Speed King: Burt Munro, the World's Fastest Indian

by David Hill, Phoebe Morris (Illustrator)

In 1967 an unknown, elderly New Zealander and his ancient Indian motorcycle set a world land-speed record at Bonneville. The man was Burt Munro, and he became a Kiwi legend. How did he do it? His amazing true story is now a stunning picture book.
A crowd of people stand on a flat white plain. In the distance, a snarling, roaring dark speck is hurtling towards them. It's a motorbike. The rider is inside the shell, lying almost flat. 'Go, Burt!'

The red bike blurs past.

Fingers click stop-watches.

How fast has Burt Munro gone this time?

The moment young Burt Munro saw a motorbike chugging down a quiet Invercargill street, he was hooked. More than fifty years later, he and his ancient Indian motorcycle would amaze the world by setting a land-speed record - one that remains unbroken to this day.

Burt didn't have much money. He wasn't young. But he was determined. And he became a Kiwi legend.

A wonderful true story about a very unlikely New Zealand champion, by the award-winning author and illustrator of First to the Top.

Genres: Biography

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2016

About the author

David Hill (born 1942) is a New Zealand author, especially well known for his young adult fiction. His young fiction books See Ya, Simon (1992) and Right Where It Hurts (2001) have been shortlisted for numerous awards. He is also a prolific journalist, writing many articles for The New Zealand Herald.

He cites Maurice Gee as his favourite author, and Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy as his favourite children's authors.

Hill attended Victoria University in Wellington, graduating MA Hons in 1964. Hill currently lives in New Plymouth.

Reviews

[Miss Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new way to research a classic Kiwi: A biographic picture book. I recently discovered that there are many of these!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliently illustrated and simply told story of Burt Monro.