Myself and three other keen Aussie motor cyclists called in to see Burt in 1961 in his shed/workshop/ bedroom and he regaled us with stories about his exploits with the Indian. We were advised to call in by Len Coulthard and Len Perry, figure heads themselves in New Zealand motorcycling history The producer of the film knew Burt well and had investigated making a film years earlier.I made notes in my travel diary, which I still have and from which I have written articles for club newsletters. Look back in your life and think about the standouts you have met, and Burt is among mine. A friend of mine , also a brilliant engineer, reckoned that Burt repeated his mistakes and that may be so but he was working with limited finance and materials one must give him some latitude. So glad and satisfying to meet Burt.
To have the success Burt had with the equipment and materials that were available not only shows his engineering prowess, but his resourcefulness and his ability to adapt.
We'll chat about Rollie Free or Glenn Curtis or Don Vesco over beers around the garage, but the name of Burt Munro always gets a moment of silence and a toast. 68 yrs old, on a 47yr old bike, doing 200mph? That kind of legend casts one long shadow. Imagine modding a 1975 iron head Sportster to do 200mph today. In your garage. Just you.
Even tho I love Cars and workin on them, I can't help but love this bike's story. This is also done with a bike UNDER 1000cc, which is damn near impossible today, hell the tribute bike for the indian couldn't beat the record Burt set. Its an amazing bike
No one ever would beat Burt Munro's genius engineering. The fact that he did everything on his own is an ultimate outstanding, unbeatable. I'm an Asian fom the other side of the world, Kuching Sarawak and I feel a great respect for Burt Munro. He is a god of speed of all time... 💯
Burt called into our home once, and he could talk. Burt was hearing impaired from all that workshop noise and bike testing, thus he spoke louder to compensate for that.
if ever the term 'Carpe Diem' applied to a man, then Burt Munro was the epitome. not only did he seize the day with both hands everyday. The legend truly seized his dreams too. we still can't reach the place where Burt was dreaming. A genuine bonafide genius.
well burt had his offerings to the god of speed.... in my oppinion burt munro IS the god of speed. he has a heart for his bike... and he did absolutely everything to make it go fast.
This man had balls of steel and defied every rule ever made. The definition of a rebel. True hero. He should have songs written about him like Stagga Lee. He will. He's legendary. Nobody came close.
This was from Roger Donaldson's original movie about Burt which lead to the the later movie. The tune starting at 21:20 s so perfect...anticipation, dread, wonder...
LEGEND! My dad is just the same way with DN iceboat racing. 87 years old and still obsessed with pushing the limits. Burt's children recounting stories of being raised by a radical innovator hit home.
We can say we're proud to be kiwis on the back of his achievements but burt was a very special breed a hall of famer in the same group of kiwis like Bruce McClaren, Denny Hulmes, Chris Amos, Ivan Major, Barry Briggs & hell even Kenny Smith who still racing. All legends, going fast was always their aim. Speed Demons. Burt Record still ain't broken, truly a lap of the gods...both ways. Think we're proud of him because he was a kiwi. Good on ya Burt.
Anthony Hopkins did a nice job but Burt still reminds of my Uncle Adriaan. Especially when he's working in his Shed. I'm 55 he's like my mom's brother Adriaan. We are Dutch Imagrant post WWII don't doubt my Uncle saw Burt run Bonneville in person. Minimum he read about it. My Uncle was a thunderbolt Mechanic in the Dutch post war Air force loved speed. Work in a steel fabrication job in Salt Lake city form around the 1960's and has passed away . My favorite
Thankyou Fred for putting this Video up....never heard Burt talking before....what a man. Must try and find the Anthony Hopkins film again...lent it out some years ago....bugger never gave it back.
All the years the legendary Burt Munro was at Bonneville, from 1956-1975. 1956- Burt's 1st time at Bonneville, (spectator) 1957 - Burt's 2nd time at Bonneville,(spectator) 1959- Burt's 3rd time at Bonneville, ( still as a spectator), also in 1959 Burt first met the young Mickey Thompson, Mickey and Burt instantly warmed up to each other and became good friends. Burt then decided to debut with his Indian in either 1961 or 1962, it ended up being speed week of 1962. 1962- Burt's debut year - his Indian was 853cc, twin cam ( tail was 3 finned), S-A 883cc record at 178.971 mph (average). Burt's best measured mile was well over 180 mph. Burt also turned in speeds at over 171 mph, 175 mph and 179 mph, though for those 3 runs he wasn't going all out with his Indian. But Burt did eventually go full bore with his Indian for the first time ever at the salt that year. He was also named Sportsman of the year, and in total Burt did 53 miles on the salt in just 1962 alone. 1963- Burt made some big upgrades to his bike before Bonneville 1963, like converting his Indian to a 4 cam instead of the old 2 cam configuration from 1962. He also lowered the nose of the fiberglass streamIiner body for down force. Burt's Indian now has a large single mono- tail fin instead of the triple fin from the previous year, his qualifying went well at 183.673 mph, after the qualifying run Burt was jittery with excitement, since in his own words the engine was going like a bomb and the stability issues were a thing of the past, he knew he would be breaking 200 mph really soon. Burt's outward run was going very well at first as he was clearly exceeding his previous best speed. The salt was whizzing by so fast under the nose of his bike that it wasn't even blurred anymore, it was featureless. Burt compares the salt at speed to an ironed tablecloth, because the salt is just moving so fast that features cannot be seen. At that point he was doing over 190 mph, exhilarating at the fact that in any moment he was about to shatter the 200 mph mark which he had been working towards when unfortunately disaster struck, the front connecting rod broke, blowing the v-twin to pieces and ending his S-A 883cc record attempts for 1963. Burt got his Indian stopped in 1.5 miles with a total 3.5 miles of track used up as she blew up only 2 miles into the run. Burt was disappointed but just for the moment, when the timekeepers said he had averaged 184 mph in the mile and was doing a 195 mph plus at the end Burt was pleased as 184 mph and 195 mph was faster than he had ever gone before. Many