Folks Of Interest World's Fastest Indian sold at Auction

Excerpt from today's New Zealand Herald:

Motorcycle legend's 'Fastest Indian' bike fetches $71,000

10:13AM Thursday Mar 19, 2009
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A motorbike once owned by Invercargill motorcycling legend Burt Munro is to go on display in Auckland after being bought by a businessman last night for $71,000.
The 1936 Duncan Meikle Velocette, marketed by Webb's auctioneers as a piece of history, went for more than twice the $35,000 it was expected to fetch.
Auckland businessman Kevin Harvey said he was not sure how much higher he would have been prepared to go in his quest to ensure the bike stayed in New Zealand.
The life of Munro was "just such a fantastic story" and "it's a beautiful bike", he said.
He intended to put the motorcycle somewhere on permanent display in Auckland's Parnell Village.
Tim Hanna, author of One Good Run - The Legend of Burt Munro, told Radio New Zealand he was taken aback by the amount the motorcycle fetched
"It just goes to show that Burt has made iconagraphic status in this country, he's right up there," he said.
"There's quite a bit of Burt memorabilia around the countryside, it'll be interesting to see if it comes out of the woodwork now."

Munro's story was told in the movie, The World's Fastest Indian, in 2005.
Munro was famous for setting an under-1000cc world record of 183.586mph (295.453km/h), at Bonneville salt flats, Utah, in August 1967.
The record still stands.

Munro was 68 and was riding a 47-year-old machine when he set his last record.

He died in 1978 at the age of 79.
- NZPA

 

They prefer to be called Native Americans.

 

That is great it got to stay in his homeland.I loved that movie it was very inspirational.

 

awesome to hear the bike staying here. burt was known in my small town by a lot of people and the movie about his bonniville adventures is priceless. he never would have thought his passion would make him a genuine kiwi legend. if you havent seen the movie "the worlds fastest indian", you definately need to. thanks, Firefly.

 

I imagine probably 95% of the people on here have seen it. I own it and have probably watched it a dozen times. Great movie... greater man.

Glad to see the bike stay where it belongs!

 

Ahhh Firefly, you got me all excited by your title, but it wasn''t the world's Fastest Indian that was sold, just a Velocette that Burt had owned

 

I'll remember to tell that to next Indian Chief rider I see and offer to repaint his tank for him.

and who says that members of the lakota nation et al like being called native Americans? .White America didn't do too much of any good to any of them. I think you will find that the term Aboriginal is used by those directly connected when referring to each other and the distinct tribal names such as lakota etc are what they prefer to be known as.

 

Anybody have actual pictures of the bike?

 

This is the auction bike - It is NOT the Indian that he went to Bonneville with

 

That time of the month? Was just a joke, chill.

 

"and who says that members of the lakota nation et al like being called native Americans? .White America didn't do too much of any good to any of them. I think you will find that the term Aboriginal is used by those directly connected when referring to each other and the distinct tribal names such as lakota etc are what they prefer to be known as."

I like to be called "Sire", but it probably ain't gonna happen.......

 

GOD SPEED Burt Munro!!!, and that movie is a M-A-S-T-E-R-P-I-E-C-E!! A must see movie, you will never forget.

 

Have a good friend that is Cherokee. He likes American Indian just fine. Actually he usually says "I'm an Indian, you know, the Woo Woo kind not the Oh my God (with a middle eastern acent) kind"

 

Great movie, good to know the bike is still around and in good shape. That guy had guts and drive.

 

Tom Hensley owns the original Indian.He rented it to the film makers for the movie.It is not for sale.

 

That's right. I've read his autobiography, and he owned a shitload of bikes over the years. The famous one was a 1920 Indian Scout.

 

Id have to take it back to the salt before I stuck it in a museum.
I`ll drive it

 

yeah what a great movie.. glad the bike is considered important still.

 

Guess the recession is over?!!! He was an intereseting man,a Legend if you will.... I dont need Hollywoods' take on it!....but lets face it with out the movie being made,,half you dudes would'nt have known Burt Munro,,from Burt Reynolds!!!! (no disrespect to either)

 

Oops, my bad! Sorry no intent to mislead ..... it was actually a 1936 Duncan Meikle Velocette not the actual 'WFI'. Still thought it interesting though

 

The Movie was TOPS! We've worn it out!

 

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It is not even an Indian, but a Velocette single of later vintage than the V-twin Scout.

 

Thanks for posting. It is interesting none the less.

 

I saw the Indian at the Yokahama show in Japan back in 06. hell it smelt good.

 

Great movie. It captures what hot rodding is. Weither it's on 2 wheels or 4 or 6...
Anthony Hopkins is one of the best actors ever.
I wonder if Rollie Frees 150mph Vincent swimming trunks or cap have ever been auctioned?

 

"When you're dead you're dead." That is the sweetest motto of life I have ever heard.

 

My most favorite movie of all time and the only one I actually own on DVD.

 

GEEZ-Read the damn intro, was one bike Burt owned. Amazing amount of $$. Glad it will be saved. Could not imagine what his Bonneville (Utah) Indian (Motorcycle) would sell for.

 

Walked into work one morning and found the WFI sat in the middle of the studio. It was a few weeks after i'd seen the movie and I just about fell over when I saw it. I was one of those guys who wouldn't have know Burt Monro from Burt Reynolds but I guess that's the point of the movie, to tell an amazing story. I Love the story and I would pore over that machine most every day when I got a few spare minutes. Total privilege to be able to spend so much time with something so beautiful. I guess it's a little more 'polished' than when Burt had it but truly inspiring all the same. We had it there for about four months i think.......