Description

The Munro Special

Herbert James "Burt" Munro (Bert in his youth; 25 March 1899 – 6 January 1978) was a motorcycle racer from New Zealand, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, on August 26, 1967. This record still stands. Munro was 68 and was riding a 47-year-old machine when he set his last record.

Working from his home in Invercargill, he spent 20 years highly modifying the 1920 Indian Scout (motorcycle) that he had bought that year. Munro set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938, and later set seven more. He 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.

His efforts, and success, are the basis of the film The World's Fastest Indian (2005), starring Anthony Hopkins, and an earlier 1971 short documentary film Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed, both directed by Roger Donaldson.




Munro's Indian Scout was an early model, the 627th Scout to leave the American factory.