Burt Munro was no stranger to going fast. He'd set speed records in the years prior to the 1967 speed runs in both the 883 cc class and 1000 cc class. To qualify for the under 1000 cc run in 1967, he made a one-way run of 190.07 mph (305.89 km/h) on his Indian Scout, dubbed the "Munro Special," which was the fastest-ever officially-recorded speed on an Indian motorcycle. Thirty-six years after his death, he was still setting speed records when his son John noticed a miscalculation in AMA records at the time. As a result of the correction, the AMA issued a new certificate in 2014 and Burt was retroactively awarded a 1967 record of 184.087 mph (296.2593 km/h). To memorialize Munro's iconic speed record, Indian Motorcycle tapped Burt's great nephew, Lee Munro, to recreate the event at Bonneville salt Flats in August.

Continue reading for more on the anniversary celebration.

What's The Buzz?

Burt was the subject of two films, a short documentary "Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed" in 1971, and the feature film "The World's Fastest Indian" in 2005. When Polaris resurrected Indian in 2011, they recognized Munro's legendary connection to Indian Motorcycle and the Scout, and named the modern Indian Scout Streamliner "Spirit of Munro" in 2013.

According to Indian's head office, “Motorcycling is about shedding boundaries and limitations to go beyond the norm, and there is no better example of that than Burt Munro,” said Reid Wilson, Indian Motorcycle Marketing Director. “Driven by unparalleled determination and a legendary passion for the pursuit, Burt Munro embodies the spirit of Indian Motorcycle, and we couldn’t be prouder to honor his legacy with an updated version of his historic record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in August.”

The Tribute

With Burt's great nephew, Lee Munro, in the saddle, Indian celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic land speed record on August 13 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Lee will pilot a modified Indian Scout to recreate the historic run in an effort to become the world’s fastest modern Indian motorcycle. No, it isn't an attempt to break the record, but instead to pay tribute to a man who, at the age of 68 and riding a 47-year-old motorcycle, made his mark in history.

“My uncle Burt was a significant inspiration for my own racing career, and his appetite for speed is clearly a part of my DNA” said Lee Munro, the grandson of Burt’s first cousin. “What Indian Motorcycle is doing is fantastic, and I couldn’t be prouder to partner with them and pilot my own Scout at Bonneville in honor of my Uncle and the 50th anniversary of his historic record.”