The World’s Fastest Indian Was Actually Faster

Herbert James Munro AKA Burt Munro, is very well known for setting a world land speed record on his bike, nicknamed The World's Fastest Indian . He set multiple speed records in his days, one of which still lives on, 36 years after this motorcycle legend passed away.

His original record which he set on the Bonneville salt flats in 1967, when he broke the Class SA 1000 land speed record, which still stands today is 295.453 km/h.

The motorcycle legend's son, John Munro recently revealed that there was a miscalculation on the certificate printed by the officials on that day.

John, revealed that the actual speed set by his father was 296.259 km/h riding his 1920 Indian, which had a displacement of 953cc, on August 26, 1967.

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John said that his father would be very pleased that the American Motorcycle Association actually picked up this issue and issued a new certificate with the correct speed.

Burt's original 1920 Indian scout was originally a 600 cc, V-Twin that had a top speed of 89 km/h. He modified the bike to a 900 cc record setter entirely by himself in his garage. Burt made all the spares himself as well, including the bigger pistons needed, forging them out of old cans as money was a big problem.

The "Munro Special" as he called it was mostly built during the night, as he worked during the day as a motorcycle salesman.

There was a movie that was made in 2005 about Burt Munro called the "The World's Fastest Indian".

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