years later in an interview in 1974, Burt talked about how the AMA said he recorded 195.5 mph on his 1963 blowup run. The Indian was still at 853cc. 1964- Burt enlarged the Indian to over 870cc, the Bonneville track was rough and terrible in 1964, doing a mere 40-50 mph Burt was taking a serious beating, he had to go low gear for a while then he put her in 2nd for another mile, slowly winding the throttle up, she started weaving as well so Burt kept sitting up to stabilize the bike while the Indian was getting faster and faster and faster. Burt still managed to coax enough control to qualify at 184 mph but bad weather the next day ended his chance of running for the record. Speed week 1964 was a total wash out, only 4 days of running before bad weather ended speed week for good. 1965- a zero year for Burt, he had some low speed runs in the 160 mph range. At the end of 1965 Burt decided to run in the 61 inch class, 1000cc, instead of the 55 inch class, 901cc. Burt said himself he probably only qualified once in 1965. 1966- S-A 1000cc record at 168.66 mph(average), qualifying at 172 mph, unofficial top speed at 212 mph, Burt's Indian was 905cc. Burt was not happy with such a slow average, considering he was doing way above a disappointing and low 168 mph on his runs when the Indian was at the speed wobbles. Still he had to take it as it was another record. 1967- Burt arrived in America in late June of 1967. He went to his friend Sam Pierce’s shop in San Gabriel California to work on the Indian. Burt lengthened the Indian’s tail fin and cut a nearly 10 inch diameter hole into the nose cone which directed air into the body through a 10 kilogram lead tunnel casted from the old weight he had attached to the front of the frame. He also created outlets towards the rear of the shell hoping the modifications would reduce the pressure wave coming off the front which he thought had prevented the tail from stabilizing the machine. Burt also hoped the extra weight would help his bike run true like an arrow. Burt also enlarged the v-twins displacement to 953cc. S-A 1000cc record at 184.087 mph(average), best measured mile at 188 mph, qualifying at 184/190.070 mph, he upped his old record by nearly 16 mph, earning himself top record breaker of 1967 and American motorcyclist of the year. He was still a little disappointed though. Burt knew the Indian had enough power to push it past 200 mph like it had done the year prior in 1966, but one of the problems was the salt which was unfortunately wet and heavy. He estimated on every run that there was about 110 pounds of salt caked on the bike, which was enough to slow the Indian down to well below it's potential top speed. 1968- Burt had carburetor issues, the Indian kept insisting on running rich, even with the main jet nearly closed she still wouldn't run right. Like Burt said himself he could only coax a lousy 155 mph from his machine. It was still a very interesting year though because Burt's good friend Mickey Thompson was on the salt post speed week 1968 with his 1200 horsepower 1969 Ford Mustang. Also Mickey gave Burt a ride at 11 pm one night in the Mustang. The speed was building up pretty quickly with Burt in the passenger seat, she started fishtailing at over 140 mph but Mickey pulled her back. After the litttle run Burt never got in a car with Mickey ever again but he was happy to watch his friend run though. After Burt got the Indian to where it seemed to be running like it's old self he decided to test his bike on the highway in Nevada that ran through Reno which had no speed limit at the time, he got pulled over after passing a cop at well over 100 mph, when the cop asked Burt on how fast he was going Burt replied with he was doing a lousy 160 miles an hour at best. Burt also told the officer that he had already run at over 200 miles an hour and doing 160 is like a stroll in the bloody park. After that Burt gave up for 1968 because the Indian was not running good and it was pointless to run it any further on the salt. 1969-For this speed week Burt was more prepared than any other year prior, he ran a qualifying run at 191 mph and his first run again at 191 mph but on his return run the Indian started blubbering and surging again like it did the year prior in 1968, Burt kept adjusting the fuel mixture, doing 14 runs on the salt in 4 days, but unfortunately to no avail. Burt figured out it was a bad magneto in the Indian that was causing all the running issues. In 1970 Burt decided to run a different fuel, so he switched from his traditional methanol which he always ran the Indian off of to nitromethane. Even with all the adjustments he made to run his Indian on nitro, the v-twin still burned out all his spare pistons. It was now unfortunately over for Burt who was 71 years old. 1971- Burt's 13th year at Bonneville and 10th year running his Indian, which was his last. Ran a very lousy run at 148.51 mph without the shell due to strict rules, without the shell the Indian was now seriously over geared, he did another run with the shell on going full bore for the last time ever. Burt never ran his bike there again. New Zealand film director Roger Donaldson and his crew were also on the salt in 1971, they filmed Burt doing some runs on his Indian for the documentary about him called Offerings to the God of Speed, (1971). It's a phenomenal documentary that i highly recommend people to watch. 1975 - Burt's 14th and final year at Bonneville, (Spectator). Though Burt did have the Indian with him, he never ran it. The AMA also said Burt could no longer officially run at Bonneville anymore. After Bonneville 1975 Burt said his goodbyes to all his good friends before permanently sailing back to New Zealand. In 1975 Today Burt's actual 1920 Indian Scout is in two different countries. The original but highly modified 1920 chassis plus the final version of the Indians fiberglass shell, used from 1967-1971 at Bonneville are in America, (restored) and owned by the Pierce family, the v-twin they have is a different one, not the original/ record setting one. In New Zealand, E Haynes and Son hardware has the original and built 1920 record setting v-twin which Burt modified all his life, that sits in Burt's 1924 Indian chassis( the frame which was never used in America, only in New Zealand). And they also have Burt's other bike he worked on as well, the 1936 single cylinder Velocette mss 650. In January of 1978 Burt passed away peacefully at home, age 78. 200 people came to his funeral. Losing Burt was a massive loss to New Zealand even in America as well. Indian motorcycles themselves were really saddened by the news of Burt's passing but they were also really proud of him.
