He returned to the family farm when the Great Depression began. He grew up in Edendale, east of Invercargill. The raw material Munro used for the modifications had unique sources. He even lost his competition license but still managed to make a few unknown runs on his ‘Indian’ and ‘Velocette.’. His parents had adopted J.B when he was 9 and had then changed his name to “John Baldwin Munro.”. Burt Munro worked on the family farm until his father sold it after World War I. One of Munro's uncles, Jim, had invented the ‘Munro’ topdresser and the ‘Munro’ seed sower. However, it was against the local building codes. Munro wanted a house with low ceilings to survive in the scorching summer heat of New Zealand. Munro's family had fostered J. His first race was with the Clyno, setting some new records at the Fortrose Racing Circuit. He simultaneously worked as a motorcycle salesman and a mechanic, along with racing motorcycles, which brought him prominence in the New Zealand motorcycle racing scene. Munro had set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938, eventually setting seven more such records. A second motorcycle, which is said to be the original "Munro Special," is now on display at the 'Te Papa Museum' in Wellington. "It's nice to know Dad's still breaking records 36 years after his death. Burt Munro would continue to modify and improve on his Indian Scout for fifty- seven years. He was a member of a motorcycle club and attended club events regularly. Munro continued to work on the family farm until the First World War got over and his father sold the farm. Burt was a twin, but his twin sister died at birth. In 1948, Burt decided to take to racing full time. Burt Munro was a motorcycle racer, who set eight-speed records while alive, and one thirty-six years after his death. Munro also qualified at over 200 mph but was not registered, as it was an unofficial run. Burt Munro set his first world record in 1962, where he recorded 178.95 mph with an 850cc engine. MOVIE TRIBUTE: Sir Anthony Hopkins stars as New Zealand's Burt Munro at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, in the film The World's Fastest Indian. World's Fastest Indian legend Burt Munro would probably have forgiven the American Motorcycle Association for a 1967 stuff-up that robbed him of a record-breaking run. Anthony Hopkins played Burt in the 2005 movie, "The Worlds Fastest Indian."

On January 6, 1978, Munro died of natural causes. And in 1966, he modified the Munro Special to the 920cc engine to set 168.07 mph record. Munro was 63 when he managed to overcome several obstacles to set world records. Munro's father never supported his wish to see the world outside his farm, which gave rise to Munro’s passion for motorbikes. He was also fond of riding the fastest horse of his family across the farm, much to his father's resentment. But I'm sure he would have been quite pleased that error was picked up.". They divorced in 1947, and Munro subsequently quit his job to live in a lock-up garage. Burt Munro was buried in Eastern Cemetery of Invercargill at Southland, New Zealand with his family. That doesn't happen very often. His grandfather was from northern Scotland and later settled in Invercargill. Born to a farmer, he was initially forced to take up the family profession. In 1962, Burt managed to take his first racing trip to America with his savings and loans, and by working as the ship’s cook on the journey there. His first was set in 1940 at a speed of 120.8 mph, where it remained unbeaten for twelve years. Before the movie was made, many in New Zealand saw Munro as "some silly old bugger that didn't really know what he was up to", his son said. He then worked on the 'Otira Tunnel' construction until he joined his father on their newly purchased farm.

Burt Munro Biography, Life, Interesting Facts. He set his last record while riding a 47-year-old bike. They have four children together, a son John and three daughters June, Margaret, and Gwen. Who Is The Greatest Female Warrior In History? "He would probably have said he had never been good at sums himself. In the process, he eventually improved his bike-part designing skills. He not only raced on motorbikes but had also given two of his beloved bikes, an 'Indian Scout' and a 'Velocette MSS,' some advanced makeovers. Since the late 1950s, Munro had been suffering from angina. His parents were William Munro and Lily Agnes Robinson.

