After this he became a professional speedway rider, but returned home to the family farm at the start of the Great Depression. At that time, Munro worked on the Otira Tunnel construction until recalled to work with his father on a newly purchased farm. Munro remained on the family farm until the end of the First World War, when his father sold the farm. At the outbreak of the First World War, he intended to go to war as soon as he was old enough, for a chance to see the world. As Munro's family discouraged his endeavours outside farm life, he became constantly bored with daily routine. Trips via train to the Invercargill port were a rare source of excitement, and the arrival of cars, motorcycles and aircraft added to Burt's eagerness to join the world outside his farm. Munro's interest in speed began at an early age, riding the family's fastest horse across the farm, despite the complaints of his father. His grandfather was from northern Scotland and settled on a farm in Invercargill.
His twin sister died at birth and Munro grew up on a farm in Edendale, east of Invercargill. Munro was born in 1899 to William Munro, a farmer and Lily Agnes Robinson in Invercargill. His efforts, and success, are the basis of the film The World's Fastest Indian (2005), starring Anthony Hopkins, and an earlier 1971 short documentary film Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed, both directed by Roger Donaldson. During his ten visits to the salt flats, he set three speed records, one of which still stands. He travelled to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats, attempting to set world speed records. Munro set his first New Zealand speed record in 1938 and later set seven more. Working from his home in Invercargill, he spent 20 years highly modifying his 1920 Indian motorcycle that he had bought that same year. This record still stands Munro was 68 and was riding a 47-year-old machine when he set his last record. Herbert James "Burt" Munro ( Bert in his youth 25 March 1899 – 6 January 1978) was a motorcycle racer from New Zealand, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, on the 26th of August 1967. Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, New Zealand
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