The World's Fastest Indian - What You Don't Know About Burt Munro?
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- Who was the real Burt Munro?
If you ever-interesting in Motorcycle traveling or racing you would probably hear about the famous Burt Munro. What he did many years ago, the world record of 201 miles per hour is still unbeaten. During my motorcycle trip around New Zealand, I had the chance to visit his home town Invercargill and also see his bike. The one he used to make the record in Bonneville salt flats. It was very interesting for me to learn the history and even ride on Oreti beach, where he used to practice with his motorcycle. Just before I fly back I met Alistair and I was impressed with everything he told me. Very special thanks to my friend Jan for this great opportunity!
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Great interview.
I met Burt in 1971.
He came up to Timaru NZ, for our Flying & Standing Quarter Mile Racing. I was the treasurer of the the local South Canterbury Motorcycle Club.
We sat together at the pre race meeting. His passion & knowledge was amazing. A real NZ Icon & Mentor.
He won both the open & single cylinder classes, on race day.
The Munro Special recorded over 150 mph, finishing the flying quarter on one cylinder only.
Burt donated a competition parachute to our club & we hung it up in our club house.
Amazingly, Burt was 68 years old, when he broke the world record. An awesome feat, for someone born in 1899 & worked on the Indian Scout for over 50 years ! 👍🏻😆
Awesome! You made a history Peter!
You’ve captured a little piece of living history there Pavlin that could have been lost forever. Well done. 👍
Thanks Ken!
The film was brilliant but now knowing that Anthony Hopkins played the part of Burt Munro exceptionally well just adds so much more life to the movie.
A huge thank you to you both for giving us this insight and to learn something else about Burt that the movie didn't tell us. Just fantastic.
Thanks for taking the time and watching it!
I always thought Anthony Hopkins played Donald Campbell to a T in 'Across the Lake'. So when i saw him in 'The fastest Indian' he brought Burt Munro back to life ! Hopkins is an incredible actor.
I love hearing that Anthony Hopkins nailed Burt Monroe's character even though he never met the man. Great first hand stories from a man who knew Burt.
Thanks for taking the time man!
@@motorcycleadventures Thank YOU man. Loved your video. I am so chuffed to hear that Anthony Hopkins did a really good job of acting as Burt Monroe. My reason for this is a bit selfish because SIR Anthony Hopkins is Welsh and so am I. I didnt know him but he grew up about 10 or 12 miles from the small village where I grew up. Mr Monroe was from the other side of the world and I love hearing anything and everything about him. As a 17 year old kid I smashed my very new Yamaha RD 125 LC to bits when I hit a huge patch of sheet Ice from a burst water pipe and threw it over 300 yards down the road at over 80 MPH. I was flat out on the tank and it was a very dry night. Bloody ice had no business being on the road on that night. I was really pi**ed off at the pipe and the water and the ice. I borrowed a few hundred quid and spent it ALL on engine mods. Skimmed the head and widened the Valve stops myself. I had nothing left, so no fairing, belly pan, radiator cover and the seat foam was wrapped in a black plastic bag and sellotape. I had however transformed my 12 BHP bike into a rip snortin beast that put out about 36 BHP. Many people would not believe it was still just 125 cc. It looked a total mess but I was exceedingly chuffed with myself. ....My favourite Burt story is. He didnt want to waste time mowing his lawn so threw petrol on the grass and set fire to it. Problem solved. Exactly the sort of thing I would have done if I had an annoying lawn of long grass. If this mowing the lawn with petrol story is NOT true please dont tell me. I want it to be true. Sorry that got way longer than me just wanting to say thanks mate. I shall now be quiet. Shwmai fach.....Ja
Anthony's best performance imo. Makes a grown ass man cry of joy everytime I watch it
@@Silverhand290 The lawn story is true.
As you saw in the movie, he had some rather prissy, self-important neighbours. They hassled him to mow the rather wild grass - you could not have called it a lawn. Burt's response was to set it on fire. The neighbours called the fire brigade. What was left was a long wild grass land with a bad burned patch, looking far worse than before. Of course, that got the neighbours even more riled than before.
Burt was like that
This is one of the most special things you have ever done Pavlin.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to hear this story.
Thanks Shane!
You met a guy who knew Burt Munro. What a legend! I absolutely loved this interview and it makes me want to watch the film again. In years to come you’ll look back on this interview with pride. Brilliant!