The bike is currently on display at 'E. Herbert James "Burt" Munro was born on 25 March 1899, in Edendale, Invercargill of New Zealand. His son has made a career in automobile transformation and inventions. Munro had an eagerness to explore the adventurous world outside his farm, which his family discouraged. Doctors suggested that Munro's continuous heavy crashes had damaged his heart. Munro married Florence Beryl Martyn in 1927. He also participated in economy runs and recorded 116 miles per gallon in one of them. They had four children: John, June, Margaret, and Gwen. Born to a farmer, he was initially forced to take up the family profession. Burt Munro suffered heart problems in the late 1950s; doctors attributed it to the frequent crashes he experienced racing. At the time of his birth, doctors doubted Munro's survival. He turned the 600 cc displacement 'Indian' into a 950 cc vehicle with a triple-chain drive system. By that time, Munro was a professional speedway rider. It turns out the legend broke the Class SA 1000 land speed record (previously 183.586 miles per hour or 295.453 kmh) on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on his 1920 Indian 953cc Fuel Streamliner on August 26, 1967, achieving an average speed of 184.087mph, John Munro told The Southland Times. He said the association had issued a new certificate after it recognised and fixed what it said was a mathematical error in calculating speeds achieved by Munro on North (184.710mph) and South (183.463mph) runs on the flats that day. Munro's surviving children, all in their 80s, were working to ensure their father's achievements continued to be recognised, something that did not widely happen while the champion was alive.

Hence, he sold both his bikes to his friend Norman Hayes. Munro was inducted into the 'AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame' in 2006. Burt Munro was virtually unknown until Anthony Hopkins starred in The World’s Fastest Indian, premiered in 2005. His American friends, Rollie Free and Marty Dickerson, managed to talk the officials into allowing Burt to race in the end. Munro rode a 'Douglas' until he could afford a British-built 'Clyno' with a sidecar, which he later sold to a blacksmith. Munro's father never supported his wish to see the world outside his farm, which gave rise to Munro’s passion for motorbikes. He believed this would also enable him to see the world. Burt was a twin, but his twin sister died at birth. Munro ended up losing his coordination. His next record was in the Canterbury Speed Trials, setting a first 132.38 mph in 1957 and later 1975, with 136 mph at Oreti Beach. Herbert had a penchant for speed, often riding horses fast and by 1915 sixteen- year old Burt bought his first bike. * This article has been updated with photos and embedded videos since it was originally published.

From cams to pistons, he later renamed the bike Munro Special, by that time the machine had little of the original remaining. Burt Munro was devastated to learn that he was not allowed to race at Bonneville, as he did not pass scrutineering.

Munro later bought a 1936 'Velocette MSS,' which he also modified and used for racing. Burt Munro was a motorcycle racer from New Zealand, best remembered for his remarkable Bonneville records. After World War II, Burt Munro built a low garage which served as his workshop and home. Burt Munro's first race with the Indian Scout was on the Penrith Mile Dirt Track in New South Wales, Australia. He upgraded his Munro Special again, and in 1967, he broke his own under 1000cc class record by going 190.07 mph. John has also patented many of his inventions, such as an innovative way of insulating the underground water pipes and control systems for school boiler houses. US election live: Hope for Donald Trump after Joe Biden's lead in Arizona thins, riot declared as windows smashed, Election 2020: National Party regional chair attacked 'pathetic' Todd Muller leadership bid, US election 2020: US electoral vote count, US election: Joe Biden rebuilds Democrats' 'blue wall' as key states bring him closer to victory, Police involved after student hit by car in end-of-year prank gone wrong, Quiz: Afternoon trivia challenge November 5 2020, US election: An embarrassing failure for election pollsters, Weather: Winds appear to be easing, all lanes open on Auckland Harbour Bridge, US election: I worked for Joe Biden, here's what I learned from him, Child killer was on bail and shouldn't have been near his victim. He did this in his 60s, and went back to Utah nine times in 11 years breaking various records for speed. Munro was 15 when he began riding motorcycles. Burt spent time in Australia until the Great Depression. Munro's inspiring story and achievements have been the subject of the film 'The World's Fastest Indian' (2005). He was a cabinet maker, farmer, earthmover, and telephone operator, before he started his heating and ventilation business. On January 6, 1978, Munro died of natural causes and was cremated at Invercargill's ‘Eastern Cemetery,’ beside his parents and brother. Bored of his mundane life on the farm, Munro showed interest in going to war in the wake of the First World War.

He bought an 'Indian Scout,' which he modified and rode throughout his life. Using his Munro Special set speed records in New Zealand races, starting with New Zealand open road record. In 1920, he bought an Indian Scout motorcycle, with a 600cc V twin engine, which he modified himself with homemade tools. He also had an older brother Ernest, who was killed in 1912. In one of the qualifying runs, he made a one-way record run of 190.07 mph, which was the fastest officially recorded speed on an ‘Indian.’ His unofficial speed record (but officially timed) was of 205.67 mph for a flying mile.