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Burt Munro ever wanted was one perfect run on his highly modified
Indian Scout motorcycle - to see how fast it would really go. In a
tiny home workshop in New Zealand, with the barest of tools but a
native engineering genius, he constantly rebuilt and modified a
unique speed machine, bought brand new in 1920 for $50.After running out of challenges at home and already aged in his sixties, Burt took his 'Munro Special' to the famous Bonneville salt flats in Utah where he became a legend who is remembered to this day.  The
life story of Burt Munro is one of triumph over limitation,
achievement against all odds. Brave, funny, gritty and brilliant, he
was quite literally one of the original speed freaks, whose exploits
have now inspired the hit movie The World's Fastest Indian starring
Sir Anthony Hopkins.Reviewed by Bob Pearce Book of the film or film of the book or book of the film of the book? Tim Hanna's account of the life of the Southlander whose obsession with motorcycle speed records inspired the hit film The World's Fastest Indian, doesn't fit easily into any category. Its publication has clearly been timed to coincide with the launch of the film but it is no quick knock-off of the screenplay. Yet the author also makes it clear that it is not a history.  He
describes it as a dramatic recreation of Burt Munro's life from his
days as a farmhand, his discovery of motorcycles - and particularly
the Indian of the film title - and the single-minded pursuit of
speed records that came to dominate his life. Hanna drew on George
Begg's earlier book Burt Munro - Indian Legend of Speed and has been
able to talk to people who knew Munro. It is an account well worth
the telling and there are anecdotes, character insights and
technical details no film could show. Ah yes. Technical details. Hanna is the author of a meticulously researched biography of John Britten, who created his own modern motorcycle marvel in Christchurch. He clearly knows his cam profiles from his manifolds and there are times when the detail can prove a challenge for the general reader. But the story is so good you can skip the hard bits and marvel at how anyone could fashion a record-breaking machine from discarded bits and pieces.Munro had the genius that could make $50 car wrecks carry him across hundreds of kilometres in the US and the cussedness to turn down a wind tunnel test for his streamlined bike. Whether fast-talking his way out of speed tickets, chatting up pretty waitresses or playing down the dangers of his speed pursuit, Munro captivated Americans. Some Southlanders may have misgivings but they were proud of the old fellow.  |
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"One
Good Run"|
Worlds fastest indian |