He was 78. Ian Johnston, another one of the kids who spent his time at Burt’s shed told Roger Donaldson: “I always had confidence in Burt and thought of him as the nicest, kindest man in the world. In the late 1960s, after a lifetime of perfecting his classic Indian motorcycle, Burt sets off from the bottom of the world, Invercargill, New Zealand, to clock his bike at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. In The World's Fastest Indian, Anthony Hopkins plays the true story of New Zealander Burt Munro, a man who never let the dreams of youth fade. When Burt and his Indian were underway on their first record attempting run, the “tank slapper” came back and got stronger and stronger. His Indian already had been strained from the high speeds and going even faster now was an additional strain on the engine. It was in 1920 that Burt bought the motorbike love of his life – his Indian, which he would ride until his death in 1978. In 2005, director Roger Donaldson made a movie about his childhood hero and The World’s Fastest Indian became a global success. The documentary “Offerings to the God of Speed” and the movie “The World’s Fastest Indian” produced and directed by Roger Donaldson both are based on Burt Munro’s life. Naturally Burt added a workshop for his motorcycles to the property as his passion still was riding the bikes rather than selling them. Burt Munro’s arrival at the Salt Flats in 1971 – Permission Munro Family Collection. Although the MPEG-2 Blu-ray was an early release for the format, it's actually pretty good. “He just liked the personal challenge of making an old bike go faster,” says son, John Munro. Burt spent three months travelling around with Australasian racing friends before returning to New Zealand via USA in October 1955. more >, Weekly wind-on: your roundup of the stories that mattered in motorbikes this week, This week, Husqvarna have let us ride a prototype version of their Norden 901 model. Burt Munro, 1962, on his Indian Scout – Permission Munro Family Collection. “Like its eponym, the Burt is unique, combining seven forms of racing: beach, circuit, street, long track, sprint, hill climb and speedway. Sell, Bronwyn & Sheehy, Christine (2014). When he purchased the Indian its top speed was around 50 miles per hour. Lots of people ask me when I’m going to give it up (and) I say ‘I’m never going to give it up till I get a good run” Burt said about himself. We’ll never forget him.”, Burt Munro – Permission Munro Family Collection, “You can live more in five minutes on a motorcycle in some of these events I’ve been in than some people do in a lifetime.”, “I’ve always been working on my bike – even when it blows into hundreds of pieces – I just wade in again and start all over again. As described in George Begg’s book “Burt Munro: Indian legend of speed”, the New Zealander was told that he would have to pay 10,000 USD bond in order to import his bike into the States when he went to pick up his bike in Seattle. Besides his speed, the Kiwi from Invercargill was known for his “remarkable affinity with machinery”, his “uncanny ability to be able to see through a problem to a workable solution” and the “dogmatic persistence at everything he attempted” as friends recall. Beryl had tripped with a pot of boiling caustic soda for soap making and Burt caught most of the pot contents on his chest. He never grumped at me (…) and I wasn’t too fussed on him patting me on the head with his greasy old hands”. He got his Indian under control and set off again to break a record. In 1941 the racer suffered a bad accident, which forced him to take a one year break from racing and work. Burt made them a cup of tea using the water tank on the outside of the shed. The World’s Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins Tom Margie Flickr, Burt told Roger Donaldson film director and his cinematic champion: “I’ve always been working on my bike – even when it blows into hundreds of pieces – I just wade in again and start all over again. His second child Margaret also was born in Australia, Glebe two years after that. In the same year of 1951 Burt raced at the NZ Open Beach Championship on December 8 at Oreti Beach. Anthony Hopkins stars as Burt Munro, a man who never let the dreams of youth fade. “We (were) greeted by a scruffy elderly gentleman with a wicked twinkle in his eyes and a broad, winning smile. It stars Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro, a fellow who reworked and modified a 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle over a period of nearly 40 years and then went on to set a world speed record for 1,000cc bikes at Bonneville with it in the late 1960s. It was then that the typical Burt Munro luck struck and Mr McPherson, a solicitor, took on Burt’s case for free. Self-taught New Zealand engineer Burt Munro spent 46 years developing an Indian Scout in his shed and travelled to Bonneville Salt Flats in America to set a new world record of 183.58mph – the fastest speed ever recorded by the marque. more >, Moto Guzzi unveil major changes to V9 range, Moto Guzzi have announced that their mid-range V9 duo, the Bobber and Roamer, have received a... Whether literally on-island or virtually off-shore (we call the New Zealand community that doesn’t live in Aotearoa "NEONZ"). Stopping was out of the question for Burt. NZEDGE.COM EXECUTIVE EDITOR BRIAN SWEENEY, Economics has a reputation for being a boring topic but the life and career of New Zealand born economist A W H Phillips was anything but boring. more >, Bauer Media Group consists of: Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number: 01176085, Bauer Radio Ltd, Company Number: 1394141 The World’s Fastest Indian, Magnolia Studios, New Zealand. As described in notes to the Te Papa exhibition “A Bike, a Shed, and Burt Munro,” Burt always had been very creative when it came to modifying or fixing his motorcycles. He “replaced the