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New Anthony Hopkins flick about the "One Hell of a True Story" of Burt Munro, a New Zealander who spent a lifetime 'perfecting' a 1920 Indian - he brought it to the US in 1967 to set the land speed record (which he did). Looks like a great film. Gonna try to talk Mrs T into heading into Manhattan tonight to see it............

The film opens in Feb 2006 but is currently in limited rlease (NYC and LA) to qualify for the Oscars. It's already gotten rave reviews from the critics.
http://www.worldsfastestindian.com

The Australian site is much better, with cool trailers.
http://www.worldsfastestindian.com.au

Wow...I can't wait for that one....thanks.

DJ

Yeah Tony! Give us a full review after you see it!
I read about Burt in the moto mags when I was a kid, I got to see his Indian streamliner and hear it run when I was racing at Bonneville, long after Burt was dead.
I have pictures I took of it then and I have some good stories about him, told to me by Jack Wilson another Bonneville legend before he died. He and Burt were good friends.
After I see the movie I'll scan the pics and post them with the stories...no point writing them up if they are in the movie.

My grandfather's brother raced Indian motorcycles in the 1910's. I have a trophy from a race that he won in toledo, but do not much else. He died in an accident while racing. Are there any sites that may have access to more info from the old days of racing?

The movie looks like a very interesting story.

I can not wait to see the movie as my experience at Bonneville a few months ago having sparked my intrest in things Bonneville. Darthrider has spent a lot of time there and it definitely gets under your skin. The vastness broken by the occasional motorcycle blasting across the salt is indescribable at least by me. The rider of Darth could surely paint a beautiful pictures with the printed word.

Dean-O
These random thoughts come to mind about the Bonneville Salt Flats and the people who are drawn to them.


Edit: See "Land Speed Racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats" thread on Off Topic.

Is this finally showing? I have been waiting for awhile to see it. Hopefully this year will be better for the salt flats.

edit: Why do we have to wait until February?

Neat pics darthrider.

Does the road there just stop at the edge of the salt, or is there a bit of pavement that goes onto the flats? Do you start the runs out in the middle or on the edge? I am just trying to get a visual in my mind, but hope to go out there someday.

Jeff -
This is all BLM land and is protected by them.
There is a paved road that goes to the Salt, then stops. You typically drive about a mile out to the Pits, near the starting line.
There are usually two courses in a V configuration, the starting lnes being virtually adjacent.
One is the "Short Course" and is, I believe 4 miles long. The "Long Course" is, I believe 8 miles long. I may be a little off on the course lengths, I'd have to check the rule book to be sure, but you get the idea.
The Short Course usually heads straight towards "Floating Mountain" some 14 miles away. The Long Course heads more to the right of Floating Mtn. and has M-I-L-E-S of over run should a car lose it's chute or brakes.
When a "Super Fast" car like Al Teague's runs, they pull everybody WAY back from the start line and move Al back about 2 more miles behind the start line. They have to push his car well over 100 MPH to get it started. When he comes by the "start" line, he shifts to 2nd gear at ~195 MPH!!
What a show...

I moved my part of this post to "Land Speed Racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats" on Off Topic.
Any discussion on that topic, please post on the new thread.
Thanks!

Guys, did not make it into NYC last night to see the flick. Wife made me take 15 yr old daughter (and her friend) shopping.

I'll try to get to it next week if it's still playing.

Looks like it's gonnna be a good one........

I saw this movie last Wednesday evening, and I absolutely recommend it to all! It's a nice story, and they had some nice footage from Bonneville. Mr. Hopkins did his usual excellent job of bringing his character to life, and I suspect he may have had fun with this role.

I only own a handful of DVD's, but when this film becomes available I will definitely need to buy a copy. It will open across the U.S. in February, and I definitely look forward to seeing it again on the "big Screen".

Ed!
Buy two copies...send me one.
Yeah, that's it.

I saw this movie on it's release here in New Zealand in early October. A great story, well told and acted by Mr Hopkins - and here's the clincher, my wife thought it was a great movie which is a first when it comes to anything fast or mechanical!! The record set by Burt Munro in the under 1000cc class still stands to this day at a little over 200mph! He was 68yrs old at the time!

Burt is an eccentric who has spent much of his adult life rebuilding (from scrap with a great deal of enginuity) and fine tuning his beloved Indian Scout in the constant pursuit of speed - all from his tin shed / house in rural and backward New Zealand.

The movie is a great yarn and shows his sweet talk, ingenuity and sometimes naivete. The bulk of the story is about his efforts to get to Bonneville and his subsequent attempts at the record!

Enjoy!

Ian Gore
Wellington
New Zealand

01 R1150R. 32,000Km

Hey Ian -
So what's with you Kiwi's and fast motorcycles?
First Burt Munro, then John Britten and some others I can't recall...does everyone there go really, REALLY fast on home-built bikes?
I've always heard New Zealand is motorcycle paradise, must be so.
It's good to hear the Kiwis like the movie...I've heard non-motorcycle people like it as much as we do!

I can't wait to see it.

DJ

DJ Downunder wrote:Dave....what is it about New Zealanders???

Well yes they love their bikes....and they love their sheep...

DJ

So THAT'S what they mean by dual-purpose bikes.

That is the funniest looking tank bag I've ever seen.

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

That is too much!!!
That is definitely a "Fill in the Caption" pic!!!

here goes:

New Zealand: "Where men are men, and sheep are scared"

I just hope he's got his fly ziped...

DJ