As a nation, New Zealand has a reputation for proudly wearing its do-it-yourself ethos on its sleeve. National hero Burt Munro is, of course, a particularly potent example. The builder and pilot of the World’s Fastest Indian motorcycle is quite naturally also revered by bike and speed enthusiasts around the world. Still, there’s a completely understandable national pride in being able to say “yep, he’s one of ours.”
That DIY reputation perfectly explains why Invercargill, New Zealand-based hardware shop E Hayes and Sons—and not some museum—is the home of a massive Burt Munro collection, including The Bike. Well, that and the fact that the Hayes family had a lifelong friendship with Munro, and also the fact that Irving Hayes supported much of Munro’s racing habit financially. Even beyond that, though, it’s a match that makes absolute sense, given the fact that the man spent over 20 years fettling his record-setting machine in his Invercargill home before heading off to set that record.