Thanks for taking the time! It was my pleasure!
I enjoyed watching this video. I have had the pleasure. Of going to New Zealand and racing in the Burt Munro challenge for the last couple years. It has been one of the most amazing experiences in my life. The following Burt's footsteps Aunt actually meet his son and be part of the Burt Monroe and New Zealand is nothing short than amazing. So glad to be part of it.
Thanks for taking the time Eric!
This is probably the best video ive watched on UA-cam
Cool!
Absolutely wonderful. I am very grateful to you both for making this video possible.
Absolutely my pleasure!
@@motorcycleadventures Great vid, thank you for making it. as we say in Wales .... Bendigedig!!!!
what most people dont realise is that early on, Duncan Meikle tuned Burt's engines, and when he got the record at Bonneville Burt never ever gave the credit deserved to Duncan - who then split with him and left Burt to his own devices...and he never achieved anything more. I have been on the beach numerous times in Invercargill, Burt would turn up with a bike, it would blow up or fail in some way, and he would leave....Roger Donaldson, when making The worlds fastest indian was told this by a number of people , including me - and his answer on the phone to me was " This is a family friendly movie we are making so do not want any controversy " so it was a crying shame that a smart tuner like Duncan was never given the credit he deserved in the film. For those that may not believe this, I knew Burt, I was a past committee member of the Southland M/C club, and Duncans son Alistair can attest to the truth of the matter.
Thanks for sharing! I never heard anything about Duncan Meikle!
@@motorcycleadventures yes as I said - its a travesty that Roger Donaldson never provided the whole truth in the film - and that Burt never gave credit where credit was due. OK he sat on his bikes and achieved a speed record, but could never have done that without the engineer / tuner who gave him that opportunity.
Burt Munro will always be an inspiration for us all. He showed how passion and perseverance are so important in accomplishing your dreams.
Back when it didn't cost as much to get a idea to the track. His ideas to go fast
Thank you for the idea of making this perfect interview and sharing this terrific story with us!
My pleasure!
Brilliant chat , thanks . I hadn't heard of Burt until I was working with a Kiwi girl here in England years ago & she recommended the film to me .
Great man!
Great interview m8
Makes a big difference to your channel,
The actual history from places you have been
Brilliant!!
Thank you for taking the time Chris!
@@motorcycleadventures no problem, your channel is i think in the top 10 in the world , sponsor's should be knocking at your door.
I wish...
Awesome video bro
World fastest Indian is one of my favorite movies, it is amazing to hear from someone so close to Burt. His stories makes the movie even better! Give me a shout if you are planing a trip to Norway, I'll show you some of the best roads(narrow, winding, gravel, asfalt, mountain, fjords, vallies, fields, basically bring your tenere!) of Western Norway. Ciao!
Thanks man!
Wow, a four X increase in speed from stock is f'en amazing. I mean a person has to experience what its like to even double an engines power to appreciate the difference.
In 1981 I began amature road racing in the AFM here on the west coast, using my stock 1981 Honda 750F ..which didn't have a fairing. The stock 4 cylinder inline engine made 78 hp and the bike weighed 557 pounds ..good for a top speed of 119 mph at Willow Springs race track in Calif. During my 3rd year I received my AMA Pro card, so I got a sponsor (Dennis Manning at BUB Interprises San Jose Ca) who modified the bike into an official AMA Super Bike, reducing its weight to 415 lbs (AMA minimum) And since team Honda switched to the V4 engine in their Interceptors, I purchase one of Hondas discontinued HRC Super Bike competition engines.
That engine dynoed at 148 hp. an 89% increase over stock and yet, it had so much power that every time the motor hit its peak torque while exiting the corners, the front tire lifted off the ground thru four of the five gears and clocked a top speed of 169 mph on the Willow Springs front straight. Now, a 50 mph increase doesn't seem like a lot to someone whose never raced a fairingless motorcycle, but let me tell you, having 119 mph of wind pushing against you is one thing, having 169 mph of wind is a totally different experience.
Yes, when the air speed doubles, the energy of the air mass actually increases by a factor of 8 times!
Increasing the wind speed from 119 mph to 169 mph would be a massive increase.
& suddenly what you thought was a great fitting helmet becomes not so snug.
Joel Atteberry Until you try to take it off!
