World's longest parade float features surfing bulldog, V10-power

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

What you're looking at is the drawing for the world's longest and heaviest float, currently under construction in preparation for its debut at the Rose Bowl Parade. When complete it'll host the world's fastest skateboarding dog riding on a surfboard. No, you're not on drugs.

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods float is set to smash all sorts of records when it rolls around Southern California on January 2, 2011. First, at 116-feet-long it'll be the longest parade float in history. If that's not enough of an enticement, it'll also be the world's heaviest at approximately 100,000 pounds.

The hairy cherry on top will be Tillman, the fastest skateboarding dog (watch him here). But he won't be on a skateboard. He'll be on a surfboarding riding the 65-foot wave running across the float.

World's longest, heaviest float

Ford is also co-sponsoring the float, because if you're going to haul a surfing dog you're going to need a 6.8-liter V10 engine from a Ford F650 truck and its 362 horsepower and 457 lb.-ft. of torque.

Advertisement

The exclusive video shows the giant V10 rig they've built to haul the humongous float. This is also maybe the most American thing I've ever seen in my life.