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Rare Burt Munro footage found in family films

Logan Savory

Rare footage of New Zealand motorcycle legend Burt Munro has been unearthed amongst a family film collection from the 1950s and ’60s.

Munro was famous for setting an under-1000cc world record, at Bonneville in the United States, at age 68 in 1967. He set the record while riding a 47-year-old Indian Scout motorcycle which he spent 20 years modifying at his home in Invercargill.

Munro’s story shot to fame on the back of the 2005 movie The World Fastest Indian.

While planning for Invercargill department store E Hayes and Sons’ 90th anniversary celebrations, Judy Crooks (nee Hayes) advised that there was some old film footage stored away that might be of use. When marketing manager Nick Hawes looked at the footage, he was stunned to discover clips of Munro amongst it.

‘‘Up comes Burt at Oreti, and Burt on the Bluff Hill before they sealed the road. Burt’s bike on the back of a float at the centennial of the Southland AMP Show, in an exhibition for the motorcycle club,’’ Hawes said.

Irving Hayes and his son, Norman, shared a great passion for motor racing and motorcycles. They began a lifelong friendship with Munro in 1949.

Irving financially backed many of Munro’s racing attempts, including when Munro broke the world speed record in 1967 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Munro’s 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle remains on display at E Hayes and Sons in Invercargill.

It is thought that Norman Hayes shot much of the film that has now been unearthed.

Hawes said the store would release film clips throughout the year as part of its anniversary celebrations, including the various footage of Munro.

A clip was released this week of Munro and his mates loading his bike in Invercargill in 1962 to take to Bonneville for one of his many speed record attempts. Hawes said it had attracted global interest.

National News

en-nz

2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/281685438233449

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