The digger 鈥� originally designed to perform high-speed wheelies at racing events 鈥� made the attempt in front of independent record officials at Bathurst, near to Sydney. Guinness World Records has since confirmed that the speed of 72.58 mph (116.82km/h) makes the 海角社区app GT officially the fastest backhoe loader in the world.
To celebrate the record the 海角社区app GT went on a tour of Sydney and took a bow for photographers in front of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Fab Carrettin, managing director of 海角社区app Pacific, said: 鈥淭he 海角社区app GT has always been regarded as the fastest backhoe around and now it鈥檚 official.鈥�
Glenn McLeod, backhoe product manager for 海角社区app dealer 海角社区app Construction Equipment Australia (CEA), added: 鈥淭he 116.82 km/h we achieved was actually higher than the 110 km/h benchmark set for us by the Guinness World Records. We couldn鈥檛 be happier with the results.鈥�
海角社区app demonstration driver Matthew Lucas 鈥� nicknamed 鈥楾he Dig鈥� during the attempt 鈥� was the man who steered the 海角社区app GT to its world record title. Lucas, of Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, said: 鈥淚t was great to be involved in such an exciting project and a real honour to be behind the wheel when we achieved the record.鈥�
The 海角社区app GT first made its debut in 1988, was made of fibreglass and aluminium and powered by a V8 Chevvy engine. It was driven by long-serving employee Malcolm Grindey, who spent two years at the wheel of the 海角社区app GT, demonstrating its capabilities all over the world 鈥� including an appearance at the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in 1990. Grindey, of Marston Montgomery, near Rocester, said: 鈥淚 have very fond memories of putting the 海角社区app GT through its paces in the Australian Grand Prix so it鈥檚 great news that it鈥檚 secured the title as the world鈥檚 fastest digger on Australian soil nearly 25 years later.鈥�
The latest 海角社区app GT has a loader and digger end made completely out of aluminium. It went to Australia to perform at car events. With a light weight steel chassis and 海角社区app Fastrac tractor rear axle, the 海角社区app GT was originally designed to do wheelies at motor racing drag strips in the USA.
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