Burt Munro

Herbert (Burt) James Munro (25 March 1899–6 January 1978) was a New Zealand motorcycle racer, famous for setting an under-1000cc world record, 183.586mph, at Bonneville, 26 August 1967 [ [http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/index5.htm 1967 World Record] ] . This record still stands today. Burt Monro was 67 and was riding a 46-year old machine when he set his last record. [ [http://www.scta-bni.org/SCTA-NewWeb/Bonneville/BNIrecs_bikes.htm Bonneville certified bike records] ]

Working from his home in Invercargill, he highly modified the Indian motorcycle, which he had bought in 1920, for over 20 years. Burt set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938, but later set seven more. Burt travelled to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats, attempting to set world speed records. During his ten visits to the salt flats, he set three speed records, one of which still stands today. His efforts, and success, are the basis of the motion picture "The World's Fastest Indian" (2005), starring Anthony Hopkins, and an earlier 1971 short documentary film "Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed" [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0877328/ Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed at IMDB] ] —both directed by Roger Donaldson.

He had four children—John, June, Margaret and Gwen—with his wife Florence Beryl Martyn, whom he married in 1927, and divorced in the mid 1940s.

He died on 6th January 1978, aged 78, of natural causes.

Records

*In 1962 he set a world record of 288 km/h (178.97 mph) with his engine bored out to 850 cc (51 in³).
*In 1966 he set a world record of 168.066 mph.Fact|date=September 2008
*In 1967 his engine was bored out to 950 cc (58 in³) and he set a class record of 295.44 km/h (183.59 mph). To qualify he made a one-way run of 305.89 km/h (190.07 mph), the fastest-ever officially-recorded speed on an Indian. The unofficial speed record (officially timed) is 331 km/h (205.67 mph) for a flying mile. [Dave Blackwell, " [http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/munro.htm The World's Fastest Indian, The Munro Special. A Tribute to H.J Munro, a.k.a 'Burt' Munro] "]
*In 2006 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Challenges

Burt Munro’s Indian Scout was very early off the production line, being only the 627th Scout to leave the American factory.Fact|date=September 2008 The bike wasn’t a very fast model, and in original condition, would have been lucky to achieve 60mph.Fact|date=September 2008 So in 1926, Burt made the decision to start modifying his beloved Indian.

The biggest two challenges for Burt to overcome whilst modifying his bike were his lack of much needed money, and the fact that he worked full time as a motorcycle salesman.Fact|date=September 2008 He would often work overnight on his bikes (he had a 1936 MSS Velocette as well), then in the morning, he would head off to work, having had no sleep the night before.

Burt began modifying his bike in 1926. Because Burt was a man of modest means, he would often make parts and tools for himself instead of having them professionally built. For example he would cast parts in old tins, make his own barrels, pistons, flywheels, etc. His micrometer (a precision measuring instrument) was an old spoke [ [http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/munro.htm Development Days -- Indian Motorbikes] ] .

In its final stages, the Indian sat at 950cc, (in its original state it was 600cc), and was driven by a triple chain drive system.Fact|date=September 2008

Bonneville Salt Flats and Speed Week

The Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah, are known worldwide for their miles and miles of flat, compacted salt, the perfect place to test out speed machines.

Speed Week, usually in mid-late August, is when vehicle enthusiasts from around the world flock to Bonneville for a week of racing, and to see how fast their machines will really go.

Burt travelled to Bonneville 10 times; the first time being for ‘sightseeing’ purposes. In the 10 times he raced at BonnevilleFact|date=September 2008, Burt set three world records, in 1962, 1966 and 1967. He also once qualified at over convert|200|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on, but that was an unofficial run, and unfortunately, was not counted.

References

Books

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

Film

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World's_Fastest_Indian The 2005 cinematography awarded film "World's Fastest Indian"]

External links

* [http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/munro.htm Burt Munro: A New Zealand Legend]
* [http://www.ehayes.co.nz/burtmunro The Worlds Fastest Indian Legend]
* [http://www.indianmotorbikes.com/features/munro/munro.htm A Tribute to H.J Munro, a.k.a 'Burt' Munro]
* [http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/ Indian Motorcycle website]
*imdb title|id=0412080|title=The World's Fastest Indian
*imdb title|id=0877328|title=Offerings to the God of Speed, a documentary
* [http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=381 Motorcycle Hall of Fame] bio and photos
* [http://www.freeinfosociety.com/site.php?postnum=2075 Burt Munro Biography] more detailed biography and photos
* [http://ns2.webmasters.com/*gsbmwr.org/httpdocs/Archives/Munro.pdf “Hero!” article] , from “Classic Bike” magazine courtesy of [http://www.gsbmwr.org Granite State BMW Riders]