In August, the London-based Guinness World Records, known initially as the Guinness Book of Records, celebrated its 70th anniversary of cataloging record-breaking feats around the globe.
The idea for the book originated in the early 1950s, when Sir Hugh Beaver, managing director of the U.K.’s Guinness Brewery, enlisted the services of twin-brother researchers Norris and Ross McWhirter to compile a collection of interesting facts and statistics. Intended as a promotional tool for Guinness, based on settling pub arguments, the book quickly grew in popularity, according to the World Records website.
On Aug. 27, 1955, Beaver and the McWhirter twins published the first edition of The Guinness Book of Records, which became an international bestseller and has since entertained readers worldwide.
Given Sonoma County’s reputation for creative talent, quirky events and standout venues — where all kinds of extraordinary things can happen — it’s no surprise that the region has earned several Guinness World Records of its own. Here’s a look at the local people, places and traditions that have made their mark in the record books.
Longest-running pillow fight contest
Founded in 1966, the World Pillow Fighting Championships in Kenwood was a beloved local tradition each Fourth of July until 2006. Launched initially as a fundraiser for the Kenwood Firemen’s Association, the event drew large crowds as competitors straddled a slippery pole suspended over mud, attempting to knock each other off with a pillow. The epic competition ran for 40 years, earning recognition from Guinness World Records as the world’s longest-running pillow fight contest.
In recent years, Kenwood’s historic pillow fights have seen a resurgence of interest. Last November, a new cafe called Pillowfight Coffee opened in town, paying homage to the playful tradition. And earlier this year, Santa Rosa revived the World Pillow Fighting Championships, hosting the event at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on July 4.
Most wins of the World’s Ugliest Dog® Contest
Chi-Chi — a “rare African sand dog,” according to Guinness World Records — is a seven-time winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, traditionally held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma. The dog won in 1978, 1982—84, 1986—87 and 1991.
Largest vocabulary for a bird ever
Puck, a budgerigar (a parakeet native to Australia) owned by Camille Jordan of Petaluma, was accepted into the 1995 Guinness Book of Records as the bird with the largest vocabulary in the world. Like many other species of parrot, budgerigars can mimic human speech — and according to Guinness World Records, Puck knew an estimated 1,728 words before he died in 1994.
Longest mini flying disc time aloft (male)
On Sept. 27, 1997, in Rohnert Park, Conrad Damon threw a mini flying disc that remained in the air for 9.92 seconds, setting a record for the longest time aloft for a mini flying disc thrown by a male. The World Flying Disc Federation ratified the record.
Largest bottle of Champagne / sparkling wine
Standing at 4 feet, 6 inches tall and 4 feet, 4 inches in circumference, a Champagne bottle created for Guerneville’s Korbel Winery in 1998 is recorded as the world’s largest bottle of sparkling wine. Seven glass blowers from Demptos Glass in the Czech Republic created the 25.7-gallon bottle — enough capacity to hold 1,000 glasses of Champagne. The bottle remains on display at the winery and can be seen via a complimentary walking tour, offered daily.
Largest gap between test-tube births
Fraternal siblings Laina, Carleigh and Jeffery Beasley were conceived together in a test tube in 1991. The following year, Debi Beasley gave birth to Carleigh and Jeffery, but the third triplet remained a two-celled embryo, frozen in suspended animation for the next 13 years. Laina Beasley was born to Debi and Kent Beasley on Feb. 4, 2005, in Santa Rosa. According to Guinness World Records, fertility specialists confirmed it as “the longest documented case of an embryo that has been frozen and resulted in a successful birth.”
Most chin-ups in one minute (male)
On Dec. 20, 2008, Guy Schott did 57 chin-ups in one minute at the Sonoma County YMCA in Santa Rosa. Schott’s achievement came three years after breaking the world record for most pullups (644) in one hour, according to SFGate in 2005. Caine Eckstein of Australia broke that record with 1,131 pullups in one hour in 2022; however, Schott’s record for most chin-ups in one minute remains unbroken.
Largest collection of NASCAR cereal boxes
According to Guinness World Records, Randy Ricci of Santa Rosa had amassed the largest known collection of NASCAR cereal boxes — 315 boxes — verified on May 7, 2014, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma.
Largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia
Nestled on Chapman Lane in Petaluma, nonprofit museum Rancho Obi-Wan houses an estimated 500,000 unique Star Wars items — at least 93,260 of which have been accurately audited and cataloged, as of May 2015 — making it the world’s largest Star Wars memorabilia collection. Steve Sansweet, former head of fan relations at Lucasfilm, amassed the collection and established Rancho Obi-Wan in 2011. Note: Rancho Obi-Wan does not allow drop-ins; guided tours are typically booked to capacity six to eight weeks in advance. ranchoobiwan.org
Most consecutive days surfing
The late Dale Webster, nicknamed “The Daily Wavester,” broke the record for most consecutive days surfing (14,642 days) between Sept. 2, 1975, and Oct. 4, 2015, in Bodega Bay. Webster initially challenged himself to surf for a consecutive 100 days, but continued his streak for four decades until 2015, when he needed an operation for kidney stones. Webster died on Aug. 9, 2025, in Rohnert Park.
Oldest ice hockey player
Born on July 18, 1921, in Ashland, Wisconsin, Mark Sertich broke the world record as the oldest ice hockey player when he played in the Snoopy’s Senior World Hockey Tournament in 2017 at Snoopy’s Home Ice in Santa Rosa at the age of 96. Sertich died at age 99 in August 2020.
Fastest speed in an NHRA Drag Racing Pro Stock motorcycle race
Six-time National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith achieved the fastest speed in a 440-yard NHRA Pro Stock motorcycle race when he clocked 205.04 mph on July 24, 2021, at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma.
Fastest solar-powered train
A team of engineers in Sonoma, led by Eric Houston and Marco Fucci di Napoli, built a solar-powered train that achieved a speed of 30.731 miles per hour in August 2021, making it the world’s fastest solar-powered train.
Youngest person to have a wisdom tooth extracted (male)
At 9 years and 109 days old, Santiago Bacon Gonzalez became the youngest person to have a wisdom tooth extracted on Nov. 15, 2023, in Santa Rosa.
Most consecutive pullups while hula hooping (male)
Reger Maffei of Rohnert Park performed 23 consecutive pullups while hula-hooping, recorded on April 22, 2025. A year prior, on April 20, Maffei broke the world record for the longest duration of hula hooping in an abdominal plank position, at 7 minutes and 41.28 seconds. More recently, he broke the record for the most consecutive chin-ups (24) while hula hooping, which was recorded Aug. 29, 2025.
Fastest speed in an NHRA Drag Racing Top Fuel race
Californian drag racer Brittany Force achieved the fastest speed in a National Hot Rod Association race in the Top Fuel class, clocking in at 343.16 mph on a 1,000-foot-long strip, on July 25, 2025, in Sonoma. Force set the national record for the third time at this year’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals held at the Sonoma Raceway, beating her own record set just five days earlier.
Highest capacity geothermal power station
Located in the Mayacamas Mountains and spanning about 45 miles across Sonoma and Lake counties, The Geysers is “the world’s biggest single geothermal power base, with 22 geothermal power plants and a total installed capacity of 1,517MW,” according to Guinness World Records. Visitors can explore the 6,500-square-foot facility in Middletown to learn about geothermal energy through guided tours and interactive displays.