Burt Munro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Herbert James Munro (25 March 1899 Invercargill, New Zealand – 6 January 1978 in Invercargill) had set the under-1000 cc world motorcycle 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. The unofficial speed record is 331 km/h (205.67 mph).[1]
- In 2006 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
[edit] References
- ^ Dave Blackwell, The Worlds Fastest Indian, The Munro Special. A Tribute to H.J Munro, a.k.a 'Burt' Munro, Indianmortorbikes.com.
[edit] External links
- Burt Munro: A New Zealand Legend
- Indian Motorcycle website
- The World's Fastest Indian at the Internet Movie Database
- Motorcycle Hall of Fame
 |
This New Zealand biographical article relating to sports is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
