Wacky Record Breakers Race Into Beaulieu

Experience the crazier side of motoring in Beaulieu’s brand new summer exhibition with Wacky Record Breakers in the National Motor Museum. From mid-July until 31^st August, the awesome collection of off-the-wall automotive oddities brings together unbelievable creations by inventors Edd China and Colin Furze and each one of these custom-built vehicles proves that you don’t need a sports car to break a world record.

Have you ever seen a double bed careering down the road, or a motorised bathroom suite stopped at the traffic lights? How about a fairground dodgem setting a speed record? Head to Beaulieu this summer and you’ll be amazed by these bizarre record-breakers and more, on show in Wacky Record Breakers.

Renowned for repurposing ordinary household furniture to build road-legal vehicles, former Wheeler Dealers mechanic and presenter Edd China is the man behind Bog Standard, a complete bathroom suite that is taxed, insured and MoT’d. The driver takes their place on the toilet seat and grips the sink handlebars, as the passenger reclines in the bathtub.

Even more bizarre is Fast Asleep, a double bed that can whisk its restful occupants along at the national speed limit. If you think that is strange, then you’ll be blown away by Gone to Speed, a garden shed capable of a window box-wobbling 58mph. This unassuming wooden structure is just at home on the highway as it is nestled in a suburban back yard. Watch Gone to Speed and some of Edd’s other vehicles in action by clicking here.

Inventor Colin Furze has masterminded some truly insane creations, specialising in making slow things go very fast. Joining Wacky Record Breakers is the world’s fastest fairground dodgem, the world’s fastest pram and a mobility scooter that also once held its own speed record.

Driven by Top Gear’s The Stig for a record-breaking run, the customised 1960s dodgem topped over 100mph; far quicker than the 5mph it would have seen when working at a fairground. A 600cc Honda motorcycle engine provides the get-up-and-go for this madcap machine. The automotive oddities continue with the high-speed mobility scooter, capable of over 80mph thanks to its 125cc Honda motorcycle engine.

Equally incredible is the world’s fastest pram, built to exceed 53mph with a petrol engine mounted in a custom-built frame. This wacky creation turns the pedestrian act of pushing a pram on its head; the driver stands on two foot platforms trailing behind the pram and hangs on tight. To watch Colin’s most daring projects take shape, click here.

Wacky Record Breakers is just one of the awesome displays in the National Motor Museum this summer. For a very different collection of record breakers, make sure you also see For Britain And For The Hell Of It which features the museum’s amazing collection of British Land Speed Record monster machines.

Wacky Record Breakers is included in the Beaulieu entrance ticket, which also gives admission to the National Motor Museum, the World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the 13^th century Beaulieu Abbey and grounds and Palace House, which has been home to the Montagu family since 1538. Tickets can be bought in advance online or on the door. For tickets or more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

Find us on Twitter @Beaulieu_Hants, on Facebook at /nationalmotormuseum or on Instagram @national_motor_museum.

Wacky Record Breakers Fact File

– Bog Standard, Gone to Speed and Fast Asleep are all former speed record holders

– Bathroom suite Bog Standard is capable of 42mph

– Garden shed Gone to Speed can reach 58mph

– Double bed Fast Asleep has a top speed of 69mph

– See some of Edd China’s most memorable creations on the move at http://youtube.com/EddChina

– The world’s fastest dodgem set a record with an average speed of 100mph

– The world’s fastest pram can reach 53mph

– The world’s fastest mobility scooter set a world record at 71mph, but can go even faster to reach 82mph

– For film footage of Colin Furze’s crazy inventions in action, visit his Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp68_FLety0O-n9QU6phsgw