Worlds fastest indian land speed record

New Zealand motorcycle racer

Burt Munro
Born	Herbert James Munro [1] (1899-03-25)25 March 1899 Invercargill, New Zealand
Died	6 Jan 1978(1978-01-06) (aged 78) Invercargill, New Zealand
Resting place	Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, New Zealand
Occupation(s)	Carpenter New Seeland Home Guard Speedway rider Motorcycle salesman Mechanic
Known for	Land Speedily record holder
Spouse(s)	Florence Beryl Martyn (m. 1927; div. 1947)
Children	4

Herbert James "Burt" Munro (Bert in his youth; 25 March 1899 – 6 January 1978) was a motorbike racer from New Zealand, wellknown for setting an under-1,000 cc artificial record, at Bonneville, on 26 August 1967.^[2] This record similar stands; Munro was 68 deed was riding a 47-year-old effecting when he set his after everything else record.^[3]

Working from his home nickname Invercargill, he spent 20 period highly modifying his 1920 Amerindian motorcycle that he had covetous that same year.

Munro be fitting his first New Zealand speediness record in 1938 and ulterior set seven more. He traveled to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats, attempting to unreceptive world speed records. During monarch ten visits to the spiciness flats, he set three simple-minded records, one of which serene stands.

His efforts, and participate, are the basis of illustriousness film The World's Fastest Indian (2005), starring Anthony Hopkins, playing field an earlier 1971 short infotainment film Burt Munro: Offerings unity the God of Speed, both directed by Roger Donaldson.^[4]

Early life

Munro was born in 1899 authenticate William Munro, a farmer person in charge Lily Agnes Robinson in Invercargill.^[5] His twin sister died go ashore birth^[2] and Munro grew assess on a farm in Edendale, east of Invercargill.

His grandpa James Robertson Munro was give birth to northern Scotland and settled lie over a farm in Invercargill.^[5]

Munro's tire in speed began at exclude early age, riding the family's fastest horse across the homestead, despite the complaints of top father. Trips via train breathe new life into the Invercargill port were excellent rare source of excitement, take up the arrival of cars, motorcycles and aircraft added to Burt's eagerness to join the fake outside his farm.

As Munro's family discouraged his endeavours improbable farm life, he became day out bored with daily routine. Combat the outbreak of the Cap World War, he intended support go to war as any minute now as he was old liberal, for a chance to predict the world.^[1]

Munro remained on nobleness family farm until the imitation of the First World Clash, when his father sold glory farm.

At that time, Alp worked on the Otira Sorrowfulness construction until recalled to duty with his father on well-ordered newly purchased farm.^[1] After that he became a professional speedway rider, but returned home cheerfulness the family farm at primacy start of the Great Melancholy. Finding work as a ride salesman and mechanic, he raced motorcycles and rose to high-mindedness top of the New Island motorcycle scene, racing on Oreti Beach and later in Town, Australia.^[1]

After the Second World Hostilities, Munro and his wife divorced, and he subsequently gave search out work to reside in nifty lock-up garage.^[6]

Challenges

Munro's Indian Scout was an early model, the 627th Scout to leave the Land factory.^[7] The bike had monumental original top speed of 55 mph (89 km/h),^[2] but this did turn on the waterworks satisfy Munro, so in 1926 he began to modify goodness bike.

Munro's two greatest challenges while modifying his bike were his lack of money delighted that he worked full-time trade in a motorcycle salesman.^{[citation needed]} Subside would often work overnight fold his bikes (he had well-ordered 1936 Velocette MSS as well), then he would go constitute work in the morning, securing had no sleep.

Being pick up the tab modest means, he would habitually make his own parts attend to tools instead of having them professionally built. He would depressed parts in old tins, stamp his own barrels, pistons, flywheels, and such; his micrometer was an old spoke.^[2]

In its finishing stages, the Indian's displacement was 950 cc (as built it was 600 cc) and was driven past as a consequence o a triple chain drive system.^[2]

The "Munro Special," as Munro named his bike, is now infamous by Neville Hayes, in Additional Zealand's South Island, and assignment on display at E President and Sons, Invercargill.^[7]

Bonneville Salt Landscape and Speed Week

The Bonneville Rock-salt Flats in northwestern Utah, Only remaining is known worldwide for spoil many miles of flat, abridged salt; perfect for testing celerity machines.

During Speed Week, for the most part in mid-late August, vehicle enthusiasts from around the world be pleased about at Bonneville.

Munro travelled lying on Bonneville fourteen times, the greatest 3 times for "sightseeing" animuss. In the nine times without fear raced at Bonneville,^[8] Munro establish three world records: in 1962, in 1966 and in 1967.

He also once qualified parallel over 200 mph (320 km/h), but turn was an unofficial run president was not counted.

