Engineer sets world record in 40 mph wheelie bin

by Craig Pryce November 27, 2020

Yes, you read the headline correctly!

On 27 September 2020, a British man set the new Guinness World Record for the fastest wheelie bin by travelling at over 40 mph in a waste container.

Andy Jennings, of Wiltshire, adapted a green wheelie bin especially for the event this autumn using his engineering knowledge; he works as a design engineer.

To get the domestic bin ready for action, he installed a motorbike engine, steering from a mobility scooter, a gear box, an ignition, and a bicycle seat.

The Straightliners event took place at Elvington airfield which is located near Pocklington in North Yorkshire, UK.

Jennings, 28, comfortably beat the previous record of 30 mph by hitting a top speed of 43.353 mph.

Jennings explained to newspapers that he'd had a great day and that he was really happy with his record of 45.35mph as it was well above the 30mph target he had set himself.

He went on the explain that it was a windy and bumpy experience on the runway and so the wheelie bin wasn't always going in the intended direction of travel.

However, Jennings successfully made it to the other end of the runway to cheers and applause from the crowd.

If you are wondering what inspired Jennings to attempt the record, he decided to do it in memory of his best friend, Ben Ellis, who passed away in June this year following a blood clot in his brain which left him comatose and, later, unable to speak or move upon waking from the coma.

Jennings set up a fundraising page for Ben's family and spectators on the day were expressing an interest in donating.

Alongside Jennings’s record, many other landspeed records were broken on the day including the world wheelchair speed record which was done by Jason Liversidge who has motor neurone disease.

Liversedge, a father of two, is 95 per cent paralysed from the neck down, and set the record at 66.826mph in his specially designed wheelchair.

Another record set on the day was the world’s fastest toilet on wheels.

Craig Pryce

With over 17 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry, Craig is passionate about making recycling easier and reducing the negative impact of litter. He has been the managing director of Wheelie Bin Solutions (WBS) since January 2016, and prides the company on his expert knowledge, top-quality products, and customer service. His proudest moment was when WBS supported the 2012 Olympic Games, working in partnership with Contenur UK to supply over 9000 bin containers to all Olympic venues. Craig is always keen to share his knowledge, so whether you need advice about the benefits of a wheelie bin lock, or ideas for alternative uses for your wheelie bin, Craig will ensure your recycling and waste disposal habits are gold medal worthy.