Burt Munro

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The 1920 Indian (with half the exterior removed to show detail) that Burt Munro used to set his record in 1967
The 1920 Indian (with half the exterior removed to show detail) that Burt Munro used to set his record in 1967

Herbert James Munro (25 March 1899–6 January 1978 in Invercargill) set an under-1000 cc world motorcycle land speed record—which still stands [1] —in 1967 at Bonneville Salt Flats with a self-modified Indian motorcycle. His effort to set the record is the basis of the motion picture The World's Fastest Indian (2005), starring Anthony Hopkins. That film was inspired by the 1971 short documentary film "Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed" Both films were directed by Roger Donaldson.

He had four children, John, June, Margaret and Gwen with his wife Florence Beryl Martyn, whom he married in 1927.

Contents

[edit] Records

  • In 1962 he set a world record of 288 km/h (178.97 mph) with his engine bored out to 51 in³ (850 cc).
  • In 1967 his engine was bored out to 58 in³ (950 cc) and he set a class record of 295.44 km/h (183.58 mph). To qualify he made a one-way run of 190.07 mph, the fastest ever officially recorded speed on an Indian. The unofficial speed record is 205.67 mph (331 km/h).[2]
  • In 2006 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bonneville certified bike records
  2. ^ Dave Blackwell, The World's Fastest Indian, The Munro Special. A Tribute to H.J Munro, a.k.a 'Burt' Munro, Indianmotorbikes.com.

[edit] Books

  • "Burt Munro: Indian Legend of Speed", George Begg (2002)
  • "One Good Run: The Legend of Burt Munro", Tim Hanna (2006)

[edit] External links