ilani breaks two edible vehicle records

What better way to mark the grand opening of a new six-story parking garage than with a record-breaking “cake car”!?

ilani (USA), the Pacific Northwest’s premier gaming, dining, entertainment and meeting destination, did just that with its latest record achievements for the fastest edible vehicle and longest distance covered by an edible vehicle to celebrate the newest addition to its offerings – a one million-square-foot parking structure including more than 2,700 spaces.

To make these achievements possible, ilani teamed up with celebrity cake artist of Black Sheep Custom Cakes and original record holder of the fastest edible vehicle, Mike Elder, and world champion auto-racing driver, Michael Andretti. 

Record holders take photo after edible vehicle feat

To prepare for the attempt, two cake cars were designed, baked, and built by Elder with the help of a dedicated team of nine over the course of 46 hours, equaling an astounding 414 manhours of work!

Per the official record guidelines, each vehicle had to be more than 90% edible.

Team prepares for edible vehicle attempts

Both cars consisted of 12 vertical layers of cake, with an additional five layers of cake on the rear scoop.

On 18 November 2020, event organizers gathered at ilani’s new state-of-the-art parking garage where the two cake cars raced side-by-side during the official attempts.

The “white car,” piloted by Andretti, was the record-breaking vehicle of both attempts, with Chef Mike Elder behind the wheel of the competing “black car.”

Drivers get ready to begin record attempt

Traveling at a speed of 27.48 km/h (17.08 mph), Andretti drove the fastest edible vehicle to record-breaking victory, surpassing the original record of 17.2 km/h (10.68 mph) set by Elder in 2012. 

During record attempt

“I had a great time with Black Sheep Custom Cakes and the entire ilani team setting a new fastest edible vehicle speed record,” said Andretti following the record achievement.  

I’ve driven a lot of vehicles, and this was by far one of the most unique. What a great way to showcase this new state-of-the art parking facility.

The second record was also a success with the white vehicle covering a total distance of 106.62 m (349.81 ft). 

Record holders celebrate achievement after attempt

Both records were confirmed virtually by official GWR judge, Christina Flounders Conlon.

“I was thrilled and honored to have witnessed Chef and Cake Artist, Mike Elder’s incredible event at ilani, which garnered him and his team two more GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titles!” stated Conlon. 

GWR adjudicator confirms records virtually

“Not only was this one of the most fun and unique attempts that I have had the opportunity to adjudicate, but it was also truly one of the most difficult and impressive challenges I have ever seen a team take on.”

With the help of Share Vancouver, a local nonprofit whose mission is to lead the hungry and homeless to self-sufficiency, both cake cars were broken down following the successful attempts and served to those in need.

Cake car is donated following attempt

Here are some additional fun facts about the cake vehicles and record-breaking race:

  • The white car was a tribute to Michael Andretti’s 1991 championship season and was built from 139 vanilla sheet cakes with buttercream frosting.
  • The black car was a tribute to Mario Andretti’s (Michael’s father) 1979 Lola and championship season and is built from 145 chocolate sheet cakes with buttercream frosting.
  • The cakes were constructed on a home-built structural aircraft aluminum chassis with high-speed bearings and slick tires.
  • The white car’s record-breaking distance run clocked in at 29.43 seconds.
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