Fastest bed needs cash

Alastair Galpin needs a sponsor to put up $6500. Photo / Janna Dixon

A devoted record breaker is putting the finishing touches to a bed capable of racing at more than 150km/h.

Alastair Galpin hopes his creation will set a new benchmark for the world's fastest item of furniture - beating a British sofa that reached 148km/h.

"It will be my biggest challenge so far."

Galpin has spent four years on the project, which he hopes will promote the Auckland Down Syndrome Association.

He has built the frame for the mattress but is after a sponsor to provide the $6500 in order to finish the work. "All it needs is someone open-minded to say, 'Hey, cool idea'."

The Aucklander is no stranger to record attempts, setting 38 in the past five years. His feats have seen him awarded the title of the planet's second-best record breaker by Guinness World Records.

Galpin's fantastic feats include having the most snails stuck to his face (eight), crushing the most eggs with his head (20 in 30 seconds), and the longest handshake (9hr 19min).

His passion began in 2004 after he met a world champion rally driver and has grown to become a full-time pursuit.

He's still a long way off the world record in world records - American Ashrita Furman has held a whopping 164 - but Galpin says he's not aiming to be number one.

"We're both doing things for good causes," he said. "I'm doing my own thing and if it takes me to number two in the world, that's great."

Guinness World Records spokesman Chris Sheedy said the fastest furniture title would be a big record to topple. "It's the sort of record that makes people smile and captures people's imagination. "Alastair lives for the idea of breaking records ..."

Waikato University associate professor in psychology Robert Rinehart said: "I think people do these things because they're challenging ... but also because it's a way of making their name. It's a form of immortality."