Mate even on a gn250 you can feel the difference in wind :)
He pushed way more out of that engine than anyone could have ever have dreamed of. All from a shed. Let's be honest here. His motorcycle was an antique before he even started setting records with it in New Zealand. And yet he pushed every possible bit of performance out of it. You're not going to find a more amazing story if you ask me.
Three Aussie mates and I visited Burt in 1961, and got to sit IN the Indian and sampled the 500 Velo as well. We took photographs, one of him, it appears in the book, with the Beetle that we travelled in the background.
I made notes at the time, and made up an article for printing in our Club magazine, New Plymouth Classic Motor Cycle Club. He was a very special person, and Roger Donaldson captured him pretty well in the movie.
Len Coulthard who had a motor cycle shop in Khyber Pass Auckland and who had supported Burt financially at times , I believe, told us to visit Burt in his little shed. No regrets, privileged to meet the man..
Cool!
Great interview. Thank you. And thank you to Alistair too :)
Thanks for taking the time!
THANK YOU Pavlin, your channel is the BEST find one can come accross on UA-cam by far, you are an inspiration for motorcyclists, we all owe you!
My pleasure!
I have 'The World's Fastest Indian' on DVD. It was a great movie and Anthony Hopkins was a great actor for playing the part of Burt Munro. Getting his bike to a top speed of 200 mph, was a great feat.
I agree, the movie is great!
SUCH a great interview and video!!! Such a nice surprise and treat!! Thank you for posting this!!
My pleasure!
we are so proud of Burt here in the deep south of NZ
You should! The record he has done is still remain unchanged.
@@motorcycleadventures i often go in to E Hayes and sons just to look at the bikes and you cant help but pay homage to Burt, and what he achieved.
We are proud of Burt worldwide. Greetings from Portugal. The other side of the world 🌎
I just watched the movie
Yes we are proud of Burt worldwide! Greetings from America ( Tennessee ) 🇺🇸🇳🇿
Magnific historical document, thank you for making this
Thanks!
Great topic, interview and upload, Pavlin. Thank you. Great film too!
Thanks!
I have really enjoyed listening to this interview. It was something very special.
Manu thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
That was brilliant Pavlin and what a great gentleman to interview about an unbelievable story! It just gets better and better mate, thank you!
Thanks Ray!
Great insight into the Legend Burt Munroe ..
Great interview.
Thanks!
Nice video about a New Zealand legend!
The 2021 "Burt" week just finished, good weather and a LOT of bikes...
Thanks, man!
The Munro Special and the Britain bike are world famous achievements by very gifted New Zealanders who weren’t backed financially by anyone.
True
One of my favorite movies. Thanks Palvin for the efforts to make this interview. Recording history is so important.
You are welcome anytime!
I rode with a Man from New Zeeland .. he owns a Business.. I rode with him in the USA in his Rental Car.. He was a very wreckless driver impatient wreckless but mainly distracted.. He was 72 years old ..
ok
Wonderful video. Long time Indian owner here, a 1950 Arrow. I bought it in 1972, and for a few years it was my only motorized transportation. I rode that bike all over New England. I loved the movie The World's Fastest Indian. It was wonderful to hear this interview with a man who actually knew Burt.
I am glad that you enjoyed the video!
There are still people around who knew Burt. He was a larger-than-life figure in New Zealand motorcycle communities. Also, there are people who knew him from his many forays to Bonneville.
Fantastic! I like all your videos but I have to say this was a most unexpected surprise. I met local Australian motorcycle raconteur Lester Morris, who told me he met Burt Munro whilst working for Omedies Motorcycle shop in Sydney back in the 'sixties, but he didn't know who Burt was until later when he mentioned it to his boss! Burt bought a box full of old Indian parts that Omedies had left over in their storeroom. I bet Burt took them back to NZ and turned them into special racing parts.
There are many stories like that I believe, but very soon they will be lost forever...
Great video. Thanks to you both, for sharing the memory of Burt Munro
You are welcome anytime!
That was a great thing you just did there Pavlin. Very professional in your thinking. I agree with the comment made the sponsors should be hammering on your door. I'm confident it will happen. Well done, keep up the good work.
I will, thanks Geoff!
It’s a great movie, I have seen it many times 🏍🎥 great video and tribute Pavlin
Thanks Geoff!
Great interview Pavlin, very interesting to hear, most motorcyclists in Australia and New Zealand have heard of Burt Munro through the Anthony Hopkins film, there is even a Burt Munro themed cafe not far from where I live, I've never met anyone who actually knew the man himself until watching your video, so thank you for finding that person and doing the interview Pavlin
Absolutely my pleasure Phil!
