- There must be something in the water in England to make them this crazy for speed.
Going fast is such a thrill. Both individual mechanics and motor companies keep building incredibly complex, streamlined vehicles to set new land speed records.
But not everyone wants to go fast in a sleek rocket. Some speed demons opt for much weirder vehicles.
From toilets to trash cans, people have propelled the most outlandish objects to blistering speeds. Here are 9 examples of bizarre vehicles that have set official speed records.
1. Baby Stroller — 53mph
When shopping for a stroller for his newborn, British father Colin Furze grew frustrated with their lack of speed. So, he built his own speedy stroller, powered by an engine harvested from a motorcycle.
In 2012, he set the Guinness World Record for the fastest stroller by roaring down the Shakespeare County Raceway in England at 53.46 mph. No one has attempted to break the record since, so Furze still holds the honor of being the fastest dad in the world with a stroller.
According to Furze, the stroller is still in his garage. His son, however, no longer fits in it.
2. Trash Can — 55 mph
Another oddball Englishman, Michael Wallhead, decided he wanted to go fast in a trash can. As with Furze’s stroller, Wallhead’s motorized collection bin is propelled forward by a motorcycle engine that came from his old Suzuki.
He set the trash can speed record in January 2026, traveling at 55 mph. Doing so, he smashed the previous record of 45 mph, set in 2021.
“I spent many evenings practicing at low speeds as stability is a real problem, but it all paid off on the day,” Wallhead recalled at the time. He states that he has gotten the bin to go 66 mph, but that speed hasn’t been officially verified.
3. Electric Wheelchair — 67 mph
In 2013, Jason Liversidge, a British motorcycle-riding adrenaline junkie, was diagnosed with motor neuron disease that landed him in a wheelchair. However, he wasn’t about to let a mere debilitating disease stop him from going fast.
With the help of engineer Graham Sykes, Liversidge developed a racing wheelchair. Despite being able to control only 5% of his body, he raced the mobility vehicle down Elvington Airfield at 66.826 mph in 2020.
Sadly, Liversidge passed away from his disease in 2023. But despite his condition, he showed the world you never have to give up your need for speed.
4. Toilet — 70 mph
Here comes the HAWC (Highly Advanced Water Closet) Mark 1. This contraption consists of a toilet bowl and tank fixed to a go-kart frame, powered by a 250cc Yamaha engine and a toilet brush for a gear stick.
HACK Mk. 1 was developed by the British quartet of Robert English, Thomas Ellis, Joe Summers, and William Beaty. In 2018, their toilet ripped down Elvington Airfield at 70.545 mph.
Seriously, what is it with the British and building bizarre vehicles?
5. Shopping Cart — 70 mph
Here comes another speedy Brit. Matt McKeown built the world’s fastest motorized shopping cart around the starter engine from a Chinook helicopter.
With his jet-powered creation, McKeown has set several records. He first got his name recognized by Guinness after traveling at 45.74 mph in this shopping cart.
Yet, he wasn’t satisfied. In 2013, he broke his own record by reaching 70.4 mph — once again at Elvington Airfield.
6. Monowheel Motorcycle — 86 mph
Mark Foster is a British motorcycle racer, belonging to the UK Monowheel Team. He has set multiple speed records riding monowheel motorcycles.
Foster has achieved his highest speed on a monowheel powered by a gas engine. In 2024, he broke the previous record (which he had also set) by reaching 86.94 mph.
Foster has also raced electric monowheels. They don’t seem to go as fast, though, as his world speed record for electric monowheels stands at 59 mph.
7. Lawnmower — 116 mph
Honda makes a lot of different vehicles, including ride-on lawnmowers. In 2014, the Japanese motor company decided to show just how fast their mowers could go.
The customized machine, dubbed the Mean Mower, is powered by a 1,000cc engine that puts out a whopping 109 horsepower. In 2014, Honda put the Mean Mower to a test at the IDIADA Proving Ground in Spain.
Ridden by British motorist and writer Piers Ward, the thing barreled down that track at 116 mph.
8. Steam-powered Car (Classic) — 127 mph
You might imagine that old-timey steam-powered cars were slow, lumbering things. Some, however, went extremely fast — like the Stanley Rocket driven by American racer Fred Marriott.
In 1906, he sped down the Daytona Beach Road Course in Florida, setting the at-the-time world land speed record at 127.659 mph. The next year, he tried again with an improved car, but that attempt almost ended in disaster.
Moving at an estimated speed of 150 mph, Marriott’s car hit a pothole, bounced into the air, and broke into pieces upon landing. Although he recovered from his injuries, the experience spooked Marriott so badly that he never tried setting another speed record.
He did well, though, as his 127-mph record for a steam-driven car stood for more than 100 years. That was until…
9. Steam-powered Car (Modern) — 139 mph
Did you think the British could let an American hold a speed record forever? Unthinkable! In 2009, a British engineering team resolved to break the speed record for steam-powered cars.
They developed “Inspiration,” a sleek green speed machine powered by an enormous steam turbine. The machine broke Marriott’s record, traveling at 148.308 mph at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Conclusion: if you give an Englishman anything, he will try to make it go as fast as possible — and usually succeed.
If you’re craving for more speed, check out our list of 7 stupidly fast animals you couldn’t hope to catch.