Many people (especially motorcyclists) must have seen the film "The Fastest Indian". This is a very kind and honest film, featuring beautiful shots and wonderful acting. It was based on the story of Bert Monroe. It is about this person that we will talk about in this article.
Childhood
Bert Monroe was born in 1899 in Invercargill, New Zealand. The boy's parents were farmers. Bert Monroe had a twin sister who died in childbirth. The doctors assured the mother and father that he, too, would soon die, and gave the future motorcycle racer a couple of years at the most. Thank God they were wrong. From childhood, Monroe Jr. had a passion for speed. Despite his father's displeasure, the boy rode the fastest horses.
Youth
Youth Bert Monroe took place at the beginning of the twentieth century. These were the golden years of technological progress. Motorcycles, cars, planes, trains - all this fascinated the young man. And Bert really wanted to see the big world with his own eyes. Monroe Jr. soon joined the army and returned home only after the end of the 1st World War. Father sold the farm and there was nowhere to work,so the future racer got a job as a construction worker. Soon the head of the family decided to start farming again, bought a piece of land and called his son back.
First motorcycle
Bert Monroe, whose biography is presented in this article, bought his first motorcycle at only 16 years old. It was a British Douglas bike. By today's standards, it had a very unusual motor - a boxer deuce, which the engineers installed in the frame not longitudinally, but transversely. The second motorcycle of the young rider was Klino. Monroe Jr. removed the stroller from him and went to set speed records at a local track.
That fastest Indian
In 1920, Bert bought a bike on which he would set several speed records in the future. It was the Indian Scout. The bike had a 600cc engine, a hardtail in the rear, and a 3-speed gearbox. Moreover, the bike did not have a belt drive, as in most models of that time. The chain drive went straight to the wheel. Monroe will not part with the Indian Scout for the rest of his life and will constantly modify it.
First revision
Burt began rebuilding the Indian in 1926 with homemade tools. He himself made various parts of the motor. For example, Monroe's pistons were cast in tin cans. And he made the cylinders from old water pipes. Bert made the connecting rods from axles from Caterpillar tractors. Also, the rider independently made a lubrication system for the bike, cylinder heads, a flywheel, a new clutch andreplaced the old spring fork with a new one. Bert dubbed his bike "Monroe Rush".
Work and racing
Soon the hero of this article began to race professionally, but the Great Depression began, and he had to return to his father's farm. He then took a job as a motorcycle salesman and mechanic. Bert combined his work with a racing career. Monroe regularly raced in Melbourne and Oreti Beach. In order to keep up with everything, he worked until the evening as a salesman, and at night he improved his bike in the garage.
Velochette MSS
By that time, Bert Monroe, a film about which will be shot in 2005, bought another motorcycle - the Velochette MCC. He also modified it: he installed slick tires, modified the suspension, made new parts for the motor and overhauled the frame. Thus, the rider reduced the weight of the bike and increased the engine capacity to 650 cubic meters. Mostly Bert used the Velocette for straight runs.
Racing only
In the late 40s, Monroe divorced his wife, quit his job and spent all his time in the garage. He finalized the "Velochette" and "Indian". The rider actively experimented with bike materials, trying to make them lighter. He also built a fiberglass fairing to reduce drag.
Bert Monroe speed record
After ten years, the racer's bikes are so fast that none of New Zealand's bikes can match them. Bert decided to go to the dry lakes in Australia, but changed his mind after visiting Bonneville in 1957. Monroe wanted to putrecords on a s alt lake, which was located in Utah. In 1962, he took all his savings, borrowed money from friends and left for America on a cargo ship. But even the available funds were not enough for him. Monroe had to earn extra money on this ship as a cook. When he arrived in Los Angeles, he bought an old station wagon for $90, attached an Indiana trailer to it, and drove to Bonneville S alt Lake in Utah.
It should be noted that the rules for participating in the race were very different from those in New Zealand. At home, everything was simple - I arrived, registered and went. Here, Bert was not allowed to check in, since he did not inform in advance about his participation. Monroe was helped by famous racers and American friends who were able to negotiate with the organizers.
In total, the hero of this article has been to Utah ten times. He became as popular in the media as Bert Stern, Marilyn Monroe and other celebrities of the time. The first time he came there in 1957 to set a speed record. And the other nine times he just raced.
In August 1962, Bert Monroe was the fastest in Bonneville. The speed record was almost 179 miles per hour, and the rider set it in his first race. The volume of the engine of his motorcycle was 850 cubic meters. Monroe later set two more records - 168 miles per hour (1966) and 183 miles per hour (1967). At that time, his scout's engine was increased to 950cc. In one of the qualifying races, Monroe managed to achieve a record speed of 200 miles per hour. But, unfortunately, this race was notofficially accounted for.
Accidents and injuries
In 1967, Bert had an accident in his Indiana. Later, he spoke in detail about her in an interview with a New Zealand magazine. Monroe was driving at a very high speed, and after overcoming half the distance, wobbles began. To slow down, the racer rose above the fairing, but a strong wind tore off his glasses and pressed his eyeballs so that he could not see anything. Literally miraculously, Bert did not collide with a steel marker. In the end, Monroe made a decision and put the bike on its side. This allowed him to escape with only a couple of scratches.
By the way, the Indian has been in accidents or broken down many times before. Just countless of the many homemade parts that Bert made for this motorcycle - valves, connecting rods, cylinders, pistons …
In general, the list of injuries received by the rider is impressive. So twice he fell on his head, and lay unconscious for a whole day. In 1927, Monroe flew off the track at a speed of 140 km / h, earning a shell shock and numerous injuries. In 1932, a racing driver was driving past a farm and was attacked by a dog. The result is a concussion. In 1937, while racing on the beach, Bert crashed into his competitor and lost all his teeth. In 1959, when he fell, he severely skinned and crushed the joint on his finger.
Recent years
In the late 50s, Bert Monroe (see photo above) fell ill with a sore throat. She gave complications, due to which the rider had a stroke in 1977. Although doctors back in 1975Bert was forbidden to participate in the races. But he continued to ride his bikes - "Velochetta" and "Indian". According to doctors, Monroe's he alth was undermined by numerous injuries received during the years of racing. Bert knew that after a stroke he would never drive again. Therefore, the legend of motorcycle racing sold all the bikes he had to one of his fellow countrymen. In early 1978, Bert Monroe's heart stopped. The motorcycle racer was 78 years old.
