Natural Balance Pet Foods, Ford to break parade-float record

While most of us are home on Jan. 2, working off a two-day sports hangover, the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade will take place in Pasadena, Calif., with the world's heaviest and longest parade float--powered by a 6.8-liter Ford V10.

The Natural Balance Pet Foods float will measure 116 feet at its longest point and weigh in at 100,000 pounds, all of which is certified by the book of Guinness World Records. The float features a tropical floral arrangement. It's the second consecutive year that Natural Balance will break a record.

The float will have a 90-foot-long beach with a wave machine producing 65-foot-long waves. Tillman the Natural Balance bulldog, famous for skateboarding, has now learned to hang 10, which he will be doing on the float as it rolls down the street with a few other talented canines. In total, the float will carry 6,600 gallons of water.

The monstrosity was built by float company Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale, Calif. It's the 24th year that Fiesta has built a float for the Rose Parade. It took about six months to complete, with eight employees working full time. Roush Racing also was on hand during the build, in case any problems arose with the Ford parts.

The bare frame used for the driving portion of the float is from a steel-hauling truck. The axle was moved back about four feet to increase the turning radius, and Fiesta installed a fifth-wheel hitch plate to pull the rest of the float. The company had to fabricate motor and transmission mounts and add a heavy-duty transfer case after the transmission for an additional 2:1 gear reduction.

Fiesta dropped in a stock version of Ford's 6.8-liter V10. In both the F-650 and the 50-ton parade float, the engine makes 362 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. The float uses the stock transmission as well, hitting a top speed of 2.5 mph with the engine running at 830 rpm.

It can be steered, thankfully. The main drive chassis is 25 feet long, making the turning radius less than spectacular. One corner in particular, from Orange Grove Boulevard to Colorado Boulevard, is tighter than 90 degrees and could pose a problem. It also happens to be where the media is stationed, making the tension even higher.

A professional driver will be controlling the float from underneath. He sits behind the axle, relying on an observer above. The man in the lifeguard stand is actually from Fiesta, telling the driver by radio to turn, speed up and slow down.

Roush Fenway Racing driver and animal lover Greg Biffle will be on top of the float, serving as the emcee and doing a little amateur spotting himself. Biffle's foundation advocates improving the well-being of animals, making him a perfect fit for the Natural Balance float.

The Rose Bowl Parade will air live on ABC at 11 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 2. It also will be shown on the Hallmark Channel, HGTV, KTLA, NBC and Univision. The parade is seen in more than 200 countries and territories outside the United States.

The Surf's Up! The Making of the World's Longest and Heaviest Float TV special will air before the parade for fans to get a sneak peek of Tillman and of the massive float being built.

Show times are as follows:

-- Dec. 31 on WXYZ Detroit at 2:30 p.m. Eastern

-- Dec. 31 on KBCW San Francisco at 2:30 p.m. Pacific

-- Jan. 2 on Hallmark Channel at 9 a.m. Eastern

By Jake Lingeman