What Happened to the World’s Fastest Indian?
The Original Indian Scout
The bike that started it all, a 1919 Indian Scout, was a far cry from the record-breaking machine it would eventually become. The original Scout featured a 600cc V-twin engine, side valves, and a three-speed hand-change gearbox. With no rear suspension and just two inches of travel in the front thanks to a leaf spring, it was capable of reaching only 50 mph when it rolled off the assembly line.
How Did Munro Make It So Fast?
Munro was relentless in his pursuit of speed. Over the course of 46 years, he worked tirelessly in his shed, often for 16 hours a day, improving his Scout bit by bit. He fabricated much of the bike himself, making barrels, pistons, and flywheels, all on a shoestring budget. Ingeniously, he used cast-iron gas pipes for barrels, carved con-rods from tractor axles, and even hand-cut the tread off standard tires with a kitchen knife to create high-speed slicks.
Why Didn’t He Just Buy a Faster Bike?
For Burt Munro, the challenge of pushing an old motorcycle to new limits was part of the thrill. As his son John Munro recalls, “He liked to confound the experts—if someone told him it couldn’t be done, he liked to prove otherwise.” The personal challenge of continuously improving his beloved Indian Scout kept him motivated, even if the bike had cost him only $130-$150 originally.
Setting World Records
Before taking on the Bonneville Salt Flats, Munro set six speed records in New Zealand. His first trip to Bonneville came in 1962, when he set an 883cc class record of 178.95 mph. Five years later, with the engine now bored out to 1000cc, he hit 183.58 mph, setting a world record in the 1000cc class. Munro’s prowess didn’t stop there. In an unofficial one-way run, he clocked an incredible 190.07 mph, cementing his legacy as the fastest rider ever on an Indian motorcycle.
What Happened to Burt Munro?
After his 1967 triumph at Bonneville, Munro’s health began to deteriorate, and by 1975, his trips to Bonneville had to stop. He passed away in 1978 at the age of 78, succumbing to a long-standing heart condition. His extraordinary achievements were immortalized in The World’s Fastest Indian and, in 2006, he was posthumously inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
Where Is the Bike Now?
The actual Indian Scout that Burt Munro spent his life perfecting is now on display at E. Hayes & Sons Ltd., a hardware store in Invercargill, New Zealand. The store’s late owner, Irving Hayes, purchased the bike from Munro before his death, and today, his grandson continues to honor the legacy of this iconic machine. According to John Munro, the bike in Invercargill is the authentic Munro Special, complete with the original engine number, despite various parts being swapped out over time due to Burt’s frequent travels to Bonneville.
Indian Tech Specs
There’s a common misconception that Munro’s record-breaking bike was a 1920 Indian Scout, but in fact, it was a 1919 model that Burt had purchased in 1920. Over the years, Munro steadily increased the engine’s displacement from its original 600cc to 1000cc. By the end of its development, the engine that once produced 18bhp was pushing out 100bhp, a testament to Munro’s engineering brilliance and relentless determination.
Burt Munro’s story is not just about speed, but about passion, ingenuity, and the indomitable human spirit. His legacy, and the World’s Fastest Indian, continue to inspire motorcycle enthusiasts and dreamers around the world.
