Motorcycle icon Burt Munro received a well-deserved induction into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame today. Munro gained notoriety by setting landspeed records on his home-fettled 1920 Indian Scout, and later gained worldwide fame as the subject of the 2005 film, The World’s Fastest Indian.
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Born and raised in Invercargill, New Zealand, Munro always had a need for speed, famously saying, “You live more in five minutes on a bike like this going flat-out than some people live in a lifetime.”
Munro spent decades rebuilding and wrenching his from his garage, ultimately setting three world records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The under-1,000cc record of 184.087 mph he set in 1967 remains intact today.
“You cannot tell the history of motorcycles without mentioning Burt Munro,” said Aaron Jax, Indian Motorcycle vice president. “Burt’s stories have molded the Indian Motorcycle brand, as we continue to live like Burt and push the envelope to drive innovation, break boundaries and blaze new trails.”
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“Burt’s a legend,” said Gary Gray, Indian’s vice president of racing, technology, and service. “His accomplishments – through trials and tribulations – inspire our racing efforts today. It’s quite an achievement for Burt to be enshrined into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame, and we’re incredibly proud to celebrate Burt Munro not just today but every day.”
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame pays homage to individuals who have made enduring contributions to the motorcycle community. The Hall of Fame class of 2023 also includes Roland Sands, Chris Callen, Jay Allen, Russel Radke, Scott Jacobs, and the 1981 Des Nations Team USA motocross squad. Learn more at the Sturgis Museum website.
