The Munro Special - 1920 Indian Scout

The Indian made famous in the movie-The World's Fastest Indian. The Bike is displayed in the Hayes Department store,Invercargill, NZ. http://www.dirtvideo.co.nz

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Motorcycles
• Indian
• Scout
• bert
• munro
• motor
• sport
• bonneville
• speed
• the
• worlds
• fastest
• indian
• Invercargill

[keithf]

As far as i am aware you are more or less right-though there is a suggestion that the engine is one he used in the record attempts because he couldn't bear to part with it.

[ctfsh123]

I like the movie, and now I feel priveleged to see the real munro special. What a fantastic feat he did to overcome so much to make his dream happen! I worked in a bike shop in the 70s, and I got to ride an Indian. I felt lucky then and I feel lucky now. Thanks for sharing this vid. It was well done.

[keithf]

Thanks. If you look back at all the comments there is a fair bit of debate about whether this is ' the Munro' special as he sold his bike on his last trip to the US. I understand that he actually sold the frame and an Indian motor but couldn't bear to part with the original motor and brought that back with him. Whatever the truth this is certainly a bike that Munro built and rode at least in NZ and possibly at the salt flats-or bits of it a least.

[1VANMAJOR]

that old velocette just sold at auction tonight for NZ$ 71000 +15% buyers fee $10000+gst total over $ 81000 he used to race this bike down the beach using a hot water bottle as a gas tank his friend who he closley worked with for over 45 years modified these velos and broke many records with them

[keithf]

I hope someone in NZ bought it and it will go on show somewhere

[munkysquidhybrid]

The velocette sold at auction in Auckland was merely worked on by Burt Munro, it wasn't actually his. The Bonneville land speed record breaking bike of Burt's is still exactly where it has been for three decades, on display at E Hayes & Sons in Invercargill.

[keithf]

If you read through the comments here there is a fair bit of debate about which Indian is in the Hayes store. Personally I'd like to think you are right.

As an aside I recently saw a fully restored 1920's scout at the Australian Motor museum in Birdwood SA - and if you ever visit that museum be sure to visit Bills bikes and bits across the road -they have a much better selection of old dirt bikes than the museum

[lastmiles]

Imagine having a crazy dream and everyone around you tells you you're wrong. Your crazy. That can't be done. You're too old. You will die even trying. What are you stupid or just nuts? Everyone says that and nay sayers are everywhere that never do anything and this man, Burt Monroe fought past all the doubters and the people that laughed and he broke land speed records one after another. He was an old man when he went over 200 MPH on that crazy looking bike. I admire a real man like that.

[jesuriah]

wow, 200mph on a hardtail...My ass hurts just thinking about it.

[saludahead]

Hate to break it to you, but that is NOT the worlds fastest Indian! That bike is owned by Tom Hensley, and was show recently at Pebble Beach where they won't let you through the gate without EVIDENCE of the bike's history!

That bike was probably built by Burt Munro, and he might have ridden it. It has his pipes on it, and the stands on the cylinders are his style. The carbs are the type he always used, and the frame mods look like his work, but that is NOT the record bike!

[375GTB]

Burt liked the ladies to his last breath..

Tony got that right....

I turned 62 yesterday..

J.C.

[Jafromobile]

@375GTB ...and I've said it before... I will personally throw a broomstick through the spokes of the jackhole that tries to break his record. Long Live Burt Munro!

[Dororo267]

@hussmire hey there, this is kinda weird im related to you. I am his great nephew as well.

From my fathers side steven which was adopted out by his real father.. that is why i do no longer share the same name as you. hope you reply :)

[hussmire]

@hussmire Im Lee Munro,Burts great nephew.Im born and raised in Invercargill,now living in Christchurch NZ.My proudest moments would be racing my Ducati 999 at the Burt Munro Challenge and winning numerous replica trophies etc.I grew up with the stories of Burt and since the movie i have felt i have more than a little of what made Burt tick inside me.My girlfriend at the time bruised hell out of my arm as we watched the movie saying "you do that",smack "he`s just like you"...shes a sweetheart!

[hussmire]

@munkysquidhybrid .I want to clear up your comments on the 1936 velocette.In 1955 a friend of Burts called Percy Shave told Burt about two motorcycles in nightcaps(a little community 60-70 kms NNW of Invercargill).They found in an abandoned hen-house two MSS 500 Velocettes,the 1936 and a 1939 model.They paid TEN pound for them both,flipped a coin and burt got the 1936 bike.That Velocette he bought for 5 pound and the Munro Special Indian Scout were sold to E.Hays and Sons on 19-9-1977 for $1300

[criticalmass181]

As a kid, at 17, I didn't have enough money to buy a GP bike, to race in the 'competition class' in Australia. I made as much as I could from an RZ 250, and stuck it on the track. With exception of bursting into flames at Philip Island, it did O.K. Though I quite obviously never made it too far, I can totally understand what he did, and how he could have faith in something that no one in their right mind would throw a leg over. God bless Burt.