I rode my beloved 2001 Triumph 955cc Speed Triple for 50,000miles till she started making a little mechanical noise. I rode her hard and fast. Often 100mph plus. Got her up to 145-150mph on my analog Speedo so who knows my true speed. I slowed down after a car changed lanes in front of me and I hit the left tail light at 70 mph with my steel toed red wing boot 😮. Next morning my foot and leg ballooned to twice its size. They rushed me to the VA Hospital!!! Docs said I might lose my leg! All I thought about was I couldn’t ride if I lost my leg ha ha. VA Docs kept me in the IC U for a week pumping me full of antibiotics and bless those VA Docs they saved my leg!😙😉 I was 65 at the time. I’m 73 and still riding. My ‘01 has since been retired but I’m shopping for a replacement bike. I’d like to buy another Speed Triple in green with low mileage ha ha 😎
I was watching this here on YT about 10 years ago then it disappeared, I couldn't find it anywhere. I was bummed. then the movie came out which was ok, but nothing like experiencing the man himself or the people who knew him. I'm glad this real documentary is back, one of the best ever made just because of who and what he was. 🏁🏁🏁
Man I'm not far from unveiling my newest drag bike and I can honestly say Burt you effected my young life deeply. dad was a motorcycle mechanic a Honda man and he started me early on a 83 z50r @ 3yr and soon after he found a gsxr50 in the trash and we fixed that up for my first road racing bike @4 and you and your indian were always on the garage wall somewhere. Now at 28 I'm gonna try to see if I can't build the world's fastest small bore 1/8mile bike and maybe 1/4 next year and some day do a bit of land speed stuff with it. So far iv worked the last 12or so yrs on it. Started life as a xr200 Honda since it's evolved into a one of one destroked rebored 155cc compound turbo bike. I drew massive inspiration from Burt's I don't have the money but I have time mind set. After many different engines were now running a carbon rod and carbon frame. Everything at this point has been remade with exception to the head Honda got that close for me. It's been a lot of trial and error and alot of doing things I didn't know how it would end and dad didn't either so I just gave it a go and worked through it from there. I'm very proud to say iv managed to squeeze an impressive 103whp out of my little 155cc with an stupendis amount of boost lol. Thanks for inspiring this young guy to try and build something insane in his garage with just the occasional help from a friend. I hope to have the vids of this bike out on the night of its first round of racing in NC in the spring currently it's odds and ends from being done but it's made some test hits and I think a 6 is well within our reach.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful look into Burt's life. It was truly inspiring. I ride my 1200 bandit with a better understanding about my need for speed now... RIP Burt...
Listening to these New Zealanders makes me wonder when the accents changed as they sound like having only British early Australian accents.I don’t yet hear the sex for six slant or any of the later now typical New Zealand accent.Burt was unique,wonderful to see someone happy to pursue his dream.
There is a full weekend of racing known as 'The Burt Munro Weekend' down in Invercargill. Beach, track and road racing. Oreti beach is a nice wide flat surface that stretches for miles.
Imagine just entering Edwards AFB, getting "arrested" and questioned, only to be recognized as the crazy Kiwi with his Indian by the chief of base and getting shown all the super high tech stuff there was. Incredible! Just like Burt's achievements and dedication!
They actually asked him if he would like 'something' - he asked for a piece of titanium, which they gave him. When the MPs took him to the Base Commander's office, he knew who Burt was and afterwards he got a personal tour of that SAC base. Years later, he was interviewed about this event and allegedly Burt responded, "Well, the sign said 'WEL COME..." So I went in for a look around."
A friend down the road has one of Burts pistons, he's got a Denco V twin very similar to the Britten, he is an interesting home/ shed based engineer also!
Ha! Just pulling into Edwards AF base and stating to your captors “I’m here to see the X-15!”Incredible. Seems he carried that gall with him in all his endeavors. Awesome man
Well put together thank you. The Mould for people like Burt has unfortunately been lost. May be just as well me thinks he would not be happy in this era.
What a legend you could see the love and admiration by the people around him too. His light shined bright like the sun and the sun dont give a fuk who it blinds.
I just love people who do what they love. They say dam the consequences. The hell with material possessions. The hell with money. The with all the bullshit. They know how to love. They know what’s important.
