ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks, mˈɛlɚɹ ɐtˈɛmptᵻd tə bɹˈeɪk hɪz ˈoʊn ɹˈɛkɚd bᵻfˌoːɹ ɐ kɹˈaʊd ʌv tˈuː,fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd spɛktˈeɪɾɚz, ɪntˈɛndɪŋ tə bˈiːt ðə "mˈædʒɪk sˈɪksˈaʊɚ mˈɑːɹk—ðə fˈoːɹmˈɪnɪt mˈaɪl ʌv fˈɛɹɪt lˈɛɡɪŋ".
In 1986, Mellor attempted to break his own record before a crowd of 2,500 spectators, intending to beat the "magic six-hour mark—the four-minute mile of ferret legging".