Where is this themed cafe???
@@danosborne5069 the cafe is in Exeter Tasmania
Burt tuned my grand dads motor bikes a couple times :)
Interesting video for Burt Munro fans everywhere ( and theres a lot of them 😉)
Cool!
WOW, what a fantastic video, I saw the movie and I LOVE NZL.
Thanks very much.
My pleasure!
You did the world a great service by finding/making this interview Pavlin. Thank you
You are welcome anytime!
PS. My cousins husband Craig was the ‘leader of the biker gang’ in that movie
Thank you i love this story because my father & 2 of his friends have 3 class land speed records wit a side car bmw.....awsome story
My pleasure!
Thanx man for meeting for this legendary man he is an Icon of biking passion.
You are welcome anytime!
A good video about a very special man and his equally special self-built motorcycle.
Thanks!
That’s my great great Grandfather you see in there! :) Related by, mum’s side!
Wonderful!
Such a wonderful interview. Thanks for sharing this. Keep up the good works. Best regards.
Thanks for taking the time Mesbah!
Fantastic. Why has nobody interviewed this wonderful Mann before?
Well, this is a good question!
I just want to add that Burt Munro was one of those rare people that pass through our lives extremely rarely. Someone that had a vision and devoted his life to it's pursuit. Kind of a Henry Ford. Around our way, John Lonergan took a 1958 Plymouth and reworked and altered it unbelievably; moving the motor to the back seat. making a surf-board shaped body, then a metal 32 Fordish-type body with louvers all around. He raced it at Langhorne Speedway. These people don't hear the same drumbeat that most people hear. Thank-goodness for their creativity. Burt Munro was more than just a mechanic. He forged his own pistons, shaped his own rods. Invented his own rocker box assembly.
Now, to so many of us that love that about people like Burt, he's become a cult-figure; a LEGEND!
Great man!
Great video Pavlin, lovely to hear from Bert's friend, I have the video of Burts speed trails, I am going to watch it again after seeing your video. Thank you so much for making your video.👍
My pleasure Dave!
Burt's record will stand forever, simply because the open cockpit class was closed - too dangerous!
True
There is only adidge that says "Thou shall heal in 6 days for on the seventh day THOU SHALL RACE!"
The other one is:
Never put it back together without increasing power &/or improving handling
Thank you for that answer
The Worlds Fastest Indian is one of the best films ever made in my opinion. A wonderful story about strength of character and passion for. All wrapped up in an epic tale for a motorcycle guy.
Thanks for taking the time!
Great interview with a fascinating person. History comes alive in people with that kind of passion. Thanks for posting.
My pleasure!
Terrific. Thanks.
My pleasure!
Wow what a great opportunity! Thanks 🇨🇦👍
My pleasure Tom!
I had an uncle who was a mechanical genius George Phillips , rode motorcycles and built things way before most people ever thought of them . He had a house ..lived alone and kept a Cushman Eagle , a 66 Triumph and a BSA in his living room . He made a push mower a small riding tractor , a boat , an airplane ( which he flew ) and a bunch of model planes . He never punched a time clock but was always working fixing big factory machines in Sand Springs and Tulsa Oklahoma . If I had ever thought of doing what Burt Munro did he is the guy I would want to build the bike ...they were rwo of a kind . I raced motorcycles and whenever he talked to us...WE LISTENED . God bless him ...he was a genius . PK
Thanks for sharing!
Well done, Pavlin....really enjoyed this!!
My pleasure Allen!
Very cool video. im so grateful for your both to make such a good video .perfect
Glad you enjoyed it!
And this is a modification with no computerized electronics, all raw power.
True
I found this video was very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks for a great little upload mate!
Glad to hear it!
Pavlin, you are good man, that you dadicated special one video for Burt Munro. And what a kind Gentleman is Alistair ! Thank you!
My pleasure!
Bought a few farm bikes from this guy ... he ran an old school bike shop. He backed anything he sold. Good to see you, Alistair. Gee, I wish I still had that old TT250 I bought from you ... it would be a collector's item now. :-)
Cool!
Absolutely loved the film back when men were real men ! BURT IS A LEGEND
Great movie!