Old folks like Burt and my Uncle. Give them the tools and the specifics get out of the way they will improve them and do it better .Just because you can't afford College doesn't mean you don't have tha knowledge. I'm like that . There are girls like that too . I'm just a older guy 55 .My Neice and my buddies daughter ate sharp. We just think give them what they need and hope they put us in a nice old folks home with good food 😁
My glaim to fame is that I was interviewed by the O D T reporter out at WEst Tieri near the airport when he was testing the Scout in the interviews in the Offerings to the gods of speed. I was saying he is my kind of guy.
A man who pursued his passion. Wife left him, probably did him a favour - increasing the time he could spend on his bike. Sounds like he married the wrong woman. I salute you Sir Burt. There was a man in Sydney with a similar passion but expressed in a different way. He bought a new Kawasaki Z1 in 1970s and when I knew him in the late 1980s, he was always modifying it, doubled the tank capacity by increasing the height of the tank. Tank looked awful but was very effective. Registered the Z1 in QLD so the NSW cops could not deregister his bike should they ever catch him which they had never done when I knew him. Covered the number plate in grease and dirt so the cops could never get his registration details. His bike was non descript and not a show piece to look at. He added a full 1970s fairing similar to a Dunstall fairing. May have been a Dunstall. On several occasions, when the cops chased him when speeding along the hghway/freeway between Blue Mountains and Sydney, he always outran them never stopped. Obscured number plate meant his bike was not identified by cops who he left far behind. In the 1980s, NSW cops rode BMW R100RTs. He told me he liked the Z1 cos it had a bullet proof motor with a roller bearing crankshaft which could not be killed. He called his bike the Barge. Peter, if you are still out there, do you still have your Z1? I knew you through your younger brother - my mate who is no longer with us and I still miss - RIP 1994.
It's really a shame that they haven't done a full series on him and all his different bikes, the movie making you think he only had the one Indian is a real shame.
True Aussie and Kiwi 'can do' ingenuity and self-reliance. Where there's a will, there's a way. Millennial muppets these days, if they can't buy it it doen't happen. It's interesting to learn how much of Burt's actual words are used in the movie 'World's Fastest Indian'.
Hearing Burt speak, makes me realise what an incredible job Anthony Hopkins did in the movie.
Yes mr Hopkins did his best to emulate him for the movie. Glad the gods of speed sent this to me...
yet a lot of people bitch that he didn't even try to get the Kiwi accent.
He sounds like every old kiwi bloke hahaha
Couple of parts he sounded like Angus Young and especially his laugh
Yeah the accent really annoyed me at first but watching the movie it slowly grew on me and now watching this I can see he had it nearly spot on!👍
I am still a big fan of him in 2024
“You can live more on a motorcycle in five minutes than some people live in a lifetime” Burt Monroe ❤️
Truer words were never spoken…. He gave a whole new meaning to the phrase…”let’er rip”
Just a few moments of tank-slap at 90mph is about all you need to understand that.
Racing is life. Everything else is just waiting. Steve McQueen born 24 of March.
I love my old 900 Ducati
🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
"The World's Fastest Indian" movie with Anthony Hopkins as Burt, is a GREAT movie...
He looked like an absolute badass at 68 in a leather jacket. God of speed for sure!
"Two of Chevy and one of Ford!", best opening line to a movie ever! 😅
Myself and three other keen Aussie motor cyclists called in to see Burt in 1961 in his shed/workshop/ bedroom and he regaled us with stories about his exploits with the Indian. We were advised to call in by Len Coulthard and Len Perry, figure heads themselves in New Zealand motorcycling history
The producer of the film knew Burt well and had investigated making a film years earlier.I made notes in my travel diary, which I still have and from which I have written articles for club newsletters.
Look back in your life and think about the standouts you have met, and Burt is among mine.
A friend of mine , also a brilliant engineer, reckoned that Burt repeated his mistakes and that may be so but he was working with limited finance and materials one must give him some latitude.
So glad and satisfying to meet Burt.
To have the success Burt had with the equipment and materials that were available not only shows his engineering prowess, but his resourcefulness and his ability to adapt.
We'll chat about Rollie Free or Glenn Curtis or Don Vesco over beers around the garage, but the name of Burt Munro always gets a moment of silence and a toast. 68 yrs old, on a 47yr old bike, doing 200mph? That kind of legend casts one long shadow. Imagine modding a 1975 iron head Sportster to do 200mph today. In your garage. Just you.
Nicely said.
Love this comment!
Ol Burt ❤️
Even tho I love Cars and workin on them, I can't help but love this bike's story. This is also done with a bike UNDER 1000cc, which is damn near impossible today, hell the tribute bike for the indian couldn't beat the record Burt set. Its an amazing bike
@@rustymuffin I'm pretty sure the original trim of that old Indian was around 25hp. The mind just boggles.
No one ever would beat Burt Munro's genius engineering. The fact that he did everything on his own is an ultimate outstanding, unbeatable. I'm an Asian fom the other side of the world, Kuching Sarawak and I feel a great respect for Burt Munro. He is a god of speed of all time... 💯
Burt called into our home once, and he could talk. Burt was hearing impaired from all that workshop noise and bike testing, thus he spoke louder to compensate for that.
