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This topic has strangley came up several times this month - twice at work, once through email, and once with my brother.  I remember browsing through the Guinness Book of World Records as a kid (the book was yellow and I believe the edition was 1976).  I remember three records very disctinctly from that book:

1. Fastest roller coaster - Screaming Eagle (edit - just confirmed it)
2. Most cigarettes smoked at one time - 110 by a guy named Scott I think (edit - don’t ever, ever question my memory )
3. The heaviest twins - the McCrary brothers

I’m not going to go dig up links to each one of these folks, but the picture that is famous of the McCrary twins just makes me smile.  I am also willing to bet that 99.5% of motorcyclists have seen it…

From what I have read, these guys made the most out of their all too short lives and enjoyed every minute of it.  I actually feel bad for these guys because they had damaged pituitary glands from German measels when they were kids and topped 600 lbs by the time they were sixteen. 

I had no idea for the reason behind the above famous photo before today, but apparently they worked out a publicity deal with Honda and Holiday Inn for cash and services.  They rode those bikes above across the country - 3000 miles - in thirty days (100 miles per day) and signed autographs at the dealerships that they visited.  They also stayed at Holiday Inns at every stop possible.

Its difficult at this very moment to hold off on the jokes that can be made about motorcycle durability, etc.  But hey, if a couple guys can bring a smile to my face when I was five and still do it some thirty-one years later, they are alright in my book. 

You can read more about them here:  http://www.cojoweb.com/McCrary-twins.html