Burt Munro set a world speed record of 184 mph in August 1967 aboard a 47-year-old modified Indian Scout. The record for under 1,000 cc motorcycles, set during Speed Week at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, still stands. We stopped by Invercargill’s E Hayes & Sons hardware store on our way to Stewart Island to pay our respects to the hometown hero and check out his legendary Munro Special.
Invercargill is a busy industrial town in the extreme southwest corner of New Zeland’s South Island. Munro, a native of the city, tinkered with his motorcycle for decades, hand-tooling many of his own engine parts in his home workshop. He tested his modifications and raced his motorcycle nearby on the sands of Oreti Beach.
As we drove into town on the way to the airport, our guide Gordy polled the van: “Has anyone seen the ’The World’s Fastest Indian?’ “ Dan, a fan of the Munro biopic starring Anthony Hopkins, raised his hand enthusiastically. No other hands shot up. Undeterred by a van full of puzzled looks, Gordy offered a brief synopsis of Munro’s story. Mary, who co-led our hiking group with her spouse, pulled the van to the curb.
The Munro Special is part of the E Hayes Motorworks collection, which we found sandwiched among displays of hardware and housewares. The collection includes vintage farm machinery and engines in addition to classic cars and motor bikes. The original E. Hayes delivery truck is on display.
With Gordy in the lead, our group of 14 trooped like a line of ducklings shod in hiking boots past displays of kettles, paint and power tools to the Munro display. Their interest piqued by the historic ride, the group quickly fanned out to check out other motor works on display. Alas, we had a plane to catch. So, Gordy and Mary called time, expertly rounded up their scattered flock and gently herded us back onto the van.
Fun diversion. Worth a look.
We traveled to New Zealand’s South Island in March 2024 to do some hiking and sight-seeing. This post is one of a series about that trip.