Life
American politics may be dividing the country right now, but if there's anything to draw people from all walks of life together, it's a mile of cheesy, carb-y deliciousness. As of Saturday, the record for the world's longest pizza now belongs to the United States, and I honestly can't tell whether patriotic feelings are stirring in my heart right now or I'm just hungry.
After an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign this spring, the event was funded largely through private sponsors. Cooked up at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, the pizza reached more than 6,330 feet around the track. That makes it nearly 1.2 miles long, shattering the previous Guiness World Record set by chefs in Naples, Italy, last year. According to Newsweek, seven pizza chefs and about 100 volunteers gathered to make the pizza, which required thousands of pounds of ingredients. A blowtorch melted its many parts together, and a mobile gas convection oven followed behind to finish cooking. The end result weighed more than seven tons, and it was enough to feed approximately 10,000 people — or, in my experience, a dozen drunk college students at 4 a.m.
Unfortunately, according to LA Weekly, organizing hiccups meant that some spectators never got the chance to try the pizza before it was donated. Perhaps true greatness is meant to be admired, not tasted.
Despite what you might think, this isn't actually the weirdest category of world record out there. In fact, it makes total sense in comparison to the following oddly specific records.
1
Deepest Underwater Wedding
In 2014, Hiroyuki Yoshida and Sandra Smith tied the knot 426 feet under the sea, setting the world record for the deepest underwater wedding. At least they didn't have to worry about the event getting rained out.
2
Wealthiest Cat
The Aristocats may have been closer to life than you think. After millionaire antiques dealer Ben Rea died in 1988, he left his $12.5 million fortune to his cat, Blackie — and that's hardly the only famous feline worth more than your college degree.
3
Largest Collection of Garden Gnomes
An individual garden gnome is cute. An army of 2,010 garden gnomes and pixies — a world record set by a woman in the UK in 2000 — is enough to give anyone the heebie-jeebies.
4
Most Bites Taken From Three Apples In One Minute... While Juggling
Juggling apples must give entertainer Michael Goudeau the serious munchies; in 2013, he took 151 bites out of three apples in one minute while juggling.
5
Most Apples Held In Mouth & Cut By Chainsaw In One Minute
Speaking of apples, have you ever wondered how many apples it's possible to hold in your mouth and cut in half using a chainsaw? According to the world record set in 2014, the answer is 18. Because that's the kind of question on everyone's mind.
6
Most Canned Drinks Opened By A Parrot
In 2012, Zac the Macaw opened 35 canned drinks in one minute, making one thing clear: Parrots make surprisingly good bartenders.
7
Most Handless Cartwheels
In 2011, Zhang Ziyi performed 45 cartwheels in one minute. That's enough to make anyone dizzy, but there's a catch: He didn't even use his hands. Please excuse me while I feel inadequate in a corner.
8
Longest Career As Ice Cream Man
I'll end with what's possibly the cutest world record of them all: the longest career as an ice cream man. Allan Ginz began selling ice cream at the age of 10 with his dad, and he went on to buy his own ice cream truck in 1977. After a 67-year career, he was recognized as the longest-working ice cream man in the world.
