Wheelbarrow holds a new land speed record

Need your garden spruced up quickly? Well, one clever mechanic who recently set a new land speed record with a motorized wheelbarrow could help.

Dylan Phillips from Wales managed to hit speeds of 84 km/h (52 mph).

And the people responsible for measuring these things have since made it official – he’s a record holder.

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Breaking the land speed record

The speeds were reached on the track during Straightliners Speed Week 2024 at Elvington Airfield, Yorkshire, UK.

He was driving amongst superbikes, Aston Martins, Ferraris, and McLarens.

He told the BBC that the idea to break a land speed record came from tinkering around with the wheelbarrow until he hit 60 km/h (37 mph), followed by a few drinks in the pub.

He then set to work in his garden shed in Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The previous land speed record stood at 74 km/h (46 mph).

While it’s not a patch on the speed of the world’s fastest electric cars.

He described his three-wheeled achievement as ‘fun and surreal’ with his ‘proud but also slightly bemused’ partner, Emilie, by his side.

The fastest wheelbarrow in the world

Part wheelbarrow, part scooter made from scrap, Dylan completed two runs through a speed trap on the 100m course.

If you think that’s the weirdest thing you’ll see on the road, this bed turned into a car might change your mind.

So what’s the driver experience like?

“It’s uncomfortable and it’s terrifying. Slowing down is the issue – it’s only got brakes at the front,” he said.

“Touch wood I’ve not come off it or had any mishaps with it, it’s just uncomfortable.

“It does leave you aching after a couple of runs because it’s got no suspension and it just rattles you to bits.”

So, you might wonder why he decided to drive it in the first place.

“I’ve always just sort of built mad stuff,” Dylan said.

“I feel on top of the world. I mean it’s absolute nonsense really but it’s quite a nice feeling,” he shared.

What’s next?

When asked whether he was worried about someone else smashing his record, he admitted he was on ‘barrowed’ time.

“I’d be over the moon to be honest, because it just encourages innovation and it would probably motivate me to go and try again and go faster,” he enthused.

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