Burt Munro's impact on United States motorbike company lives on

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Vice-president of racing, technology and service for Indian Motorcycle USA, Gary Gray, with some Indian Motorcycles which are on display at the E-Hayes and Sons store in Invercargill.

The legacy Burt Munro has left on Invercargill is obvious, but don't be mistaken, it extends much further.

Tinkering in his workshop Munro spent 20 years modifying a bike all in the quest to go fast.

Munro set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938 and then a further seven more.

In 1967, he set a world record at Bonneville in the United States.

* 'Spirit of Munro' brings Bonneville to Oreti Beach

* Following painfully close in Burt Munro's footsteps**

It was a story of a persistent underdog who was written off by many.

A story so fascinating that filmmaker Roger Donaldson in 2005 produced a film, The World's Fastest Indian, outlining Munro's feats.

Later the Burt Munro Challenge was launched, a motorbike rally which now pumps millions into the Invercargill economy as bike enthusiasts from all over converge on the city.

However, while businesses within Invercargill can thank the late Munro for the noise of ringing tills, there is a United States-based company where Burt Munro's legacy also continues to live on.

It was on a 1920 Indian Motorcycle where Burt Munro made his name.

Gary Gray, vice-president of racing, technology and service for Indian Motorcycle USA, said to this day people were drawn to Indian Motorcycles because of Munro.

'A lot of people wouldn't know what a Indian Motorcycle was if it wasn't for Burt Munro.

'Him and also the movie that Roger Donaldson made about his life. Working all that time to take something that maybe went 30mph to go 180mph and set a record, it told a beautiful story.

'A lot or people saw that story and because of that they know what a Indian Motorcycle is.

'Without that probably half of the people who know who we are, probably wouldn't have known who are.'

'Every year we got to Bonneville, there is at least 10 people who walk up to me and say they are in Bonneville because of Burt.'

Gray arrived in Invercargill on Tuesday night for the start of the 2019 Burt Munro Challenge.

It is the first time Gray has visited Munro's home town and when he saw a World's Fastest Indian poster at the airport he knew he was in for a treat.

For Gray the highlight will be the beach racing on Friday. It's a chance to run the Spirit of Munro Indian Scout Streamliner at Oreti Beach.

'That is why we are here, to fire it up and pay tribute to Burt. To run down the same sand that Burt did over 50 years ago.'

Indian Motorcycle has transformed a section of the E-Hayes & Sons store in Invercargill into an Indian Motorcycle dealership during this year's Burt Munro Challenge.

Indian Motorcycle will also hold a VIP event on Friday, with Gray and Burt Munro's great nephew Lee Munro the special guests.

The pair will talk about the trials and tribulations of developing the Spirit of Munro bike, as well as their attempts to break into the 200mph club at Bonneville.