Such a special man ! So much heart for what he loves ! The world now days lacks such men
if ever the term 'Carpe Diem' applied to a man, then Burt Munro was the epitome. not only did he seize the day with both hands everyday. The legend truly seized his dreams too. we still can't reach the place where Burt was dreaming. A genuine bonafide genius.
well burt had his offerings to the god of speed.... in my oppinion burt munro IS the god of speed. he has a heart for his bike... and he did absolutely everything to make it go fast.
Now that I am well past 70, I appreciate his efforts and accomplishments, so much more. Amazing .
This is as good if not better than the film itself.
🟥 WOW...I'M BLOWN AWAY. BEST DOCU OF OL Burt I'VE SEEN YET.
Rip Lord Burt. Heaven got faster when you arrived
This man had balls of steel and defied every rule ever made. The definition of a rebel. True hero. He should have songs written about him like Stagga Lee. He will. He's legendary. Nobody came close.
Gentleman outlaw, adventurer, engineering visionary & motorcycle pioneer.
This was from Roger Donaldson's original movie about Burt which lead to the the later movie. The tune starting at 21:20 s so perfect...anticipation, dread, wonder...
LEGEND! My dad is just the same way with DN iceboat racing. 87 years old and still obsessed with pushing the limits. Burt's children recounting stories of being raised by a radical innovator hit home.
I wish I had half his knowledge. The things he did with what was available to him is unbelievable. Godspeed sir. Much respect.
Many have twice his knowledge yet achieve little. It's about passion
@@asacarrick1440 Passion, will, desire, you want to do something bad enough you'll figure out a way to make it happen.
No need to patronise, Burt had everything he needed.
We can say we're proud to be kiwis on the back of his achievements but burt was a very special breed a hall of famer in the same group of kiwis like Bruce McClaren, Denny Hulmes, Chris Amos, Ivan Major, Barry Briggs & hell even Kenny Smith who still racing. All legends, going fast was always their aim. Speed Demons. Burt Record still ain't broken, truly a lap of the gods...both ways. Think we're proud of him because he was a kiwi. Good on ya Burt.
Ivan Mauger is the correct spelling
@@larraineivanturnbull6702 and Bruce McLaren, and Chris Amon !!
@@larraineivanturnbull6702 Thankyou
💯%🙌🏻🙌🏻
Anthony Hopkins did a nice job but Burt still reminds of my Uncle Adriaan. Especially when he's working in his Shed. I'm 55 he's like my mom's brother Adriaan. We are Dutch Imagrant post WWII don't doubt my Uncle saw Burt run Bonneville in person. Minimum he read about it. My Uncle was a thunderbolt Mechanic in the Dutch post war Air force loved speed. Work in a steel fabrication job in Salt Lake city form around the 1960's and has passed away . My favorite
Seen the worlds fastest Indian film, with Anthony hopkins playing burt Munro. I have to say that is my all time favourite film best ever.
Thankyou Fred for putting this Video up....never heard Burt talking before....what a man.
Must try and find the Anthony Hopkins film again...lent it out some years ago....bugger never gave it back.
He lived as he wanted that is for sure. Seems the Americans treated Burt very well.
All the years the legendary Burt Munro was at Bonneville, from 1956-1975.
1956- Burt's 1st time at Bonneville, (spectator)
1957 - Burt's 2nd time at Bonneville,(spectator)
1959- Burt's 3rd time at Bonneville, ( still as a spectator), also in 1959 Burt first met the young Mickey Thompson, Mickey and Burt instantly warmed up to each other and became good friends.
Burt then decided to debut with his Indian in either 1961 or 1962, it ended up being speed week of 1962.
1962- Burt's debut year - his Indian was 853cc, twin cam ( tail was 3 finned), S-A 883cc record at 178.971 mph (average). Burt's best measured mile was well over 180 mph. Burt also turned in speeds at over 171 mph, 175 mph and 179 mph, though for those 3 runs he wasn't going all out with his Indian. But Burt did eventually go full bore with his Indian for the first time ever at the salt that year. He was also named Sportsman of the year, and in total Burt did 53 miles on the salt in just 1962 alone.
1963- Burt made some big upgrades to his bike before Bonneville 1963, like converting his Indian to a 4 cam instead of the old 2 cam configuration from 1962. He also lowered the nose of the fiberglass streamIiner body for down force. Burt's Indian now has a large single mono- tail fin instead of the triple fin from the previous year, his qualifying went well at 183.673 mph, after the qualifying run Burt was jittery with excitement, since in his own words the engine was going like a bomb and the stability issues were a thing of the past, he knew he would be breaking 200 mph really soon.
Burt's outward run was going very well at first as he was clearly exceeding his previous best speed. The salt was whizzing by so fast under the nose of his bike that it wasn't even blurred anymore, it was featureless. Burt compares the salt at speed to an ironed tablecloth, because the salt is just moving so fast that features cannot be seen.
At that point he was doing over 190 mph, exhilarating at the fact that in any moment he was about to shatter the 200 mph mark which he had been working towards when unfortunately disaster struck, the front connecting rod broke, blowing the v-twin to pieces and ending his S-A 883cc record attempts for 1963. Burt got his Indian stopped in 1.5 miles with a total 3.5 miles of track used up as she blew up only 2 miles into the run. Burt was disappointed but just for the moment, when the timekeepers said he had averaged 184 mph in the mile and was doing a 195 mph plus at the end Burt was pleased as 184 mph and 195 mph was faster than he had ever gone before. Many years later in an interview in 1974, Burt talked about how the AMA said he recorded 195.5 mph on his 1963 blowup run. The Indian was still at 853cc.
