Burt Munro and 200mph ??

[Glen]

I agree with everyone, Let the record stand, it's a part of history.

[joea]

...the record should stand until its broken....

..the history will never be broken...

[1212FBGS]

if you want history get the book or rent the DVD.... racing is racing and records are made to be broken.... just don't run on this one
Kent

[panic]

It may be history, but it's not a record anymore than Willie Sutton made bank withdrawals.

Or is someone going to suggest that the bike was legal?

[Freud]

Burt's children in 2006.

FREUD

[fredvance]

Since it is in the books it is a record. It was inspected, made the requisite 3 runs, and has been in the books ever since. Who are you to say different??

[k.h.]

Aren't there about 1800 possible motorcycle records?  More if you include FIM and AMA?  Just thinkin' there are lots of choices other than Burt's to go for.

[RayTheRat]

If I recall correctly, in the book, "One Good Run" a couple of officials considered making a dummy time slip (I have no idea how they planned to do that) showing his run over 200 as a gesture of kindness.  But they were overruled by the logic that Burt wouldn't want it that way.  Bear in mind that I read the book a long time ago and I have a sh1tty memory, so take it for what it's worth.

[Randall Parker]

There is no record that is "Sacred".  Cursed maybe but never sacred.  I have no problem beating any record that the SCTA deems worthy of listing in their record book.  The rule book is what we go by to break world land speed records.  If the SCTA wants to retire the record then no one will get to break it.  Make a proposal to the SCTA but as long as it is in the record book I for one have no problem with anyone breaking it under the current rules and really no one should have a problem with breaking it.

[fastman614]

This is an absolutely fascinating subject!.... If the 'liner driven/ridden by Cal rayborn was under 1000cc's.... whaddaya think would have happened to Bert's record way back then?... Ironhead sportster motor and all.... under the rules then....AND NOW.... it would have eclipsed it.....

Now, don't get me wrong.... Bert was and IS a legend.... and about the 200mph plus speed.... I understand that he had done over 200mph more than once at the 2 1/4 mile.... I seem to recollect hearing that over the loudspeaker myself.... but, in those days, quarter mile speeds were not recoe=rded for permanent records.... (although, online now, everything seems to have been recorded and posted somewhere)...

OH and BTW.... Bert's full name was Herbert.... thus the spelling with an "E"..... NOT a "U".... I don't care what the movie- "The World's Fastest Indian" showed at a supposed birthday party at the community center for him....

[Dr Goggles]

OH and BTW.... Bert's full name was Herbert.... thus the spelling with an "E"..... NOT a "U".... I don't care what the movie- "The World's Fastest Indian" showed at a supposed birthday party at the community center for him....

It was Burt himself who substituted the U for the E , he preferred it that way.

[fastman614]

C'est possible.... mais.... Oh .... Back to English.... this is possible.... I do know the=at he entered the Bonneville events in the early 70s as Herbert J Munro though.....

[Dr Goggles]

It was all part of the show business side of Burt.....he was smarter, meaner and a whole lot better known than the portrayal of him in the film would have us believe. Burt wouldn't have paid to have his name changed by deed poll, so he would have had to enter under the name on his I.D. To him it was a more American spelling than the old Brit "Bert" and despite his sometimes ornery aura he was firmly switched on to his movie star appeal....

as Don Francisco wrote in HRM that " Burt Munro from New Zealand whose story could make a script for a movie some day" ....it wasn't accidental.

[Tman]

It was all part of the show business side of Burt.....he was smarter, meaner and a whole lot better known than the portrayal of him in the film would have us believe. Burt wouldn't have paid to have his name changed by deed poll, so he would have had to enter under the name on his I.D. To him it was a more American spelling than the old Brit "Bert" and despite his sometimes ornery aura he was firmly switched on to his movie star appeal....

as Don Francisco wrote in HRM that " Burt Munro from New Zealand whose story could make a script for a movie some day" ....it wasn't accidental.

Yup, I read that article at least once a month and think of how ironic Dons statement is/was

[wobblywalrus]

Burt's talent impressed me when I saw the movie and I have even more respect for it now.  That old Indian could not have produced much power.  A lot of his success must have been talent at riding, jetting, choosing gearing, reading the track, streamlining, etc,- the difficult stuff.