Weird World Records

You’ve probably heard of the Guinness Book of World Records. Do you know how it started?

The idea for a book of records began in the early 1950s when Sir Hugh Beaver, Managing Director of the Guinness Brewery, attended a shooting party and an argument ensued about the fastest game bird in Europe. The answer could not be found in any reference book.

In 1954 he invited twins Norris and Ross McWhirter to compile a book of facts and figures. After an initial research phase, work began on writing the book which took 13-1/2 90-hour weeks, including weekends. In 1955 the first book was published.

The book became an all-time best seller and is one of the most recognized and trusted brands in the world. To date, over 134 million books have been sold globally.

• This record belongs to A 112-pound woman named Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco holds the record for eating the most mayonnaise in 3 minutes. She downed three-and-a-half jars of mayonnaise (over five pounds) in just three minutes.
• Is there such a thing as too much cheese on a pizza? A pizzeria in Melbourne, Australia created a pizza with 154 varieties of cheese.
• Nilanshi Patel, a 16-year-old from Gujarat, India, has locks that are 5 feet, 7 inches — longer than she is. It takes her about an hour and a half to dry and comb her hair.
• Chinese beekeeper She Ping covered his body with 73 pounds of bees (around 330,000 bees).
• A golden retriever from Australia, Charlie’s bark registers at 113.1 decibels.
• David Rush balanced a hula hoop on his head while swimming for 16 minutes and 13 seconds.
• New York City’s Serendipity 3 restaurant has the most expensive dessert on their menu. The Frrrozen Haute Chocolate ice cream sundae costs $25,000, and features 28 kinds of cocoa and is topped with five grams of edible 23-karat gold.
• Gary Duschl of Virginia Beach has the longest gum wrapper chain. His chain measures 89,432 feet and 4 inches, and comprises 2,142,857 wrappers from $150,000 worth of Wrigley gum.

Nancy Roe
Author