Record speed Bert Monroe

Many people (especially motorcyclists) probably watched the picture "The Fastest Indian". This is a very kind and honest film, featuring beautiful frames and a wonderful acting game. It was based on the history of Bert Monroe. It's about this man that we'll talk about in this article.

Childhood

Bert Monroe was born in 1899 in the city of Invercargill (New Zealand). The boy's parents were farmers. Bert Monroe had a twin sister who died during childbirth. The doctors assured the mother and father that he too would die soon, and gave the future motorcycle racer a couple of years. Thank God, they were mistaken. Already from childhood, Monroe Jr. had a passion for speed. Despite the displeasure of his father, the boy rode on the fastest horses.

Youth

The youth of Bert Monroe passed in the beginning of the twentieth century. These were the golden years of technological progress. Motorcycles, cars, airplanes, trains - all this fascinated the young man. And Bert really wanted to see the big world with his own eyes. Soon, Monroe, Jr. went to the army and returned home only after the end of the 1-st World War. Father sold the farm and there was nowhere to work, so the future driver got a job at the construction site. Soon the head of the family decided to go back to farming, bought a piece of land and called his son back.

The first motorcycle

His first motorcycle, Bert Monroe, whose biography is presented in this article, was only 16 years old. It was the British bike "Douglas". By today's standards, it was a very unusual engine - the opposites deuce, which the engineers installed in the frame, not longitudinally, but transversely. The second motorcycle of the young rider was "Klino". Monroe Jr. took off his stroller and went to set speed records on the local track.

The fastest Indian

In 1920, Bert bought a bike, in which he would put several speed records in the future. It was Scout Indian. The motorcycle had an engine of 600 cubic centimeters, a hardtail behind, and also had a gearbox (3 steps). And the bike was not a belt drive, as in most models of the time. The chain drive went straight to the wheel. With "Scout Indian" Monroe will not part with the end of life and will constantly modify it.

First revision

To remake the "Indian" Bert began in 1926 with the help of self-made instruments. He himself did various details of the motor. For example, the pistons Monroe cast in cans. And the cylinders were made from old water pipes. Bert made the connecting rods from the axles of the Caterpillar tractors. Also, the driver independently made for the bike a lubrication system, cylinder heads, flywheel, a new clutch and replaced the old spring fork with a new one. His bike Bert christened "Monroe Hurried."

Work and race

Soon the hero of this article began to engage in racing professionally, but the Great Depression began , and he had to return to his father's farm. Then he settled himself as a motorcycle salesman and a mechanic. Work Bert combined with the career of the rider. Monroe regularly participated in the races in Melbourne and along the beach of Oreti. To do everything, he worked until the evening as a salesman, and at night he perfected his bike in the garage.

"MCC cycling"

By the time Bert Monroe, a film about which will be removed in 2005, has acquired another motorcycle - "Velocity MCC". He also modified it: he installed tire slicks, modified the suspension, made new parts for the engine and digested the frame. Thus, the racer reduced the weight of the bike and increased the engine's volume to 650 cubes. Basically, Bert used "Velochette" for arrivals in a straight line.

Only races

In the late 40's, Monroe divorced his wife, retired from work and spent all his time in the garage. He finalized the "Velocette" and "Indian". The racer actively experimented with the materials of the bikes, trying to make them easier. Also, to reduce the drag, he built a fiberglass fairing.

Speed record Bert Monroe

Ten years later, motorcycle riders have become so fast that none of the bikes of New Zealand could not compare with them. Bert decided to go to dry lakes in Australia, but changed his mind after visiting Bonneville in 1957. Monroe wanted to set records on the salt lake that was 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 he did not have. Monroe had to work on this ship as a cook. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, he bought an old station wagon for $ 90, attached to it a trailer with the Indiana and drove to the salt lake Bonneville in Utah.

It should be noted that the rules of participation in the race were strikingly different from those that were in New Zealand. At home it was all simple - I came, registered and went. Here, Bert was not allowed to run, because he had not informed in advance about his participation. Monroe was helped by the famous racers and American friends, who were able to agree with the organizers.

In total, the hero of this article was in Utah as many as 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 just participated in the races.

In August 1962, the fastest in Bonneville was Bert Monroe. The record speed was almost 179 miles per hour, and the driver set it in his first race. The volume of the motor of his motorcycle was 850 cubes. Later, Monroe put two more records - 168 miles per hour (1966) and 183 miles per hour (1967). At that time, the engine of his scout was increased to 950 cubes. In one of the qualifying races, Monroe managed to reach a record speed of 200 miles per hour. But, unfortunately, this race was not officially taken into account.

Accidents and injuries

In 1967, Bert got into an accident in his "Indiana". Later, he spoke in detail about it in an interview with a New Zealand magazine. Monroe drove at a very high speed, and after overcoming half the distance Vobbling started. To slow the movement, the rider rose above the fairing, but a strong wind ripped off his glasses and pressed the eyeballs so that he could not see anything. Literally miraculously, Bert did not encounter a steel marker. As a result, Monroe decided and put the bike on his side. This allowed him to get rid of just a couple of scratches.

By the way, before that, "Indian" many times got into an accident or broke down. Just do not count all the many self-made parts made by Bert for this motorcycle - valves, rods, cylinders, pistons ...

In general, the list of injuries received by the rider is impressive. So twice he fell on his head, and unconscious for a whole day. In 1927, Monroe flew off the track at a speed of 140 km / h, earning a concussion and numerous injuries. In 1932, the driver drove past the farm and was attacked by a dog. The result is a concussion. In 1937, Bert during a race on the beach, crashed into his rival and lost all his teeth. In 1959, when falling, he heavily ripped the skin and crushed the joint on the finger.

Last years

In the late 50's, Bert Monroe (photo above) was sick with a sore throat. She gave complications, because of which the rider in 1977 had a stroke. Though doctors in 1975 have forbidden Bert to participate in arrivals. But he continued to drive on his bikes - "Velocette" and "Indian". According to the doctors, Monroe's health was undermined by the numerous injuries suffered during the years of racing. Bert realized that after a stroke he would never drive. Therefore, the legend of motorcycle races sold all his tales to one of his fellow countrymen. In early 1978, Bert Monroe's heart stopped. Motorcycle racing was 78 years old.