Burt Munro Tribute Run At Bonneville 2017

Herbert James Munro or Burt Munro, as he was popularly known, is a name I am pretty sure most of the motorcycle enthusiasts have heard of. He was immortalised in the Hollywood flick “The Fastest Indian”. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, well now you have a weekend goal. His claim to fame was setting the world record for speed in the 1,000cc class for Indian bikes that still stands. What made his achievement even more special was the fact that he was 68 years old when he set his last record, aboard a 48-year old machine that took almost 20 years to build.

Munro had set the record on an Indian Scout which had a top speed of just 89kmph with a displacement of 602cc. The Kiwi rider bored the engine to increase its displacement to 850cc and set a speed record of 288kmph for the 883cc class. His last world speed record was set in 1967  when he clocked 295.45kmph with a 950cc motor. 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the record and to celebrate it, American bikemaker, Indian Motorcycle is pairing up with Lee Munro (Burt Munro’s great nephew) for a commemorative run at Bonneville salt flats. 

Lee Munro will be riding the “Spirit of Munro Scout” which is based on the Indian Scout motorcycle, but he wouldn’t be competing in any specific class. The special run to celebrate that of Burt Munro will be done on August 13 and we hope the weather Gods are with the organisers unlike last year when unseasonal rains cancelled most of the record runs. Lee and Indian Motorcycle engineers will be doing test runs in El Mirage, California before heading for the hallowed Bonneville salt flats.