The Worlds Fastest Indian

Plot

Burt Munro is a sort of folk hero in his home town of Invercargill, New Zealand, known for his friendly easy-going personality, for having the fastest motorcycle in New Zealand and Australia, and for being featured in Popular Mechanics magazine. However, that recognition is contrasted by his exasperated next-door neighbours, some of whom are fed up with his un-neighbourly habits; such as revving his motorbike early in the morning, urinating on his lemon tree, and not mowing his grass. Burt however has a long-time dream, to travel to the USA and test his motorbike's capabilities at the Bonneville Speedway.

Burt is finally able to save enough to travel by cargo ship to Los Angeles, but when he arrives, he experiences bureaucracy, skepticism, and the indifference of big city people. It is his blunt but gregarious nature which overcomes each hurdle. He wins over the motel clerk, a transvestite woman named Tina, who assists him in clearing customs and helps him in buying a car. The car salesman allows Burt to use his workshop and junkyard to build a trailer, and later offers him a job after Burt fine-tunes a number of the cars on the lot. Burt declines the offer, however, and shortly afterwards begins his long trip to Utah.

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

He finally arrives at the Bonneville Salt Flats, only to be blocked by race officials for not registering his motorcycle for competition in advance, and not having the mandated safety equipment. In a show of sportsmanship, however, various competitors and fans in the Bonneville series intervene on his behalf, and he is eventually allowed to make a timed run. Despite various problems, he succeeds in his quest and sets a new land speed record at the 8th mile of his run; when he reaches 201.851 mph (324.847 km/h). By the end, his leg is burned by the exhaust, and he then falls with the motorcycle and skids to a stop, but he is able to return home to New Zealand a hero.

Cast

Production

Director Roger Donaldson had been working on this film for over 20 years before he started filming it, and had previously directed a short television documentary about Munro called Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed in 1971. Arranging the financing for a full feature film was much more difficult, but a key Japanese investor, and Donaldson and Hannam's own money allowed the film to be made.

In interviews, Hopkins stated that Munro was one of the easiest roles that he has ever played in his career; simply because Munro's view on life was not all that different from his own.

Many of the props used for filming were actually owned by Munro, including all the exploded pistons and the piston mould that Hopkins uses for a scene in the film. These were on display at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.. The location used for Burt Munro's home and workshop in New Zealand took place on an empty section on Lithgow Street in Invercargill, this section was used as the headquarters for the notorious Black Power gang during the 1990s until the house burnt down in 1998. A house has been built on the plot since the film was released.

Historical accuracy

The real Burt Munro married Florence Beryl Martyn on 6 August 1925, whom he later divorced in 1950/51. The couple had four children together. However, no mention is made of children in the film; but it is implied that he was married, and either estranged or divorced. The Munro portrayed in the film recalls the death of a twin brother named Ernie, who died when a tree fell on him. The real Munro had an older brother who was killed when a tree fell on him. Munro also had a stillborn twin sister. The real Munro had set numerous speed records in New Zealand during the late 1930s through the early 1970s. However, these records are only implied in the film. Munro was never known to actually urinate on his lemon tree; film director Roger Donaldson added that detail as a tribute to his own father, who did.

The Bonneville run in the film is a composite of several runs Munro made, the first in 1956. The May 1957 edition of Popular Mechanics (p6) has a letter to the editor about H.A. "Dad" Munro and his 1920 Indian Scout. In 1962 at Bonneville, he set the record of 178.971 mph. Munro's fastest complete run at Bonneville was 190.07 mph. He never set a record of 201 mph at Bonneville as the film portrays, but did reach 205.67 mph on an uncompleted run, on which he unfortunately crashed. Munro does crash after his 201 mph record-breaking run, which is officialised, unlike the 205.67 mph run.

Near the end of the film, Speed Week participants throw money into 'the hat', and Burt Munro is presented with a bag of cash before he sets the speed record. In fact, Munro had to take up a collection before Speed Week, as U.S. Customs required a cash bond before releasing his motorcycle. A photograph of the gathered crowd presenting Munro with the bag of cash, in 1962, was reprinted in a 2006 issue of Hot Rod magazine.

Hopkins' portrayal of a New Zealander

The Welsh-born Hopkins did not employ the Kiwi accent which the real Munro would have had — the review in The New Zealand Herald said that "his vowels swoop from the Welsh valleys to the high veldt without ever alighting in Southland" [Munro's home region of New Zealand]. Nevertheless, the same reviewer said Hopkins gives a "generous, genial and utterly approachable performance … he nails the backyard eccentric genius dead centre … he has inhaled the nature of a mid-century Kiwi bloody good bloke and he inhabits the part to perfection".

Featured vehicles

1920 Indian Scout 'Burt Munro Special' — the 1920 Indian Scout portrayed in the film started life as a 600 cc motorcycle with a designed top speed of 55 mph. Munro's streamlined record-setter was substantially modified; with capacity being increased to 950 cc, and a recorded speed of 205 mph. These modifications were largely done in Munro's workshop, using basic methods and tools as depicted in the film. Four motorcycles are used in the film to depict the actual 'Munro Special'; two of which were replica Indian Scouts, the others being Ducatis.

Antarctic Angels Bikes — the motorcycles ridden by the New Zealand bikers comprise largely early- to mid-1960s Triumphs and BSAs. Most of these motorcycles are twin cylinder models, and are 500 cc or larger.

Burt's car (New Zealand) — 1954 Vauxhall Velox, inline six cylinder engine. Typical of the many British-built cars common in New Zealand at the time.

Soundtrack