November 14, 2019, St. Louis Region – A Guinness World Record was set today at 3 p.m. CST at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. Driver Apollo Timbers, 33, of Sedalia, Missouri, set a world record of 30 miles per hour for the world’s fastest Radio Flyer wagon.
The world record attempt was produced by Kevin Schaller of Craftsmen Industries of St. Charles, Missouri. Craftsmen fabricates special displays and vehicles, including the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
The world record attempt had a noble cause: to aid Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis. Years ago, Schaller, as a single father, was aided by Shriners Hospital when his son was admitted there for treatment.
“They lived their mission of providing the best of care for my family when I was at my lowest in terms of financial ability,” said Schaller. “I’ll never forget that, and I’ll never stop trying to pay it forward. The thing I remember most about those fearful moments of having a sick child was the smile on his face as he was transported through the hospital in a donated Radio Flyer wagon. Even when we both were scared, those moments in that wagon, my son got to be a kid, not just a sick kid.”
The driver, Timbers, himself was a “Shriners kid” at the St. Louis hospital.
Since there was no previous record or attempt, any speed attained today would have set a world record. Speed was monitored by officers from the Glen Carbon, Illinois, police department. Outside air temperature: 42 degrees (sunny, slight breeze).
Earlier this year, Craftsmen officials shared their idea with the Radio Flyer company. The 104-year-old, Chicago-based toy company lent its support to the project, which cost an estimated $4,000.
The wagon is based on a modified racing Go-Kart chassis. The Radio Flyer wagon body is comprised of several bodies, welded into one unit. Power is supplied by a Predator 212 engine.
Schaller stated today was the first of a series of attempts at the world record and the goal is to exceed 45 miles per hour.
For more information on Guinness World Records Day, please visit: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/gwrday/.
For more information on World Wide Technology Raceway, please call (618) 215-8888. Follow WWTR on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.
About World Wide Technology Raceway
World Wide Technology Raceway is the home of INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 340 acres, Gateway Motorsports Park is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. World Wide Technology Raceway’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, recently-expanded 2.0-mile road course, a state-of-the-art karting facility and a 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue. World Wide Technology Raceway was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from St. Louis Attractions Association. In 2018, owner and CEO Curtis Francois received the Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission in recognition of his work for restoring World Wide Technology Raceway (known then as Gateway Motorsports Park) to prominence.
About Craftsmen Industries, Inc.
Since 1982, Craftsmen Industries has been creating specialty trailers and vehicles for marketing and industrial needs. For more than 35 years, Craftsmen Industries has remained the industry-leader in: experiential assets and vehicles; build and customization, design, engineering and fabrication of industrial trailers and containers, 3-D architectural and environmental graphics, and custom paint, print and installation of large-format specialty graphics. Located in St. Charles — a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri — its headquarters are home to over 150 Craftsmen and women in a 127,000 sq. ft. production facility. Craftsmen Industries also has facilities in Kansas City, Missouri and Highland, Illinois. For more information on Craftsmen Industries, visit: www.craftsmenind.com.