reign supreme, we must recognize Irv's unconditional love for his car, and his loyal Volvo, an inexhaustible capacity for endurance.
The best car salesman
He's the person any dealer dreams of having on their staff one day. His name is Joe Girard, and during his fourteen-year career as a car salesman,
he managed to sell more than 13,000 vehicles . This happened between 1963 and 1977 at a Chevrolet dealership in the United States. Girard's average car sales are estimated at around
six per day, 174 per month, and almost a thousand per year. Such figures earned him a Guinness record and, at the very least, we hope, a nice bonus from his bosses.
The hairiest car
We've reserved a thrilling record for the final course. For over 20 days, Italian stylist Maria Lucia Mugno
covered the interior and exterior of a 1975 Fiat 500 with human hair . For the feat, she used
a ton of hair , which was disinfected, washed, bleached, dyed, and, of course, thoroughly styled.
Do you know any other incredible brands related to the automotive world? Are you seriously considering breaking your own Guinness World Record? We can't wait to hear about them!
