INDIAN ON ICE

The Appaloosa 2.0 was built to conquer Siberia’s frozen Lake Baikal, the deepest in the world...

- DUNCAN QUINN

Two of Chevy, one of Ford,” with a touch of titanium to add to the witch’s brew of piston mix. Pistons for the fastest motorcycle under 1000cc the Bonneville Salt Flats have ever seen. The bike in question was a highly modified 1919 Indian Scout, built by Burt Munro, an old codger from New Zealand with a dream. The collection of “Offerings to the God of Speed” in his garage underlay his mantra that, “If it’s hard, work harder; if it’s impossible, work harder still. Give it whatever it takes, but do it.”

Pistons and other parts blown to smithereens, and then others cast by him to perfection. In 1967 he was 68 years old and taking nitroglycerin pills to combat heart disease, when he hit a new world record, averaging a shade under 185 mph at Bonneville on his home-built machine. He may have had furred arteries, but he sure as hell also had an unparalleled pair of solid-brass balls, knit together with skill, talent and perseverance. He had forged the barrels, pistons, flywheels, cams and followers, and lubrication system, and even carved the tread off normal tires with a kitchen knife to make his own version of highspeed slicks for the custom Indian Scout. As well as making the streamlined bodywork.