Did you see the Big Banana on the street? We did, too! The Big Banana Car came to Columbus! The owner and driver is Steve Braithwaite! He is an Englishman living in the US and is in our area of Texas because he is headed to the Orange Show's Houston 36th Annual Art Car Parade in April. Steve travels all over the US and lives off of donations for rides. There were lines of kiddos and adults alike on Feb 26, waiting to take a joyride in the Big Banana Car.
The Big Banana Car was built by Braithwaite and a close group of friends over a 2 -1/2 year period beginning in 2009, mostly on Sundays and occasional weeknights. The original 1993 Ford F-150 pickup was converted into a rolling banana! It has been on the road since 2011 and in that time has driven coast to coast and north to south.
The Big Banana Car is currently listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's longest custom banana car and Mattel even turned the Big Banana Car into a Matchbox toy!
Also, the TV show America's Got Talent used the Big Banana Car for its season premiere in 2017, with Simon Cowell driving with Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel in the rolling fruit.
Braithwaite says in a video on his website that he loves sharing the joy and laughter he spreads with the 'Banana Split.' If you see him and the Big Banana Car rolling down the street, give him a wave and a smile!