barrels, pistons, lubrication system, and flywheels with some of his own making (and) also designed a 4 cam to replace the original 2 cam design”. One time the spring catch on the bonnet let go and flew up so that Burt could not see anything in front of him. Apart from speed and machinery, Burt also is said to have been quite a ladies man. “At the time the council had a stipulated minimum stud height of eight feet in a domestic dwelling”, as described in Tim Hanna’s One Good Run: The Legend of Burt Munro. Please submit here your location and occupation. After a lifetime perfecting his classic 1920 Indian motorcycle, Munro sets off from New Zealand to test his bike at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Burt was the first to arrive in Wendover in 1962, which was close to the Salt Flats: He was all set to start. This time one of the Indian’s pistons blew up during his qualification ride, where he recorded 184 miles per hour. Even though Burt felt he was getting older, he wanted to attempt another record at the Speed Week one last time. Roger Donaldson remembers the first time he met Burt Munro. Donaldson’s interest into the Invercargill man’s life had been sparked after making the documentary “Offerings to the God of Speed”. In 1967, 68-year-old New Zealand native Burt Munro made motorcycle history by setting a new official land speed record - 184.087 mph with unofficial top speed of 205.67 mph—when he raced his heavily modified 1920 Indian Scout Streamliner across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, U.S.A. If you don’t put an effort in at anything you might as well be a vegetable.”. Therefore racers had to qualify as high-speed racers and undergo a pre-race check in order to be allowed to run for. inch 1000 class Burt could finally compete again. “I guess I am a fanatic or an enthusiast. The engine was housed in a double down-tube cradle frame which had no rear suspension but there was about two inches of travel at the front thanks to a leaf spring. To pay tribute to The World’s Fastest Indian, America’s first motorcycle company has created a homage to Burt’s old bike using the new Scout as its base. With 183.586 mph he broke the SA– 1000 class record, which he still holds today. In 1915 the farms horses were not enough anymore. “I guess I am a fanatic or an enthusiast. Burt Munro Biography, Life, Interesting Facts. Blu-ray Video Quality – The presentation is decent for the most part although some of the scenes set in the dark of Burt Munro's shed are thick with grain. Invercargill, at the far southern end of New Zealand. “He had a heart problem and didn’t feel good. The following year, Burt was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The World's Fastest Indian's producers had to recreate Burt's Bainfield Rd workshop among the old State Houses on Lithgow St. About Using the stories of those who knew him, they recreated the small shed in which he lived and turned a motorbike, designed to go 50 … more >, Bringing the thunder: Aprilia unveil 2021 Tuono V4 and V4 Factory, The 2021 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory has been unveiled with styling updates, chassis tweaks and a more... In an interview with Roger Donaldson Margaret told him how proud she had been of her father. Margaret told Roger Donaldson that she “used to worry about him living in that shed (but…) he didn’t spend the winters there – he would go away to the States about April or May each year and come back around November. Williams, Tony (2006). Allen & Unwin, Auckland. He was accompanied by the two world record breakers Russel Wright and Bob Burns when he fell in love with America, its people, its culture and of course the Salt Flats in Bonneville. He's my hero ! I know (dad) is always breaking down, but he’s very happy working away (…). Registered Office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA H Bauer Publishing, Burt Munro, however, did the unthinkable. I’m happy doing that. 1945 was a year of changes for Burt. Burt wanted to build with a height of seven feet as otherwise he would have to pay for extra heating. When getting his bike checked Burt encountered another obstacle resulting from his unconventional bike building and modifying methods. In 1967 Burt found that he was ready: It was time again to travel to America. Over the years he would make his own barrels, pistons, flywheels, cams and followers, and even his own lubrication system – all on a shoestring. He broke the National Speed record – 61 cu inch 1000 class with an average speed of 168.066 mph. Some people might have given up racing after that experience. When Burt finally was able to compete, he experienced engine problems and again had to hold off and fix his bike. Some even say that he was going 195mph at one point. Great story to go with world record holder, Burt Munro statue, but a very brief stop. In the subsequent ten years Burt was able to raise that record to 132.32mph and also won the standing ¼ mile sprint in Timaru, New Zealand with just 13.1 seconds. “He made cylinder linings out of cast-iron drain pipes and fabricated con-rods from steel Ford-motorcar axles. Used parts of motorbikes were lined up on a shelf, which he called “Offerings to the God of Speed”. To make a flywheel he cut a coin-sized slice from a hydraulic ram, and used a steam-driven hammer to flatten it out to about 180mm diameter… He made high-speed tyres by carving the treads off factory-made racing tyres.”. Every other person would have probably given up when encountering the challenges Burt did when he arrived in the United States – but not Burt. So he packed up his things and travelled to the USA with the same bike – the same Indian he had bought in 1920. When he was born, doctors did not have a lot of confidence in Burt’s survival as his twin sister was still born. He could not see where he was or where he was going. I said, ‘Well, I should be dead long ago, but I’m so pleased to be alive I can’t help laughing!’”, One of the guys present, an air force officer made a remark, which according to Burt “saved (himself) twice later.”