1964- Burt enlarged the Indian to over 870cc, the Bonneville track was rough and terrible in 1964, doing a mere 40-50 mph Burt was taking a serious beating, he had to go low gear for a while then he put her in 2nd for another mile, slowly winding the throttle up, she started weaving as well so Burt kept sitting up to stabilize the bike while the Indian was getting faster and faster and faster. Burt still managed to coax enough control to qualify at 184 mph but bad weather the next day ended his chance of running for the record. Speed week 1964 was a total wash out, only 4 days of running before bad weather ended speed week for good.
1965- a zero year for Burt, he had some low speed runs in the 160 mph range. At the end of 1965 Burt decided to run in the 61 inch class, 1000cc, instead of the 55 inch class, 901cc. Burt said himself he probably only qualified once in 1965.
1966- S-A 1000cc record at 168.66 mph(average), qualifying at 172 mph, unofficial top speed at 212 mph, Burt's Indian was 905cc. Burt was not happy with such a slow average, considering he was doing way above a disappointing and low 168 mph on his runs when the Indian was at the speed wobbles. Still he had to take it as it was another record.
1967- Burt arrived in America in late June of 1967. He went to his friend Sam Pierce’s shop in San Gabriel California to work on the Indian. Burt lengthened the Indian’s tail fin and cut a nearly 10 inch diameter hole into the nose cone which directed air into the body through a 10 kilogram lead tunnel casted from the old weight he had attached to the front of the frame. He also created outlets towards the rear of the shell hoping the modifications would reduce the pressure wave coming off the front which he thought had prevented the tail from stabilizing the machine. Burt also hoped the extra weight would help his bike run true like an arrow.
Burt also enlarged the v-twins displacement to 953cc. S-A 1000cc record at 184.087 mph(average), best measured mile at 188 mph, qualifying at 184/190.070 mph, he upped his old record by nearly 16 mph, earning himself top record breaker of 1967 and American motorcyclist of the year. He was still a little disappointed though. Burt knew the Indian had enough power to push it past 200 mph like it had done the year prior in 1966, but one of the problems was the salt which was unfortunately wet and heavy. He estimated on every run that there was about 110 pounds of salt caked on the bike, which was enough to slow the Indian down to well below it's potential top speed.
1968- Burt had carburetor issues, the Indian kept insisting on running rich, even with the main jet nearly closed she still wouldn't run right. Like Burt said himself he could only coax a lousy 155 mph from his machine. It was still a very interesting year though because Burt's good friend Mickey Thompson was on the salt post speed week 1968 with his 1200 horsepower 1969 Ford Mustang. Also Mickey gave Burt a ride at 11 pm one night in the Mustang. The speed was building up pretty quickly with Burt in the passenger seat, she started fishtailing at over 140 mph but Mickey pulled her back. After the litttle run Burt never got in a car with Mickey ever again but he was happy to watch his friend run though.
After Burt got the Indian to where it seemed to be running like it's old self he decided to test his bike on the highway in Nevada that ran through Reno which had no speed limit at the time, he got pulled over after passing a cop at well over 100 mph, when the cop asked Burt on how fast he was going Burt replied with he was doing a lousy 160 miles an hour at best. Burt also told the officer that he had already run at over 200 miles an hour and doing 160 is like a stroll in the bloody park. After that Burt gave up for 1968 because the Indian was not running good and it was pointless to run it any further on the salt.
1969-For this speed week Burt was more prepared than any other year prior, he ran a qualifying run at 191 mph and his first run again at 191 mph but on his return run the Indian started blubbering and surging again like it did the year prior in 1968, Burt kept adjusting the fuel mixture, doing 14 runs on the salt in 4 days, but unfortunately to no avail. Burt figured out it was a bad magneto in the Indian that was causing all the running issues.
In 1970 Burt decided to run a different fuel, so he switched from his traditional methanol which he always ran the Indian off of to nitromethane. Even with all the adjustments he made to run his Indian on nitro, the v-twin still burned out all his spare pistons. It was now unfortunately over for Burt who was 71 years old.
1971- Burt's 13th year at Bonneville and 10th year running his Indian, which was his last. Ran a very lousy run at 148.51 mph without the shell due to strict rules, without the shell the Indian was now seriously over geared, he did another run with the shell on going full bore for the last time ever. Burt never ran his bike there again.
New Zealand film director Roger Donaldson and his crew were also on the salt in 1971, they filmed Burt doing some runs on his Indian for the documentary about him called Offerings to the God of Speed, (1971). It's a phenomenal documentary that i highly recommend people to watch.
1975 - Burt's 14th and final year at Bonneville, (Spectator). Though Burt did have the Indian with him, he never ran it. The AMA also said Burt could no longer officially run at Bonneville anymore.
After Bonneville 1975 Burt said his goodbyes to all his good friends before permanently sailing back to New Zealand. In 1975
Today Burt's actual 1920 Indian Scout is in two different countries. The original but highly modified 1920 chassis plus the final version of the Indians fiberglass shell, used from 1967-1971 at Bonneville are in America, (restored) and owned by the Pierce family, the v-twin they have is a different one, not the original/ record setting one.
