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

Author(s): David Hill; Phoebe Morris

NZ Non Fiction | Biography & Autobiography | Transport | NZ Picture Books

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 50 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.

PUBLICATION AUGUST 2016

25.00 NZD

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David Hill is a prolific and highly regarded New Zealand writer, playwright, poet, columnist and critic. Best known for his highly popular and award-winning body of work for young people, ranging from picture books to teenage fiction, his novels have been published all around the world and translated into several languages, and his short stories and plays for young people have been broadcast here and overseas. Born in Napier, New Zealand, David studied at Victoria University of Wellington and became a high-school teacher, teaching both in New Zealand and the UK. In 1982 he became a full-time writer and his first novel for teenagers, See Ya, Simon (1992), about a boy with muscular dystrophy, was shortlisted for major awards in New Zealand and the UK and won the 1994 Times Educational Supplement Award for Special Needs. An enduringly popular novel used as a class text in high schools all over New Zealand, in 2002 it was awarded the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-loved Book. David has published more than 40 titles over the past three decades. His most recent junior novels include a href='http://www.p

General Fields

  • : 9780143507222
  • : Penguin Group New Zealand, Limited
  • : Puffin
  • : 0.424
  • : December 2015
  • : 256mm X 247mm X 10mm
  • : New Zealand
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : David Hill; Phoebe Morris
  • : Hardback
  • : Phoebe Morris
  • : English
  • : 796.75092
  • : 32
  • : illustrations