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| Hamilton is world’s fastest flapjack flipper |
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| News | |||
| Written by Kristen Waggener | |||
| Wednesday, 13 May 2009 07:00 | |||
Steve Hamilton knew fate was on his side; his fortune cookie from Phoenix Chinese Restaurant told him so.  “You will receive some high prize or award today,” the fortune said. That day was May 6, as Hamilton shattered the world record he first set three years ago by pouring, flipping and serving 956 pancakes in one hour. The bleachers at Louisburg Middle School were filled last Wednesday night with onlookers anticipating the amazing feat they were about to witness. In front of them were Hamilton’s specially made, piping hot Chris Cakes griddle, empty tables awaiting the hundreds of pancakes that soon would fill them, and a calm, collected Hamilton, practicing his pouring technique. And just after 7 p.m., the red electronic clock that would mark the 60 minutes allotted for the feat began its countdown. 59:59. 59:58. 59:57... Just as quickly as the clock started its countdown, Hamilton started pouring his pancakes — 16 rows of three flapjacks that were at least 5 inches in diameter and no more than a half-inch thick. In 2006, Hamilton set the record at 555 for the most number of pancakes made in an hour while on a trip in Florida. While the number seemed unreachable, just last year, Food Network’s Bob Blumer overtook the record by making 559. “I’m going to try to make more pancakes than anybody ever made in the world in an hour,” Hamilton told the crowd in front of him last week. “He’s going down.” With more control than he had in 2006, he was confident he could shatter Blumer’s record and set the bar so high that it would take an expert to beat him again. To Hamilton’s left, Guinness Book of World Records judge Stuart Claxton stood, measuring tape in hand, ready to make sure each pancake counted would stack up to the record’s standards. “It’s my great job to measure each and every pancake,” said Claxton, who had the help of Karin Olson, who kept the official tally. With 50:11 left on the clock, Hamilton had already flipped 100 pancakes. “My dad’s going to beat the world record,” Hamilton’s son, Max, said as his father continued to flip the golden flapjacks. With just over 37 minutes left, Hamilton was up to 305 as his wife, Lee-Ann, assisted by sweeping crumbs off the griddle. Hamilton hit 419 with 31:08 on the clock and 504 with 25:29 left. “If he goes any faster, he’s going to break 1,000!” said deejay BJ Taylor, who was on hand to keep the crowd entertained. But the golden moment came with 21:43 left on the clock and Michael Jackson’s “Beat it” playing on the loudspeakers. Claxton and Olson reported they had counted 570 flapjacks — and with stack and stacks still left for them to count and Hamilton still pouring and flipping, it was evident Hamilton had a bigger goal. “My dad’s amazing. How many dads can you say have the Guinness World record?” daughter Stephanie Hamilton said a few minutes later. As excited as they were to get first dibs on the pancakes as Hamilton made them, crowd members were even more excited to have him attempt the feat in his hometown. “It puts us on the map and makes more people realize our small town,” Louisburg Middle School student Samantha Davin said. Displaying a giant “Go Mr. Hamilton!” sign and wearing an autographed Chris Cakes hat, Kenny Sweeney and mother Kelly cheered on Hamilton. “He calls us his No. 1 fans,” said Kenny, who hand-made the posters promoting the event. And for good reason. “Pancakes are Kenny’s favorite food in life, so you’ve got to know the man with the pancakes,” Kelly said. Hamilton even attracted some less-than-obvious fans to come out and watch his record attempt. Oletta Ross sat in the audience with her husband, Jake, cheering for the hometown boy. “I don’t like pancakes, but I love Steve’s pancakes,” Oletta said before sneaking up to the table with hundreds of flapjacks on it to grab one. As the seconds on the clock wound down, the crowd became more and more restless, eager to witness Hamilton’s latest record. With 2:22 left, everyone stood, cheering until 10 seconds remained. “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ...” The buzzer hit 0:00 just as Hamilton flipped his last pancake high in the air. As calm as he was standing behind the hot griddle, Hamilton’s reaction immediately after completing his hour-long flapjack-flipping session was just as relaxed. “I feel fine,” he said. But later, he revealed his real motivation. “I had a personal goal of 800,” Hamilton said. “I wanted to shatter (the record), and I wanted to make it hard for my employees to beat me.” Judge Claxton was just as impressed as those in the crowd. “It’s amazing,” he said. That’s like double the record. ... Hopefully, he’ll inspire other people to have a go at their own world record.”
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