Back to civilization from a week in the Himalayas. First thing I look up is your videos & What a GEM this is. It should be archived as part of records of Burt Munro & the people who knew him. Biiig thank you for this, Pavlin.
My pleasure!
Many thanks for giving us another insight and information into Burt that I haven't heard before. Much appreciated. H
Our pleasure!
Very good , we love your man Burt , he is a legend , the world over , thank you for sharing this special interview . Cheers Burt , wherever you may be .
Glad you enjoyed it
wonderful interview, thank you
Our pleasure!
Wonderful video. Thank you so much!
My pleasure Carlos! Thanks for taking the time!
Great story about Burt, an amazing man.
Glad you enjoyed it
one of the best video well made mate.
Much appreciated!
Beautiful. Great interview. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you from Canada. I recall the name. I recall doing the "Ton" just after I was 20 or so. I was lucky enough to have my dad lend me his 68 Tiger 650, for a summer. It has 2200 miles on it. I put 2000 of that. We had a heck of a time! Cheers.
My pleasure!
Great interview Pavlin 🙂
Brilliant idea to get this mans first hand memories of Burt Munro recorded, great Vid Pavlin.
Thanks for taking the time Peter!
Kind of a Necropost being it is 2021 now. Just want to say THANK YOU for putting this up and doing the interveiw. You found a jem of a man and story teller there.
Glad to help!
Super, brilliant just loved that...I got lost in his words 🏍💕
Thanks Bill!
Great stuff Pavlin,.....Yes I have seen the bikes at the hardware store in Invercargil
Thanks!
Fascinating. What a great bloke and insight. It's the people that make travels what they are.
Agree
Plenty of Amber Nectar flowing for sure, either that or Australian maths are different from those in the UK.
Could be...
Thankyou for making this. If you have the DVD, the original documentary that inspired the movie is there too.
The lesson that can be learned is that you can accomplish unimaginable feats if you are willing to devote all your energy and life to do it. He is really inspirational. Go NZ!
I am glad you enjoy it!
Thank you for doing this. I watched the movie the other day and it was tremendously inspiring. I know some liberties were definitely taken, but it does seem that it was accurate in catching his spirit and personality. And frankly that was the best part of the movie. What he did was truly amazing and deserves to be remembered.
My pleasure!
Anthony hopkins / Burt Munro , both legends
Agree!
great interview!
Thanks Rod!
Pavlin, you are a real-life Jim Bronson! It is Memorial Day 2022 here in America and for fun, we watched The World's Fastest Indian. We saw it many years ago and were delighted, so I went looking for UA-cam videos about Burt. How nice listening to his friend. Would have liked hearing some of those stories about Burt his friend DIDN'T want to share, but that's okay. Good job!
Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure!
Thank you for making this video it was awesome. Burt is my hero,when I was young my uncle who had been friends with Burt use to tell me story’s about him he was a legend
Glad you enjoyed it!
Well then, if you have family stories of Burt, spill !!!
i haven't seen the movie (yet), but i've been to the statue and the e hayes store in invercargill. i just got my "world's fastest indian" stubby holder out ;) thanks for this video, great to watch an interview with someone who can tell the story first hand. i enjoy all of your videos, but this one was special!
Definitely need to see it, it is a great movie!
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for recording this very well done remembrance of Burt.
My pleasure!
Very nicely done documentary video about Burt Munro. Well done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Great interview..... Last year I rode from Cape Reinga to Bluff, around the coast of NZ's North and South islands. Checking out the beach that Burt Munro did his test runs on was a special moment.
Glad to help!
Thank you ,That was awesome ,
Glad you enjoyed it
Burt's motorcycle is in Southern California. Did you say you saw the actual bike in NZ? That's a replica if you did. The real bike unfortunately is in SoCal. It should be in NZ. It's a National treasure for sure.
Well, it was says the real bike but it might be a replica.
The real bike is in New Zealand. The SoCal version is not.
wow pavlin great story thanks for doing it!!!! come to Texas lots of awesome riding...Cheers my friend
I will come in some stage, thanks for taking the time Kate!
Alistair....what a legend!!!👍👍👍
INCREIBLE, gracias Pavlin
De nada!
You do a very good interview!!
Thanks!
great interview.
Thanks for taking the time!
What a great story, good storyteller too, just the facts, I like that. Thanks to both of you.
Our pleasure!
Very nice Interview👍😀
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice job, thanks!
Glad you liked it!!