The very first edition of the Guinness Book Of World Records was published in 1955. Since then the phenomenon has grown to include the wildest, most impressive, death-defying and downright crazy records from across the globe. Just about anything is fair game – if you can dream it up and carry it out, you could be the next World Record holder!
Here are 10 records set in our very own New Hampshire.
1. Largest Simultaneous Launch of Kayaks
On August 3, 2014, 396 kayaks were launched at Endicott Rock Park in Laconia, NH by the New Hampshire Lakes Association.
Although Taro Yamashita hails from Littleton, MA, he set his world yo-yo record at the 1996 Yolympics in Portsmouth, NH for completing 100m while throwing and catching a yo-yo in 13.9 seconds.
3. Highest Price Ever Paid For A Coin Collection
From 1930 to 1950, Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr, a leading Baltimore banker and financier, set about collecting an example of each and every major United States coin variety from the 1793 half cent to the 1933 double eagle. His collection was sold over three auctions at Bowers and Merena Galleries, New Hampshire for a combined total of $44,900,000.
4. Most People Unwrapping A Candy Simultaneously
This strange little record was set in Stratham, NH in July of 2012 when 590 Lindt Chocolate employees simultaneously unwrapped and ate a signature Lindt milk chocolate truffle after a countdown. They were even lined up to form the letters R-S-V-P in honor of the 2012 Lindt Chocolate R.S.V.P. National Conference.
5. Most Lit Jack o’ Lanterns Displayed
The Annual Keene Pumpkin Festival in Keene, NH is an incredible sight to see. Since first breaking the record for most lit jack o’ lanterns on display, they have gone on to break their own record 8 more times. The current record was set with 30,581 carved and lit pumpkins on October 19, 2013.
6. World’s Largest Scratch Ticket
New Hampshire Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Lottery Commission set this Guinness World Record with a massive winning scratch card that measured 36.2 ft tall and 18.8 ft wide. The ticket was revealed and displayed prior to the Sylvania 300 NASCAR race on September 25, 2011.
The largest bean bag on record has a volume of 1406.23 ft³ and was achieved by the Nashua, New Hampshire based company, Yogibo Family Fun Furniture on September 15, 2015.
The completed bag measures 210 feet in length.
The tallest known bloom is the Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) – or corpse flower. Louis Ricciardiello grew one measuring 10 feet 2.25 inches tall and displayed it at Winnipesaukee Orchids in Gilford, New Hampshire on June 18, 2010.
9. Most Lines Cleared In Tetris DX
Gamer Harry Hong was crowned “Tetris DX Marathon Champion” on September 13, 2007 for his record set at Funspot in Laconia, New Hampshire – the world’s largest arcade. He cleared an amazing line tally of 4,988, and hit the highest possible score of 9,999,999
10. Youngest Driver To Win A NASCAR Race
Born in Middletown, Connecticut, New England boy Joey Locano became the youngest driver to win a NASCAR race at the age of 19 years, 1 month and 4 days when he won the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 28, 2009. He broke the previous record by nearly 15 months.
Featured Image via Facebook/Betsy Wilson