A Thrillseeker’s Quest

A 36-year-old thrillseeker, Dean Stokes, has broken the world record for driving the most roller coasters in a week, reaching an adrenaline-pumping 55 rides.

The Challenge

Dean Stokes had initially planned to drive every single roller coaster ride in Great Britain during the summer, but his plans were disrupted by Storm Floris. However, he still managed to set a new Guinness World Record for the most roller coasters driven in a single week.

The Journey

Stokes started his journey on August 2 from the Brighton Palace Pier and ended at Thorpe Park on Sunday, August 17th. During this time, he visited 32 themed parks and took over 108 roller coasters. He was accompanied by his friend Simon, who helped him with the logistics but didn’t ride any roller coasters himself, as he hates them.

The Experience

Stokes had a lot of fun during his week-long adventure, despite facing some ups and downs, both literally and metaphorically. He noted that the atmosphere in themed parks is great, and it’s simply fun to be there. His favorite parks were Adventure Island in Southend and Crealy, a themed park & resort in Devon.

The Record

Stokes drove more than 2,300 miles over 16 days to achieve his record. He didn’t initially plan to break any records but was contacted by Guinness World Records after sharing his journey on Instagram. They informed him that he could set a new record for the most roller coasters ridden in a week.

The Outcome

Stokes is "super proud" to have set an official world record and finds it "surreal" to have the certificate hanging in his office. He believes that his record is beatable and encourages other roller coaster fans to try and break it. Stokes hopes that his achievement will inspire others to do things they enjoy and not be afraid of judgment or embarrassment.