Great movie for bike enthusiasts

[MG]

I just watched "The World's Fastest Indian" with Anthony Hopkins from 2005.
That's a movie about the life of Burt Munro from NZ, who set several land speed records in the 60s on his highly modified 1920 Indian Scout.

I can tell you, its one of the best movies I have seen, really loved it!
So if you are into bikes and haven't seen it yet, get yourself a DVD!

There are bikes (an A10, too!), great landscapes, a convincing leading actor and a great plot without any guns, car chases (at least no major ones) and other Hollywood-special-effect stuff. Just the story of  an amiable stubborn eccentric who is following his dream.

[lawnmowerman]

Totally agree MG, it is a superb film - especially when he carved away the tread on the tyres with a carving knife to make slicks and then filled all the cracks in with boot polish to make them look new to satisfy the scrutineers.
I was so impressed that I Googled Bert Munro and found a web site dedicated to him - well worth a look.

[rocket man]

i have to agree its a superb film ive watched it several times now

[muskrat]

G'day all, I have watched it 4 times and rate it #1. I have 2 copies, one still in it's wrapper. Bert is #2 on my list of most respected men. Phil Irving is #1. The car chase where he clicked up a gear and left them gobsmacked was great. And how about the tranie, he knew.
Any Kiwi's on the forum, before I start the sheep jokes ?
Cheers

[davemac]

G'day Guys,

That is a brilliant film one of my all time best. I got a copy for my birthday last year and included was the original documentary with the real Bert Munro made by the same guy that made the movie. Anthony Hopkins played a magic role and when you see the real Bert it's hard to tell them apart.

In an interview with one of Bert's daughters she tells of a family day out, going to the beach. Bert didn't have a car at the time so he used his Indian to pull a trailer with the kids in down a dirt road for a few kays to the beach. As the daughter tells it, Bert used to get a bit carried away and rolled the trailer tipping the kids out. After a few tears they'd all get back in and head off again. This would happen several times before they reached the beach. What a character!

Just a bit of trivia. One of my mates went on a trip to NZ, to the Sth Island, and went looking for Bert's bike which was supposedly on display in his home town, Invercargil. Guess where it is? In the front window of the local hardware store.

I rather like his way of mowing the lawn, saves time I guess!

[orabanda]

Great movie.
The evocative scene that burns in my mind however,is early in the piece, when the camera pans through his shed and we see the wrecked pistons and rods. Underneath them is scrawled "Offerings to the God of Speed".
That says it all!
 I can relate to that.
I bet everyone on this forum has their own collection as well!
Richard

[Brian]

My "offerings to the god of speed" is a pile of receipts for parts that the six million dollar man couldnt jump over. If the head of domestic affairs ever found out what I spend on bits I would most likely get to meet a God of a different kind !!!!!!!!!!! ( or more likely a devil, wouldnt know anyone up there anyway)

[muskrat]

I think we are all in that boat Brian
I wish I had kept all of mine. They would fill a good sized locker and make most of you weep.
Cheers

[RGS man]

RGS man,
Bert muroes bike, in a hardware store , gotta see that, I'm in NZ in march this year, I'll tell my wife thats there's a good dress shop in Invecargill as an excuse to get there (slightly out of the way). By the way, there are sometimes some good buys on trade me NZ, woth a look.

Cheers

[RGS man]

RGS man, sorry abouit the typos, new keyboard, very sensative.

cheers

[MG]

RGS man - post some pics of the bike if you really get to see it!

[lawnmowerman]

Try this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npQqSF7-pZs
Shows the Scout in the hardware store in Invercargill

[MG]

I'm sure it never looked that good when Burt had it. Looks like it had been repainted and polished everywhere.