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 26 August 1967.

He travelled to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats, attempting to set world speed records.

[5] His twin sister died at birth[2] and Munro grew up on a farm in Edendale, east of Invercargill.

[5] 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.

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.

[1] After the Second World War, Munro and his wife divorced, and he subsequently gave up work to reside in a lock-up garage.

Munro's two greatest challenges while modifying his bike were his lack of money and that he worked full-time as a motorcycle salesman.

[10] Burt Munro was the subject of a 2005 film, The World's Fastest Indian, based on a composite of his Bonneville speed runs.

This film depicts a determined old man who, despite facing many difficulties, travels from New Zealand to the USA to test run his motorcycle west of the Great Salt Lake.

[14] In March 2013, Indian Motorcycle announced that it was producing a custom-built streamliner named the Spirit of Munro.