Australians were among thousands of people across the globe who attempted to break curious world records by stripping down to bikinis, cuddling strangers in railway stations and dragging buses with their hair.From Down Under to China, Britain, Egypt, Lebanon and Tennessee, people put their scalps, stomachs and reputations on the line.
The antics were all in the name of the fifth annual Guinness World Records Day, with hopefuls trying to secure a spot in the next edition of their famous Guinness World Records book.
"It's a wonderful feeling knowing that so many hundreds of thousands of people around the world are taking in part in fun, inspirational, courageous and awe-inspiring record attempts," said editor-in-chief Craig Glenday.
"Ironman" Manjit Singh set a record by dragging an 8.5-tonne bus some 21.2 metres with his hair in London. It was something of a comeback for the 59-year-old, who failed to break the record for pulling a bus with his ears two years ago. "I will never be discouraged by defeat because I know that success can be waiting around the next corner," he said.Meanwhile 112 people, including total strangers commuting to work, set a record at London's St Pancras station as they hugged for a minute.
Outside the Sydney Opera House, 235 people stripped down to their bikinis and swimming trunks but they were 47 people short of setting a new swimwear parade record.
New Zealand's Alistair Galpin set three records: spitting a champagne cork five metres, blowing a Malteser lolly 11.295 metres with a straw and blowing a coin 37.6 centimetres.
In China, Tao Yongming drove his motorcycle up a sand dune in six minutes and two seconds while in Beirut, Toufic Daher made the tallest matchstick model.
Hesham Nessim got his vehicle across the Egyptian western desert in 13 hours and 33 minutes while in Helsinki people from 76 nationalities squeezed into a sauna.
The largest gingerbread man (651 kilograms) was baked in Oslo, while in Denmark, Jim Lyngvild peeled and ate three lemons in 28.5 seconds.
In Milan, the record for the largest pizza base stretch in one minute was set at 42 centimetres, while Ernesto Cesario wolfed down a bowl of past in 90 seconds.
In the United States, 23 people in Fort Worth, Texas, broke the record for lassoing simultaneously, while in Memphis, 297 people set the benchmark for the largest cheerleading dance.
In New York, the largest cup of hot chocolate record hit four gallons (15 litres) and 1,817 lipstick prints were collected in 12 hours across the city.
Guinness World Records Day 2009 Video
Exclusive Video of amazing record attempt by Manjit Singh to pull a Double Decker Bus with his ears on GWR Day in 2007. Unfortunately he never broke the record but on Guinness World Records Day November 2009