The idea for this supersonic garden tool was born in a pub, fueled by a few pints and a dash of insanity. Dylan, always one to tinker, decided this was the perfect offbeat project. The 38-year-old started building the wheelbarrow in his shed in Crymych, Pembrokeshire. After some tweaks and trials, he hit 37 mph on a test run. That’s when he thought, “Hey, is there a world record for this madness?”
Discovering that the record stood at 46 mph, Dylan thought, “Challenge accepted!”
“I started this just for fun,” Phillips told the BBC. “One day, I hit 37 mph messing around, and someone asked if there was a speed record for wheelbarrows. Turns out, there was! So, I thought, why not take this ridiculous contraption to the next level?”
After a few more tweaks, Dylan was ready to set the world ablaze at the Straightliners Speed Week 2024 at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire. Blazing through the 100m course, Dylan shattered the previous record by hitting 52 mph.
Sure, 52 mph might seem slow for a car or a bike, but for a wheelbarrow with no suspension and front-wheel-only brakes, it’s a white-knuckle thrill ride.
“It’s uncomfortable and terrifying,” Phillips admitted. “Slowing down is a nightmare – with just front brakes, it’s a bit of a gamble. Thankfully, I’ve avoided any wipeouts so far, but it shakes you up pretty well. After a couple of runs, you feel like you’ve been through a blender with all the rattling.”
Guinness confirmed Dylan’s record in May, though he’s keeping the technical wizardry of his motorized wheelbarrow under wraps.