In New Zealand, E Haynes and Son hardware has the original and built 1920 record setting v-twin which Burt modified all his life, that sits in Burt's 1924 Indian chassis( the frame which was never used in America, only in New Zealand). And they also have Burt's other bike he worked on as well, the 1936 single cylinder Velocette mss 650.
In January of 1978 Burt passed away peacefully at home, age 78. 200 people came to his funeral. Losing Burt was a massive loss to New Zealand even in America as well. Indian motorcycles themselves were really saddened by the news of Burt's passing but they were also really proud of him.
I rode my beloved 2001 Triumph 955cc Speed Triple for 50,000miles till she started making a little mechanical noise. I rode her hard and fast. Often 100mph plus. Got her up to 145-150mph on my analog Speedo so who knows my true speed. I slowed down after a car changed lanes in front of me and I hit the left tail light at 70 mph with my steel toed red wing boot 😮. Next morning my foot and leg ballooned to twice its size. They rushed me to the VA Hospital!!! Docs said I might lose my leg! All I thought about was I couldn’t ride if I lost my leg ha ha. VA Docs kept me in the IC U for a week pumping me full of antibiotics and bless those VA Docs they saved my leg!😙😉
I was 65 at the time. I’m 73 and still riding. My ‘01 has since been retired but I’m shopping for a replacement bike. I’d like to buy another Speed Triple in green with low mileage ha ha 😎
Love where he propped his bike up on the beach , with his helmet, haa
Who comes from his movie just watched in 2022. great story.
I love speed.
One of the men who inspire me to try to go a bit faster. And to stay active.
Thanks for the memories Burt
You make every Kiwi proud
Nick Australia
I was watching this here on YT about 10 years ago then it disappeared, I couldn't find it anywhere. I was bummed. then the movie came out which was ok, but nothing like experiencing the man himself or the people who knew him. I'm glad this real documentary is back, one of the best ever made just because of who and what he was. 🏁🏁🏁
Man I'm not far from unveiling my newest drag bike and I can honestly say Burt you effected my young life deeply. dad was a motorcycle mechanic a Honda man and he started me early on a 83 z50r @ 3yr and soon after he found a gsxr50 in the trash and we fixed that up for my first road racing bike @4 and you and your indian were always on the garage wall somewhere. Now at 28 I'm gonna try to see if I can't build the world's fastest small bore 1/8mile bike and maybe 1/4 next year and some day do a bit of land speed stuff with it. So far iv worked the last 12or so yrs on it. Started life as a xr200 Honda since it's evolved into a one of one destroked rebored 155cc compound turbo bike. I drew massive inspiration from Burt's I don't have the money but I have time mind set. After many different engines were now running a carbon rod and carbon frame. Everything at this point has been remade with exception to the head Honda got that close for me. It's been a lot of trial and error and alot of doing things I didn't know how it would end and dad didn't either so I just gave it a go and worked through it from there. I'm very proud to say iv managed to squeeze an impressive 103whp out of my little 155cc with an stupendis amount of boost lol. Thanks for inspiring this young guy to try and build something insane in his garage with just the occasional help from a friend. I hope to have the vids of this bike out on the night of its first round of racing in NC in the spring currently it's odds and ends from being done but it's made some test hits and I think a 6 is well within our reach.
Burt would love your endeavors brother, it's the Kiwi way, Good luck with the Bike and give em heaps as we say here in nz 🇳🇿✌️
Thank you for sharing this wonderful look into Burt's life. It was truly inspiring. I ride my 1200 bandit with a better understanding about my need for speed now... RIP Burt...
When they made Burt they broke the mould ,he was a one of a kind.
Listening to these New Zealanders makes me wonder when the accents changed as they sound like having only British early Australian accents.I don’t yet hear the sex for six slant or any of the later now typical New Zealand accent.Burt was unique,wonderful to see someone happy to pursue his dream.
“If you do not go when you wanna go , when you do go , you’ll find you’ve gone..”… brilliant!!!
Burt was a one of a kind a true genuine master at the craft may he ride forever in the clouds
Burt was a original GO FASTER, his accomplishments are LEGENDARY,
There is a full weekend of racing known as 'The Burt Munro Weekend' down in Invercargill. Beach, track and road racing. Oreti beach is a nice wide flat surface that stretches for miles.
Saw the movie. Regards n respect mr.burt.legend he is
Salute your determination.
Kiwis really can fly..
Burt is a true testament to the power of the human spirit. His vision and accomplishments are nothing less than amazing.
New Zealand Motorsport legend & inspirational international motorcycling icon.
This man was and will be.. forever an absolute legend
What a Gem to watch ... brilliant
Imagine just entering Edwards AFB, getting "arrested" and questioned, only to be recognized as the crazy Kiwi with his Indian by the chief of base and getting shown all the super high tech stuff there was. Incredible! Just like Burt's achievements and dedication!
I just watched Anthony Hopkins play Burt in "THE FASTER INDIAN IN THE WORLD" here on YT...A MUST SEE!
@@LtDan-lj7oj Yeah, seen it about 5-8 times, love this movie! I can recommend the book as well.
They actually asked him if he would like 'something' - he asked for a piece of titanium, which they gave him.
When the MPs took him to the Base Commander's office, he knew who Burt was and afterwards he got a personal tour of that SAC base.