. This, however, did not remain the only obstacle the fastest Kiwi had to face as many of Burt’s friends recall inter alia George Begg in his book “Burt Munro: Indian legend of speed”. Despite advice from others Burt did not want to improve his brakes. From then on record after record flew Burt’s way. He is said to have tested his health by running up an escalator going down – if he could beat the escalator he was still fit to go for races. 1970 became the year when Burt’s life was recognised the most with a plague from New Zealand Auto Cycle Union honouring his contribution to Motor Cycling. As a result he could not go for the record before fixing his beloved Indian. Burt and his wife Beryl, 1937 – Permission Munro Family Collection, In 1926 Burt modified his Indian for the very first time. Instead of the recorded 183.586 mph, Burt’s average speed had been 184.710 on his North Run and 183.463 on his South Run. Burt Munro: Indian legend of speed, Begg & Allen, Christchurch. Burt arrives at Bonneville in 1962- Permission Martin Dickerson. London Still stopping was no option. Just like on his previous runs, he lost orientation. In one of his scrapbooks Burt recalls that his father was not happy about his attempts. Within a month, he’d dumped the sidecar and was racing the 6hp V- twin at local events. “He liked to confound the experts – if someone told him it couldn’t be done, he liked to prove otherwise. New York. Jan 5, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by jimmy me. Burt on his Indian qualified with an incredible 190.06 mph. To date, no one has ever gone faster on an Indian – except Burt himself. Throw in live music, food, camping and Invercargill’s famous hospitality, and you’ve got one of the most colourful motorsport festivals ever conceived”. Company Number: LP003328 Registered Office: Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, London, NW1 7DT. Luckily he still had his Velocette, which he rode extensively whilst in New Zealand. In the years after that it seemed that Burt’s luck had run out. The store’s late owner, Irving Hayes, bought his old friend’s bike after Munro passed away and put it in his shop – E. Hayes & Sons Ltd. His grandson now continues that tradition. Miraculously it worked: To the amazement of his friends Burt passed the inspection and was ready to go. He tested it by aiming at a packing case he had positioned in front of the shed. Was he still racing in the right direction? In his free time the motorcyclist competed at the many New Zealand beach races on his Indian. Updated record certificate, 1967, Permission Munro Family Collection. Hopkins plays real-life motorcycle maven Burt Munro, a 63-year-old codger who lives alone in a shed on an overgrown lot in Invercargill, New Zealand where he tinkers endlessly on his 1920 Indian motorcycle, forging pistons in the quest for speed. Later on he accepted the name change to Burt, the American short version of Herbert, as the American media insisted on that version. A larger-than-life bronze sculpture of Burt Munro on his Indian motorcycle. Indian Summers, Sunday Star Times, November 14. Scopri (e salva) i tuoi Pin su Pinterest. There was an old couch we used to sit on – the Indian bike was in the middle and the shelves were full of parts of all kinds.”. So - barring that; what Burt Munro things can we do/see instead? Burt, however, did not get taken as it had been found that a father of four children should stay with his family. It's the late 1960s and two blokes sit in a modest shed drinking tea. It was designed from the ground up to house the new Thunder Stroke™ 111 engine and showcase its awe-inspiring power and performance.”, On behalf of his friends Frank Oddo wrote in his obituary “Even though most of his life was well spent some ten thousand miles away, he touched ours more than a little. 20-mar-2013 - Questo Pin è stato scoperto da Chris Zucker. Following the call for volunteers he went “down to the drill” to attend medical examinations which were part of the selection process. Burt Munro, 1930, at the Oreti Beach Races – Permission Munro Family Collection. “The Indian was actually a 1919 model,” says Burt Munro’s son, John. more >, F1 tech for future Hondas: Prechamber combustion to maximise fuel efficiency, Honda are looking to Formula 1 car racing to address the demand for ever-cleaner engines – with a... Burt had very clear ideas as to how his new home should look. Begg, George (2004). In 1957 he left New Zealand again to travel to the famous salt flats at Bonneville, Utah in the United States. From then on the travel bug had truly bitten Burt. In New Zealand the Southlander was known as Bert for his entire life. VAT no 918 5617 01 The air force officer told the New Zealander that he had “shifted the centre of gravity back and that made (the Indian) go straight”. It was “all or nothing”. Over the following 45 years of rebuilding and tuning Burt managed to make it go in excess of 200 mph – four times its original speed. In June 1968 he had travelled to the Salt Flats again. With that it was settled: Burt could stay. Dubai Engineer, crocodile hunter, innovator…. The World's Fastest Indian His parents owned a farm east of Invercargill and it was here that Burt discovered his love of and need for speed on the back of the farm’s fastest horse. Again salt had been thrown up in front of him from his shaking tyres. Answer 1 of 12: So sad to hear about the closure of the Southland Museum (https://southlandmuseum.co.nz), when a huge portion of our trip to Invercargill was to visit this motorcycle mecca. Another story has that Burt saved the brakes on his car by opening the doors as natural brakes to not run them down. “There’s a lot of famous names at the museum, but he’s the only New Zealander here”.