Race you to the curb
The Guinness World Record for fastest wheelie bin (garbage can) was 45 mph and was set by Andy Jennings in May 2021. Michael Wallhead, 31, of Yorkshire England was not happy with that mark and set out to beat it. Mike bought a wheeled trash can from Facebook marketplace for about $25, and then proceeded to make nearly $900 worth of modifications, including a Suzuki GP125 two-stroke engine, magnesium go-kart wheels, a rear axle, a five gear box, a chassis, a steering damper and an extra wheel at the front. Mike took his wheelie bin to Elvington airfield in North Yorkshire, England, where he was clocked at an average speed of 54.9 mph.
But Humanity’s need for speed knows no bounds. So a Texan named Chris Rollins set out to design and motorize an even faster garbage can. Rollins’ YouTube below gives you a long form rundown of the eight-week trash can crash course. Apparently, a pull-start, 12-horsepower engine was enough to make the magic happen. It’s situated inside the can, making it extremely compact (and tippy). Rollins sat directly on top of the engine using a bungee cord for a seat belt during his runs.
While the other competitors rode with their head out the top of the bin, Chris designed his bin with a cut out windshield and side windows; testing proved that driving with your head sticking up slowed the garbage can down. Chris also discovered that steering and control were much better with a third wheel extended from the front of the can. Tests also proved that a disk brake on the drive axle was required. On the big day he took his can to the Redline Raceway where he would be clocked by a professional drag strip timer.
Chris made three runs: his first was 61 mph, but he wanted more, so feeling more comfortable he tried again and hit 63 mph on the track clock. He felt there was more to be had from his welding and rebuilding so he ran the track a third time and overshot the end of the drag strip, He went very fast, but the tires could not handle the rough pavement and the can flipped sideways and rolled three times with helmeted Chris inside. His support crew was right with him when he crawled out bruised and dazed into infamy. This was not Chris’s first Rodeo. He previously built a gas-powered Radio Flyer wagon that ran 48 mph at Tulsa’s Raceway Park.
Canned humor
Just because you are trash doesn’t mean that you can’t do great things.
It is called garbage can, not garbage cannot.
Lawyer: now, isn’t it true that on the 5th of November last year you rode naked through the streets on top of a garbage truck, letting off fireworks and singing “I did it my way” at the top of your lungs?
Witness: What was the date again?
You know there’s no official training for garbage men?
They just pick it up as they go along.
Many years ago my young daughter watched as I carried a heavy garbage can to the curb in the morning. Little Mary said she was sorry that I had to carry such a heavy thing. Don’t be I sad, “If I have big garbage can that means we have a home and food and even things that we don’t need.” Recently, I called my now all grown up daughter who has a daughter of her own. When I asked how everything was, she replied, “Great, we are still putting out the garbage.”
June 7th Birthdays
1992 – Poppy Dayton, 1954 – Louise Erdrich, 1981 – Anna Kornikova, 1946 – Jenny Jones
1975 – Bear Grylis, 1952 – Liam Neeson, 1960 – Mike Pence, 1976 – Allen Iverson