Years later, he was interviewed about this event and allegedly Burt responded, "Well, the sign said 'WEL COME..." So I went in for a look around."
@@bazza945 So you are a descent of Burt? If so that's sweet as! Do you know what he made from that piece of titanium?
It's not about knowledge or reaching goals or setting standards...It's about Passion.
🎯
Yes!
Life is not a dress rehearsal. Safe travels riding through the cosmos Burt. Get on you mate! ❤
Just like a blae of grass ❤
Would be boss to use some of Burt's old pistons and cylinders to put together an engine.
A friend down the road has one of Burts pistons, he's got a Denco V twin very similar to the Britten, he is an interesting home/ shed based engineer also!
Proper Legend of SPEED
🇳🇿 🥝 🏆✌️🏁🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
The greatest for me!!!
Ha! Just pulling into Edwards AF base and stating to your captors “I’m here to see the X-15!”Incredible. Seems he carried that gall with him in all his endeavors. Awesome man
Well put together thank you.
The Mould for people like Burt has unfortunately been lost.
May be just as well me thinks he would not be happy in this era.
Burt. The Best there was... The best there is.... The best there EVER THERE WILL BE.
Ah Burt, love your style mate, good on you,
What a legend you could see the love and admiration by the people around him too. His light shined bright like the sun and the sun dont give a fuk who it blinds.
What a legend
I just love people who do what they love.
They say dam the consequences.
The hell with material possessions.
The hell with money.
The with all the bullshit.
They know how to love. They know what’s important.
'60 Chevy wagon hauling that bike. A beautiful thing.
Listen to the sweet music of that motor…
Would love to see all of Roger Donaldson's footage compiled and released. Would be a wonderful gift to the gearhead community!
What a Hero.
Very Enjoyable video of a legend
... brilliant, thanks :)
Old folks like Burt and my Uncle. Give them the tools and the specifics get out of the way they will improve them and do it better .Just because you can't afford College doesn't mean you don't have tha knowledge. I'm like that . There are girls like that too . I'm just a older guy 55 .My Neice and my buddies daughter ate sharp. We just think give them what they need and hope they put us in a nice old folks home with good food 😁
Best video of seen on Bert
What a true gentleman ❤
Thank you
My glaim to fame is that I was interviewed by the O D T reporter out at WEst Tieri near the airport when he was testing the Scout in the interviews in the Offerings to the gods of speed. I was saying he is my kind of guy.
blooming ace ,
@@fredbcj yes he was.
An amazing man... tough SOB.
A true speed freak.
Wherever he is now, I wonder if he's still trying to go faster? On ya, Burt!
Okay , those lamb chop sideburns in the Elvis Presley style tell me this is the mid to late sixties documentary.
Kiwis love going fast.
A man who pursued his passion. Wife left him, probably did him a favour - increasing the time he could spend on his bike. Sounds like he married the wrong woman. I salute you Sir Burt.
There was a man in Sydney with a similar passion but expressed in a different way. He bought a new Kawasaki Z1 in 1970s and when I knew him in the late 1980s, he was always modifying it, doubled the tank capacity by increasing the height of the tank. Tank looked awful but was very effective. Registered the Z1 in QLD so the NSW cops could not deregister his bike should they ever catch him which they had never done when I knew him. Covered the number plate in grease and dirt so the cops could never get his registration details. His bike was non descript and not a show piece to look at. He added a full 1970s fairing similar to a Dunstall fairing. May have been a Dunstall.
On several occasions, when the cops chased him when speeding along the hghway/freeway between Blue Mountains and Sydney, he always outran them never stopped. Obscured number plate meant his bike was not identified by cops who he left far behind. In the 1980s, NSW cops rode BMW R100RTs. He told me he liked the Z1 cos it had a bullet proof motor with a roller bearing crankshaft which could not be killed. He called his bike the Barge. Peter, if you are still out there, do you still have your Z1? I knew you through your younger brother - my mate who is no longer with us and I still miss - RIP 1994.
Lovely comment, thanks for sharing
Respect and honor - legends never die.
And the A. Hopkins movie is also a great memorial to Burt Munro.
ua-cam.com/video/02Yy1vihIKs/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/5fK1pZ38lqw/v-deo.html
Hangin on to that conrod like its a new girlfriend what an amazing driven man inspirational 😊
Nicely done
Legend
4:39 Spot on and how it should be done. It is so simple to just buy a motorcycle that is already fast and do simple mods.
" it varies from year to year, fast and really fuckin fast!"
LEGEND!
It's really a shame that they haven't done a full series on him and all his different bikes, the movie making you think he only had the one Indian is a real shame.
True Aussie and Kiwi 'can do' ingenuity and self-reliance.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Millennial muppets these days, if they can't buy it it doen't happen.
It's interesting to learn how much of Burt's actual words are used in the movie 'World's Fastest Indian'.
💯 beyond awesome!!! 👍😊👊💥
The man❤🙌✌
He IS the genuine article.
First time i've seen someone use their helmet as a stick stand. 7:00
Big Man.
⚡ride to fasta ! ⚡
king of the gearheads
Kiwi Legend.
I was over the speed limit ya know 😂😂😂😂 I just wanna see how fast she goes ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Classic.
Can anyone tell the estimated cc of this bike?
1000
his record still stands under 1000cc motorcycle, i own an indian but alot more slower 2022 indian scout only 200ks top speed lol