Queensland motorcycle police held the Guinness Book of Records world record for the number of riders on a motorcycle when 35 officers balanced on a motorbike at Surfers Paradise Raceway on June 22, 1984. This world record was held by the Queensland Police from 1984 until 1988.
The ride was reported in the July 1984 edition of the Vedette: Journal of the Queensland Police Department:
Queensland motorcycle police once again hold the world record for the number of riders on a motorcycle. The new record of 35 (33 men and 2 women) was set at the Surfers Paradise Raceway on June 22. The motorcycle was ridden 506 metres, and the officers were preparing to try again with more riders when an oil seal failed. The record making effort was organised by Sergeant 2/c Col Chick of the Brisbane Traffic Branch.
“We set a record of 30 riders in October last year, but in December, French Police beat this by one,” Sergeant 2/c Col Chick told Vedette. “We decided we would try to set an unbeatable record this time, and we put a lot of preparation into it. “Two previous attempts in the same week were made on Airport Drive at Eagle Farm, but because of the height and weight of the riders, the slight camber of the surface kept pulling the bike over. We had three independent witnesses at the successful attempt, and they have provided statutory declarations for us to send to the Guinness Book of Records. “
Both photographs in the Museum collection were donated by Lyle Crompton who drove the motorcycle while the others rode along (and balanced successfully).
This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.
The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
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