The World's Fastest Indian

Burt Munro is a 67-year-old New Zealander who is obsessed with speed. He is a loner who lives in a bike shed on a vacant lot in a family neighborhood. He spends most of his time modifying his beloved 1920s Indian motorcycle, and occasionally racing it against modern opponents. The movie's plot revolves primarily around Burt attempting to follow his dream of setting a new land speed record with his Indian at the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.

Burt is loved in his community for his friendly and charming personality; and for having been featured in Popular Mechanics magazine (May 1957 p6) for having the fastest motorcycle in Australia and New Zealand. However, that recognition is contrasted by his exasperated neighbors, who are fed up with his un-neighborly habits: like urinating on his lemon tree every morning, neglecting his yardwork, and most of all waking up before sunrise to rev his bike.

Before Burt is scheduled to start his journey to the United States, he is diagnosed with serious heart problems and is told that his racing days are over. For 25 years he has dreamt of going to Bonneville and racing his Indian, so he ignores his doctor's advice to stay at home. Burt leaves for the United States, with most people doubting his ability to succeed, but Tom, the young boy who lives next door, believes in Burt.

When Burt arrives in Los Angeles he experiences bureaucracy, skepticism and coldness of big city people. It is his blunt but gregarious nature which overcomes each hurdle. He wins over the hardened motel clerk, a transvestite named Tina, who assists him in clearing customs and helps him in buying a car. The car salesman allows Burt to use his shop to make a trailer and offers him a job. Burt then starts his long trip to Utah.

Along the way, Burt meets many people, including a Native American who aids him when his trailer fails, a woman named Ada who helps him repair his trailer and becomes his lover, and an Air Force pilot who is on a leave from his military service in Vietnam.

Burt arrives at Bonneville in time for Speed Week, but is initially denied participation because he has failed to register in advance and his 40-year-old bike fails the technical and safety inspections. After winning the sympathy of other participants and officials, Burt is allowed to compete. After some practice runs and fine tuning, Burt sets a new record of 201 mph on his official run. The movie ends with Burt calling young Tom to proudly announce that his bike is "The World's Fastest Indian".

Category:

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Tags:

• The
• World's
• Fastest
• Indian
• Anthony
• Hopkins
• Burt
• Munro

[tombje27]

Best film ever

[mxhonda2]

lol. one of the coolest movies ive ever seen. and the best part?.....its a true storie.

[MxAtWaarschoot]

memories (:

[Mitsdat]

awesome movie!!!!!!!!......Nothing better than man and his machine....

[weldonwin]

@GAMERGIR69 Go to Hayes and Sons Hardware store in Invercargill and you can see the actual bike and the street Burt lived on, is still called Munroe street

[weldonwin]

I saw this movie a few days ago while visiting my dad on holiday in Invercargill and then I actually saw Burt Munroe's bike at Hayes Hardware store. The one thing I can say about Burt, was that he was a mad old man, in the very best kind of way

[65Peterle]

Sowas hab ich noch nie in mein Leben gesehn das ist sagenhaft Gruß Peter

[MightySaturn5]

what a wonderful movie this is

[serberious]

@GAMERGIR69 Yep, it`s true, get onto wikepedia and tap in burt monro and it`ll give you lots of info on him.

[boardey]

A fantastic film, and having recently returned from Invercargill, [one l or two] this film was not shown to its full potential in the UK..

A Cheshire Pom.

[JGMagoo]

Absolutely one of the finest and most heart warming movies I have EVER seen!

A masterpiece!

[jb7889]

it's called the worlds fastest indian becuse the mortorbike is a 1920's Indian Scout from the U.S