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511:, based on a composite of his Bonneville speed runs. This film depicts a determined old man who, despite facing many difficulties, travels from New Zealand to the USA to test run his motorcycle west of the Great Salt Lake. The disclaimer says: "While this motion picture is based upon historical events, certain characters names have been changed, some main characters are composites or invented and a number of incidents fictionalised."
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Munro's interest in speed began at an early age, riding the family's fastest horse across the farm, despite the complaints of his father. Trips via train to the
Invercargill port were a rare source of excitement, and the arrival of cars, motorcycles and aircraft added to Burt's eagerness to join the
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A son of
William Munro (1870–1949) and Lily Agnes Munro (1875–1967), he had two brothers and three sisters, Eva, Ruby and the novelist Florence Preston. The accidental death of his older brother at the age of 13 had a profound effect on his life. Munro and Florence Beryl Martyn were married in 1927
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Munro travelled to
Bonneville fourteen times, the first 3 times for "sightseeing" purposes. In the nine times he raced at Bonneville, Munro set three world records: in 1962, in 1966 and in 1967. He also once qualified at over 200 mph (320 km/h), but that was an unofficial run and was not
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since the late 1950s, Munro had a stroke in 1977, and was admitted to hospital. He found his coordination had diminished. Frustrated, but wanting his motorcycles to remain in
Southland, he sold both machines to his friend, Norman Hayes, of E. Hayes & Sons. Munro died of natural causes on 6
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Inspired by the 2005 film, the
Invercargill Motorcycle Club has held a "Burt Munro Challenge" motorcycle competition annually since 2006 (except 2007, 2017 and 2022). The 2023 event ran for four days, including a hill climb, drag racing, beach racing, sprint, speedway and street racing.
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In 1967, his engine was bored out to 953cc and he set an under 1000cc class record of 184.087 mph (2 way average). To qualify he made a one-way run of 184 mph then later on he re qualified at 190.070 mph (305.88 km/h). His highest recorded measured mile was 188 mph (302.557
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At
Bonneville in 1971 Burt ran the Indian on the salt for the last time ever. Due to new and very strict streamliner rules, he couldn't run with the fiberglass body. Without the shell the Indian was now seriously over-geared, and he ran his last run at 148.51 mph (239.036
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as well), then he would go to work in the morning, having had no sleep. Being of modest means, he would often make his own parts and tools instead of having them professionally built. He would cast parts in old tins, make his own barrels, pistons, flywheels, and such; his
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In 1963, during his first run, the Indian's v-twin blew up at over 195 mph (313.882 km/h), ending his S-A 883cc record attempts for 1963. His qualifying run was right before then, during which Burt turned in 183.673 mph (295.61 km/h). His Indian was still at
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Bonneville 1970, he decided to switch his fuel from the methanol which he always ran his Indian on to nitromethane. Even after making several needed adjustments, the v-twin still burned up all his spare pistons. His Indian was bumped up to
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In 1969, he recorded two runs at 191 mph. He couldn't complete a return run due to unforeseen mechanical issues, which meant no new record. After 14 test runs on the salt in 4 days, he ran out of time. His Indian was now at
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from New
Zealand, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, on 26 August 1967. This record still stands; Munro was 68 and was riding a 47-year-old machine when he set his last record.
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was an early model, the 627th Scout to leave the
American factory. The bike had an original top speed of 55 mph (89 km/h), but this did not satisfy Munro, so in 1926 he began to modify the bike.
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In 1966, he set a 1000cc class record of 168.66 mph (2 way average) with his engine at 905cc. His unofficial top speed was 212 mph (341.181 km/h), his qualifying speed was 172 mph (270.807, km/h).
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Munro's two greatest challenges while modifying his bike were his lack of money and that he worked full-time as a motorcycle salesman. He would often work overnight on his bikes (he had a 1936
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In 2014, 36 years after his death, he was posthumously awarded a 1967 record of 184.087 mph (296.2593 km/h) after his son John noticed a calculation error by AMA at that time.
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world outside his farm. As Munro's family discouraged his endeavours outside farm life, he became constantly bored with daily routine. At the outbreak of the
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The E. Hayes hardware store in
Invercargill maintains a free motorcycle museum featuring Munro and his work, including the original "Munro Special" Indian.
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Bonneville 1968 was another not so good year for him. The best he could coax from the Indian was a lousy 155 mph (249.448 km/h) due to magneto issues.
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In its final stages, the Indian's displacement was 950 cc (as built it was 600 cc) and was driven by a triple chain drive system.
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Munro remained on the family farm until the end of the First World War, when his father sold the farm. At that time, Munro worked on the
166:, attempting to set world speed records. During his ten visits to the salt flats, he set three speed records, one of which still stands.
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547:. The motorcycle was built to showcase the Thunder Stroke 111 engine to be used in one of the 2014 road models. The company said the
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At
Bonneville in 1964, he ran 184 mph qualifying run before bad weather ended speed week for the year. His Indian was now 871cc.
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A replica of the 1920 Indian (with half the exterior removed to show detail) that Burt Munro used to set his record in 1967
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Following the misspelling of his name in an American motorcycling magazine in 1957, Bert Munro changed his name to Burt.
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construction until recalled to work with his father on a newly purchased farm. After this he became a professional
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E Hayes and Sons: The World's Fastest Indian Exhibition (original motorcycles), The World's Fastest Indian Legend
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January 1978, aged 78 years. He is buried at Invercargill's Eastern Cemetery, with his parents and brother.
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In 1962, he set an 883cc class record of 178.971 mph (2 way average) with his engine bored out to 853cc.
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Bonneville 1965 was a zero year for him, as he had some low speed runs in the high 160 mph range.