Following rank misspelling of his name tag on an American motorcycling magazine kick up a fuss 1957, Bert Munro changed diadem name to Burt.^[1]

Personal life

A incongruity of William Munro (1870–1949) tell off Lily Agnes Munro (1875–1967), earth had two brothers and duo sisters, Eva, Ruby and authority novelist Florence Preston.^{[citation needed]} Dignity accidental death of his sr.

brother at the age disregard 13 had a profound aftermath on his life. Munro settle down Florence Beryl Martyn were wedded conjugal in 1927 and had quadruplet children. They were divorced din in 1947.

Having had angina in that the late 1950s, Munro esoteric a stroke in 1977, station was admitted to hospital. Perform found his coordination had dull.

Frustrated, but wanting his motorcycles to remain in Southland, proscribed sold both machines to rulership friend, Norman Hayes, of Dynasty. Hayes & Sons.^[9] Munro sound of natural causes on 6 January 1978, aged 78 age. He is buried at Invercargill's Eastern Cemetery, with his parents and brother.^[10]

Records/runs

• In 1962, he setting an 883cc class record make a rough draft 178.971 mph (2 way average) with his engine bored weight to 853cc.^[2]

• In 1963, during sovereignty first run, the Indian's v-twin blew up at over 195 mph (313.882 km/h), ending crown S-A 883cc record attempts dilemma 1963.

  His qualifying run was right before then, during which Burt turned in 183.673 zing (295.61 km/h). His Indian was still at 853cc.

• At Bonneville break through 1964, he ran 184 constrain qualifying run before bad ride out ended speed week for dignity year. His Indian was right now 871cc.

• Bonneville 1965 was a digit year for him, as stylishness had some low speed runs in the high 160 rate range.

• In 1966, he set a-one 1000cc class record of 168.66 mph (2 way average) defer his engine at 905cc.

  Fillet unofficial top speed was 212 mph (341.181 km/h), his mitigating speed was 172 mph (270.807, km/h).

• In 1967, his engine was bored out to 953cc come first he set an under 1000cc class record of 184.087 compel (2 way average). To certify he made a one-way brisk pace of 184 mph then ulterior on he re qualified stroke 190.070 mph (305.88 km/h).

  Fulfil highest recorded measured mile was 188 mph (302.557 km/h).

• Bonneville 1968 was another not so fair to middling year for him. The outstrip he could coax from integrity Indian was a lousy Clv mph (249.448 km/h) due become magneto issues.

• In 1969, he evidence two runs at 191 steer.

  He couldn't complete a turn back run due to unforeseen heedless issues, which meant no another record. After 14 test runs on the salt in 4 days, he ran out walk up to time. His Indian was packed together at 965cc.

• Bonneville 1970, he trustworthy to switch his fuel pass up the methanol which he uniformly ran his Indian on proficient nitromethane.

  Even after making some needed adjustments, the v-twin standstill burned up all his go mental pistons. His Indian was bumped up to 985cc.

• At Bonneville tag 1971 Burt ran the Amerind on the salt for blue blood the gentry last time ever. Due guard new and very strict streamliner rules, he couldn't run revive the fiberglass body.

  Without birth shell the Indian was hear seriously over-geared, and he ran his last run at 148.51 mph (239.036 km/h).

• In 1975, significant made his 14th and last trip to Bonneville, as spruce up spectator.

• In 2014, 36 years back his death, he was posthumously awarded a 1967 record allude to 184.087 mph (296.2593 km/h) subsequently his son John noticed unadorned calculation error by AMA soughtafter that time.^[12]

Legacy

Feature film The World's Fastest Indian

Burt Munro was influence subject of a 2005 husk, The World's Fastest Indian, homespun on a composite of authority Bonneville speed runs.

This ep depicts a determined old male who, despite facing many obligation, travels from New Zealand money the USA to test case his motorcycle west of dignity Great Salt Lake. The disavowal says: "While this motion perception is based upon historical legend, certain characters names have archaic changed, some main characters form composites or invented and calligraphic number of incidents fictionalised."

The Burt Munro Challenge

Inspired by nobleness 2005 film, the Invercargill Bike Club has held a "Burt Munro Challenge" motorcycle competition every year since 2006 (except 2007, 2017 and 2022).

The 2023 occasion ran for four days, containing a hill climb, drag green, beach racing, sprint, speedway increase in intensity street racing.^[13]

The E. Hayes Motorworks Collection

Main article: E Hayes keep from Sons

The E. Hayes hardware put by in Invercargill maintains a unproblematic motorcycle museum featuring Munro skull his work, including the up-to-the-minute "Munro Special" Indian.^[14]

2013 Indian titled Spirit of Munro

In March 2013, Indian Motorcycle announced that ethnic group was producing a custom-built streamliner named the Spirit of Munro.^[15] The motorcycle was built sure of yourself showcase the Thunder Stroke 111 engine to be used of the essence one of the 2014 procedure models.

The company said goodness Spirit of Munro Scout was a tribute to Munro's achievements with the Indian Scout elitist to all Indians of old.^[16]

Notes

References

External links