Burt Munro

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Image:Burtmunro1920indian.JPG

Herbert James Munro (25 March 1899 in Edendale, Invercargill, New Zealand – 6 January 1978 in Invercargill) set the under-1000 cc world land speed record, which still stands, in 1967 at Bonneville Salt Flats with a self-modified Indian motorcycle. His effort to set the record is the basis of the motion picture The World's Fastest Indian (2005) starring Anthony Hopkins.

He had four children, John, June, Margaret, and Gwen, with his wife Florence Beryl Martyn, whom he married in 1927.

[edit] Records

In 1962 he set a world record of 288 km/h (178.97 mph) with his engine bored out to 51 in³ (850 cc).
In 1967 his engine was bored out to 58 in³ (950 cc) and he set a class record of 295.44 km/h (183.58 mph). To qualify he made a one-way run of 190.07 mph, the fastest ever officially recorded speed on an Indian. (unofficial speed record is 331 km/h (205.67 mph))
In 2006 he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

[edit] Quote

"At the Salt in 1967 we were going like a bomb. Then she got the wobbles just over half way through the run. To slow her down I sat up. The wind tore my goggles off and the blast forced my eyeballs back into my head - couldn't see a thing. We were so far off the black line that we missed a steel marker stake by inches. I put her down - a few scratches all round but nothing much else." -- about his record run, traveling at close to 331 km/h (205.67 mph).