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Burt Munro

Origin: Invercargill, New Zealand
(March 25, 1899 - January 6, 1978)

Heroic Values: Achievement, Courage, Faith, Humility, Perseverance, Vision

Background

Herbert James Munro survived an early prediction that he wouldn't make it past the age of two to take up a passion for motorcycles in his teenage years. He bought his first bike at sixteen, but it wasn't until he was 21 that he acquired the Indian Scout that would accompany him the rest of his life.

Burt worked on that motorcycle continuously for the rest of his life, modifying it through experimentation and testing. The bike initially had a top speed of around 55mph, so Burt set about changing that immediately. He competed around New Zealand and Australia regularly setting records and winning races. His goal though, was to test the bike on the salt flats at Bonneville in Utah.

In 1962 (aged 63), he made it to America with the Indian hoping to compete. He had not signed up, but was allowed to race through the co-operation of Rollie Free and Marty Dickerson. He set a world record for 850cc engines of 179mph. He continued competing at the salt flats each year until 1967.

Sources

Wikipedia
The online encyclopedia

Indian Motorbikes
The World's Fastest Indian

Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Burt's Page