Thursday, May 28, 2009

"The World's Fastest Indian" movie on Burt Munro

2005 movie: We watched Anthony Hopkins re-enact the true story of part of Burt Munro's life focussing on his speed record still standing today. At age 68 in August 26, 1967, Munro set the world's record for SPEED in the category of under 1,000 cc engines. Munro still holds the world record, no one has yet gone faster. Can you believe he went almost 200 miles per hour (190.07) at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, and he was 68 years old !!! Born at home (Herbert James Munro) on March 25, 1899, with a stillborn twin sister, he died in his sleep from heart failure on January 6, 1978. He married in 1927, and fathered a son and three daughters.
Even more astonishing is that Burt set his current world speed record on an old 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle manufactured to reach speeds up to 54 miles per hour. Munro worked on it for years and tinkered it up to higher and higher speeds with parts he personally made in his garage. Truly amazing !
If you decide to see this movie, be sure to first watch the Special Features interview with the real Burt Munro, it will make you appreciate the movie even more.
AND the movie is an excellent psychology study of the human spirit, and is inspiring in every category. Anthony Hopkins said it was his best role ever.
I think that Jami just had a tooth filled. I do hope that they correctly sized and placed the filling correctly so that there is no toothache pain from the filling pressing on the nerve root. May we have a calm and pain-free Jami.