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The "Munro Special," as Munro called his bike, is now owned by Neville Hayes, in New Zealand's
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was a tribute to Munro's achievements with the Indian Scout and to all Indians of old.
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https://www.ehayes.co.nz/motorworks-collection/hayes-motorworks-collection-__I.26222
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The World's Fastest Indian, The Munro Special. A Tribute to H.J 'Burt' Munro
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In 1975, he made his 14th and final trip to Bonneville, as a spectator.
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announced that it was producing a custom-built streamliner named the
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that he had bought that same year. Munro set his first New Zealand
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in 1938 and later set seven more. He travelled to compete at the
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rider, but returned home to the family farm at the start of the
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His efforts, and success, are the basis of the film
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in his youth; 25 March 1899 – 6 January 1978) was a
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841:"Burt Munro Breaks Record 36 Years After Death"
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154:, he spent 20 years highly modifying his 1920
179:, and an earlier 1971 short documentary film
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505:Burt Munro was the subject of a 2005 film,
195:Munro was born in 1899 to William Munro, a
85:Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, New Zealand
939:"World's newest Indian honours Burt Munro"
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31:
1059:Burials at Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill
1023:, courtesy of "Classic Bike" magazine to
658:Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed
403:Learn how and when to remove this message
289:Munro's Indian on display in Invercargill
181:Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed
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824:. Invercargill: Fairfax. Archived from
765:George Wilson. "Last year marked Bert's
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211:and settled on a farm in Invercargill.
1074:New Zealand people of Scottish descent
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577:One good run: The legend of Burt Munro
920:"Indian Motorcycle 'Spirit of Munro'"
770:". Accessed and added 22 October 2014
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899:"The E. Hayes Motorworks Collection"
798:from the original on 8 February 2021
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312:Bonneville Salt Flats and Speed Week
1064:Motorcycle land speed record people
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632:"Bonneville certified bike records"
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1017:more detailed biography and photos
967:Burt Munro: Indian Legend of Speed
838:
524:The E. Hayes Motorworks Collection
476:In 2006, he was inducted into the
375:tone or style may not reflect the
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1069:20th-century New Zealand farmers
711:. tepapa.govt.nz. Archived from
709:"A Bike, a Shed, and Burt Munro"
385:guide to writing better articles
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677:Burt Munro:The Lost Interviews
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1079:New Zealand motorcycle racers
998:Offerings to the God of Speed
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822:Southland Times photo archive
794:. Invercargill City Council.
759:, 20 April 1967, pp. 482–484
252:
190:
937:Dave Moore (30 March 2013).
674:Birss, Neill (30 May 2016).
16:New Zealand motorcycle racer
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818:"2006 Burt Munro Challenge"
780:Hayes Motorworks Collection
199:and Lily Agnes Robinson in
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987:The World's Fastest Indian
737:E Hayes & Sons website
508:The World's Fastest Indian
500:The World's Fastest Indian
172:The World's Fastest Indian
136:Herbert James "Burt" Munro
680:. Penguin Books Limited.
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150:Working from his home in
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76:Invercargill, New Zealand
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1084:People from Invercargill
1025:Granite State BMW Riders
742:25 February 2009 at the
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515:The Burt Munro Challenge
111:Land Speed record holder
1009:Motorcycle Hall of Fame
481:Motorcycle Hall of Fame
300:, and is on display at
871:"Burt Munro Challenge"
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119:Florence Beryl Martyn
96:New Zealand Home Guard
768:ninth Stateside visit
549:Spirit of Munro Scout
318:Bonneville Salt Flats
288:
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164:Bonneville Salt Flats
1015:Burt Munro Biography
969:, George Begg (2002)
875:Burt Munro Challenge
121:(m. 1927; div. 1947)
44:Herbert James Munro
638:on 24 February 2020
183:, both directed by
101:Motorcycle salesman
1089:Mechanics (people)
828:on 19 August 2010.
532:2013 Indian named
302:E Hayes & Sons
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282:was an old spoke.
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851:on 13 August 2014
792:"Cemetery result"
715:on 1 October 2009
541:Indian Motorcycle
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379:used on Knowledge
377:encyclopedic tone
175:(2005), starring
156:Indian motorcycle
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320:in northwestern
247:Second World War
232:Great Depression
144:motorcycle racer
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539:In March 2013,
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177:Anthony Hopkins
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54:25 March 1899
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298:South Island
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267:Indian Scout
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201:Invercargill
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160:speed record
152:Invercargill
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71:(1978-01-06)
58:Invercargill
18:
1054:1978 deaths
1049:1899 births
943:stuff.co.nz
904:9 September
880:9 September
756:Motor Cycle
693:21 November
642:27 November
347:Having had
236:Oreti Beach
1043:Categories
1030:Burt Munro
960:References
802:8 February
589:0143019740
575:Tim Hanna
326:Speed Week
280:micrometer
253:Challenges
245:After the
191:Early life
50:1899-03-25
25:Burt Munro
855:11 August
332:counted.
240:Melbourne
116:Spouse(s)
93:Carpenter
948:30 March
924:BikeEXIF
796:Archived
740:Archived
583:, 2005;
265:Munro's
228:speedway
209:Scotland
205:Edendale
126:Children
103:Mechanic
761:Dragnut
660:at IMDB
719:1 July
684:
587:
493:Legacy
466:km/h).
460:985cc.
454:965cc.
443:km/h).
422:853cc.
349:angina
197:farmer
555:Notes
1003:IMDb
992:IMDb
950:2013
906:2023
882:2023
857:2014
804:2021
721:2009
695:2022
682:ISBN
644:2015
585:ISBN
322:Utah
316:The
140:Bert
66:Died
40:Born
1032:at
1001:at
990:at
763:by
478:AMA
1045::
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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