Munro sets new Indian LSR

Lee Munro has followed in the wheeltracks of his great uncle Burt Munro, setting a new Land Speed Record (LSR) on a modified Indian Scout this past July.

With 2017 marking 50 years since Burt Munro set a new LSR in the S/A 1000cc class on a heavily-modified Indian Scout streamliner at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Indian Motorcycle invited Lee to compete at Bonneville, in tribute to his famous predecessor.

Burt Munro made his first competitive journey to Bonneville in 1962, using the same 1920-model Indian Scout to set numerous class records before breaking the S/A 1000cc record in 1967. That year, Burt recorded a top speed on the flying mile of 191mph (305.6kph) and a two-way average of 183.58mph (295.44kph). The result not only reset the class record, but also made Munro’s Scout streamliner the fastest Indian motorcycle in any category. In 2014, the average was recalculated to 184.08mph (296.25kph).

While Munro the younger won’t try and steal the record set by Burt (changes to rules and regulations in the years since means the record is unlikely to ever been beaten), he will mimic his forebear in running an Indian Scout, in the MPS-G (Modified Partial Streamliner) 1350cc class.

After completing trial runs on the Scout in May, Lee joined Indian Motorcycle staffers at California’s El Mirage dry lake in July, where he set a new MPS-G class record, as verified under Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) regulations.

Aboard the modified 2017 Scout, dubbed ‘Spirit of Munro’, Lee needed to exceed 167mph to reset the class record under SCTA rules. His best top speed of 186.681mph easily eclipsed the old mark and put his name into the record books.

“It’s an incredible feat to join my great uncle Burt within the land speed record books,” Lee said.

“Indian has been a great partner in not only providing me with an incredible machine, but providing me with an opportunity to recognize and honour all Burt Munro did for motorcycling.”

At the same El Mirage meeting, Indian Motorcycle staffers set new records in the M-G (Modified Gasoline) 1350cc class on a 2015 Indian Scout and the M-PG (Modified-Pushrod Gasoline) 2000cc class on a 2015 Indian Chief Classic.

At Bonneville on 12-13 August (after this issue went to press), Munro will run a modified Indian Scout with the goal not of breaking Burt’s record, but celebrating his achievement on its 50th Anniversary.