Burt Munro’s Record-Breaking Ride at Bonneville Salt Flats
Burt Munro bought a basic Indian Scout in 1920 that topped out at 55 mph. Then, he got to work.
For two decades, the New Zealand mechanic built parts by hand in his shed, turning the bike into a speed demon. His home country soon ran out of track for him, so he set his sights on Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats.
At age 68, Munro pushed his 47-year-old “Munro Special” to an astounding 184 mph, setting a world record in 1967 that still stands today.
The salt flats where this unlikely hero made history wait for you to walk the same ground where speed dreams came true.
A New Zealand Gearhead Buys His Dream Machine
Herbert “Burt” Munro was born March 25, 1899, in Edendale near Invercargill, New Zealand. At 21, he bought a new 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle, number 627, for £120 straight from America.
The stock Scout wasn’t very fast, with a 600cc side-valve V-twin engine that only reached about 55 mph.
Even before buying the Indian, Burt loved speed, racing his father’s horses and owning Douglas and Clyno motorcycles.
Tinkering Begins In A Humble Backyard Shed
Burt started changing his Indian Scout in 1926, working nights after his day job selling motorcycles. He found the stock connecting rods kept breaking, so he made his own from old Ford truck axles.
With little money for tools, Burt got creative. He made his own pistons using a kerosene blow lamp and homemade molds in old tins.
His workshop was basic, and he used an old spoke as a measuring tool when working on parts.
Backyard Engineering Transforms The Engine
Burt completely changed the Scout’s engine, switching it from side-valve to overhead valve using old cast iron gas pipe. He replaced the two-cam system with a four-cam design for better valve timing control.
He swapped the helical gear primary drive for sprockets and a triplex chain to improve performance.
Over many years, Burt slowly increased the engine size from 600cc toward 1000cc through countless hand-done changes in his shed.
Breaking Speed Records On Kiwi Soil
After 12 years of non-stop changes to his Indian, Burt set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938. Between 1938 and the 1950s, he earned eight New Zealand speed records total.
He tested his bike on local roads and the packed sand of Oreti Beach, usually early in the morning to avoid traffic.
By the 1950s, his Scout had grown too fast for any New Zealand speed course, easily hitting over 120 mph.
Salt Flats Call To A Speed-Obsessed Kiwi
Burt first visited the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1956 at age 57, not to race but to see this famous speed testing ground himself. He loved the perfect racing conditions on Utah’s vast, flat salt surface.
After a second visit where he learned racing techniques and met other speed lovers, Burt wanted to compete at Bonneville Speed Week.
Getting there from New Zealand with his homemade Indian became his goal, despite the huge distance and his tight budget.
First American Record Falls To A Determined Old-Timer
In 1962, Burt came to Bonneville Speed Week after traveling by cargo ship, working as a cook to pay his way.
He had increased his engine to 853cc to race in the 883cc class, though officials almost turned him away because of concerns about his heavily changed bike. Despite these problems, Burt set his first official U.S. land speed record of 178.
971 mph in the 55 cubic inch class. Other racers couldn’t believe a 42-year-old backyard-built motorcycle could go so fast.
The Scout Hits New Speeds Despite Violent Shakes
Burt returned to Bonneville in 1966 with his engine now bigger at 905cc to race in the 1000cc class. At speeds near 200 mph, the bike shook wildly, throwing salt in front of the tires and making it hard to see.
Despite these challenges, he set a new 1000cc class record of 168. 066 mph.
During test runs, he hit 172 mph officially, but his unofficial top speed reached 212 mph, amazing for a 66-year-old man on a 46-year-old motorcycle.
One Last Record Run Takes Shape
When Burt visited Bonneville in 1967, he was 68 years old and had his engine bored out to 953cc.
The machine needed a complete teardown and rebuild after every 10 minutes of running due to extreme stress on its old parts.
His streamlined shell and decades of custom changes made the bike look unlike anything else at the salt flats. Though his heart problems grew worse, he stayed focused on setting one final record.
A 68-Year-Old Man Makes History
On August 26, 1967, Burt set the official land speed record of 184.087 mph that secured his place in motorsport history.
He pushed his old Indian to an unofficial one-way speed of 190.07 mph, the fastest ever on an Indian motorcycle.
The record was actually written down wrong on the original certificate as 183.586 mph and wasn’t fixed until 2014.
The racing world was shocked by both the rider’s age (68) and the motorcycle’s age (47 years).
Cheating Death At 200 Miles Per Hour
During a 1967 test run, Burt lived through a scary high-speed crash when his bike started wobbling badly. As he sat up to slow down, the wind tore his goggles off and pushed his eyeballs back into his head.
He rode completely blind at over 200 mph, missing a steel marker stake by inches before stopping the bike. This close call may have led him to cut back on future Bonneville trips, though he never lost his love for speed.
The Legend Lives On At Bonneville
Burt continued visiting Bonneville through 1975, though his final trip was only as a spectator. His 1967 under-1000cc streamlined class record still stands today, with the class since retired.
He passed away on January 6, 1978, at age 78, leaving behind a legacy that earned him induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2006.
His remarkable story reached global audiences through the 2005 film “The World’s Fastest Indian” starring Anthony Hopkins, introducing new generations to the backyard mechanic who took on the world with nothing but determination and mechanical genius.
Visiting Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
The Bonneville Salt Flats are 110 miles west of Salt Lake City at Interstate 80, Exit 4. You can visit for free year-round except during racing events when the area closes temporarily.
Take Bonneville Speedway Road north from the exit to reach the main parking area. The I-80 Rest Area at milepost 10 gives you your first view and has restrooms.
Don’t drive on the salt when it’s wet – signs will tell you when it’s prohibited.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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