Sunday, December 18, 2011

  Longest taxi journey: Three British adventurers sets world record (Video)

 SYDNEY, Australia -- Three British adventurers - Paul Archer (24), Johno Ellison (28) and Leigh Purnell (24) - drove a 19-year-old classic London Black Cab for 32,000 miles across three continents, 41 countries, and 10 time zones - setting the new world record for the Longest taxi journey, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com).

  Photo: A team of British adventurers have broken the Guinness World Record for the longest-ever taxi journey covering 50,000 kilometres across 39 counties, four continents and ten different time zones. Driving a 1992 Austin LTI 2.7 litre diesel FX4, the World's Longest Taxi Journey has covered three continents, 41 countries, and 10 time zones across almost 50,000km. ( enlarge photo )

The Guinness world record for the longest journey pushing a wheelbarrow was one of some 14,500 km (9,000 miles), from 24 April 1975 to 6 May 1978 by Bob Hanley (Australia), starting and finishing at Sydney and pushing through Townsville, Mt Isa, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, the Nullarbor Plain, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the longest journey on a quadbike (ATV), set by the Quad Squad Expedition – Valerio De Simoni, Kristopher Davant and James Kenyon (all Australia) – who exceeded the previous record distance of 27,141 km (16,864 miles).

  In a bid to break the Guinness World Record for the longest taxi journey, Paul Archer, Johno Ellison and Leigh Purnell spent ten months on the road travelling through Europe, Russia, the Middle East, India, China and south-east Asia.

  Hoping to write a book about their experience, the three friends, all in their 20s, also want to raise £20,000 for the Red Cross as part of their mission.

  The trio, all in their twenties, bought the car on eBay, nicknamed it "Hannah" and drove it 32,000 miles across three continents, 41 countries, and 10 time zones.
( enlarge photo )

  The 'It's on the Meter' expedition has not been without its challenges as the team was arrested in Russia, narrowly avoided being kidnapped by the Taliban in Pakistan and detained by secret police in Iran, with one fundraiser deported.

  Mr Archer, 24, from Cirencester, said they came up with the idea after a night out in London and a cab ride "that seemed like the longest ever".

  The journey has not been without challenges, including driving on some of the world's most dangerous roads in India, Pakistan and Tibet.

 "Failure wasn't really an option, we've thrown everything we had into this, everything we own and everything emotionally," Mr Archer said.

  They hope to write a book about their trip "before we get mortgages and real jobs back in England".