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Top 10 Surprising Facts about Burt Munro

Herbert James “Burt” Munro was a motorcycle racer from New Zealand, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, on the 26th of August 1967. This record still stands; Munro was 68 and was riding a 47-year-old machine when he set his last record.

Burt Munro became a particularly memorable figure in motorsports because he overcame long odds, had exceptional mechanical skill, was totally original and, despite nearly no financial resources, managed to achieve what he set out to do.

There is a lot worth knowing about this enigmatic man, and below we discuss the top 10 Surprising facts about Burt Munro;

1. Munro had a twin

Newborn, two twins hugging each other – Unsplash

Burt Munro was born in 1899 to William Munro, a farmer and Lily Agnes Robinson in Invercargill. Unfortunately, his twin sister died at birth, and Burt himself was not expected to live beyond the age of two.

Fortunately, Munro lived a long, exciting life. He married Beryl Martyn in 1927 and had four children, June, Margaret, Gwen and John. They were divorced in 1947. He set and reset several speed records on some of the world鈥檚 most famous tracks.

Finally, he died at the age of 78 of natural causes.

2. Burt was raised on a farm

People working on farm – Unsplash

It is hard to imagine that an ageless speed merchant grew up on a farm in Edendale, east of Invercargill and his family discouraged him from endeavors outside farm life.

Having a grandfather who was from Northern Scotland and later settled on a farm in Invercargill (the commercial center of the Southland region of New Zealand) probably ignited the farming heritage latent in Munro鈥檚 lineage.

Munro was constantly bored with the daily farm routine. The arrival of cars, motorcycles and aircraft added to Burt’s eagerness to join the world outside his farm.

Burt remained on the family farm until the end of the First World War, when his father sold the farm.

3. An article misspelling inspired his current name

Today we know the legendary New Zealand racing icon as Burt Munro, but he was born Herbert James Munro. As a child, his name Herbert was shortened to Bert.

Now, the question is how did he become known as Burt? Following the misspelling of his name in an American motorcycling magazine in 1957, Bert Munro changed his name to Burt.

4. Burt鈥檚 record still stands today

Bonneville salt flats – Wikimedia Commons

In total, Munro made 10 appearances at the Bonneville, and he set three speed records while at it. In 1962, with an engine that has been bored out to 850cc, Munro set a 883cc class record of 178.95 mph. That was followed by a 1000 cc class record of 168.07 mph with his 920cc engine in 1966.

However, the most glorious of Munro鈥檚 Bonneville feats was recorded in 1967. Campaigning his modified 950 cc Indian engine for 1000 cc class record, Munro set a record of 184.087 mph.

More than 50 years after it was set, Burt鈥檚 land speed record, set with his modified 1920 Indian Scout Streamliner, remains unbroken.

5. Burt built The World’s Fastest Indian

A replica of the 1920 Indian (with half the exterior removed to show detail) that Burt Munro used to set his record in 1967 – Wikipedia

Munro rode mainly two bikes; a 1936 Velocette and the famous Indian Scout he bought in 1920, which has a top speed of about 55 mph.

In 1926 Burt began to modify his beloved Indian. 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 micrometer was an old spoke.

In qualifying for the main event, he did a 190.07 mph one-way run, clinching the fastest ever speed officially recorded on any Indian.

Munro was able to quadrupled the original speed of 55 mph, making The “Munro Special,” as Munro called his bike, the world鈥檚 fastest Indian Scout.

6. Burt sold his iconic Indian

Having suffered from angina since the late 1950s, Munro suffered 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 鈥� an Invercargill-based company that claims to be New Zealand鈥檚 biggest independent Hammer Hardware and TradeZone Industrial store.

Burt鈥檚 鈥楳unro Special鈥� modified Indian motorcycle company bike, or 鈥渢he World鈥檚 Fastest Indian鈥�, is on display today at the E. Hayes & Sons, Invercargill.

7. Burt broke his legendary world record at 68 years

Munro’s Indian on display in Invercargill – Wikipedia

In 1948 as Burt Munro resigned into his shelter to soup up his motorcycles, he said 鈥淚鈥檒l never give up until I鈥檝e had a good run.鈥� He kept true to his word, as he later set an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, on the 26th of August 1967 when he was 68 years riding a 47-year-old machine.

His official record-breaking speed was 183 mph, though he made an unofficial run of 190 mph later. However, in 2014, 36 years after he died, his son noticed a calculation error in his records. After contacting the American Motorcycle Association, he had his father鈥檚 records changed to reflect that he had actually gone 184 miles per hour, rather than 183.

8. Inducted Into AMA Hall Of Fame

Motorcycle Hall of Fame sign – Wikipedia

In 2006 the AMA posthumously inducted Munro into the American Motorcycle Hall of Fame, with Munro鈥檚 son John in attendance to receive the medal.

Founded in 1924, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is a not-for-profit organization for motorcyclists tasked with coordinating motorcycling activities and campaigns for the legal rights of its members. With a strength of over 200,000 members, AMA has more than 1,100 chartered clubs, and its mission statement is 鈥渢o promote the motorcycling lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling.鈥�

9. Movies were made about Munro

The World’s Fastest Indian poster – Wikipedia

Burt Munro was the subject of a 2005 film, The World’s Fastest Indian, 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.

Munro鈥檚 struggles and eventual successes at the tracks inspired Roger Donaldson鈥檚 1971 documentary 鈥�Offerings to the Gods of Speed,鈥� a 30 minutes documentary about the life of the legendary New Zealand racer.

10. Indian Named a Motorcycle In Burt鈥檚 Honor

Munro鈥檚 greatest speed racing achievements were recorded with his Indian Scout, hence in his honor the Indian Motorcycle Company custom-built streamliner 鈥�Spirit of Munro.鈥�

In March 2013, Indian Motorcycle announced that it was producing a custom-built streamliner named the Spirit of Munro. The company said the Spirit of Munro Scout was a tribute to Munro’s achievements with the Indian Scout and to all Indians of old.

The Spirit of Munro Scout was built to showcase the Thunder Stroke 111 engine to be used in one of the 2014 road models.