Thread: Munro Special - Quarter Scale

Greetings All,

I have been heavily involved with the Munro Special for the last 2 years. The bike was restored about 25 years ago. Just after restoration it was over revved at a show and broke a rod. A very common occurrence for Burt Munro when he ran the bike. So 2 years ago I thought it might be fun to build a quarter scale running model of the World's Fastest Indian. So I needed the bike to measure. Turns out it lives about 12 miles from me. Ya gotta love that. I made arrangements to measure the bike if I made it run. There isn't enough room here or time to tell you what was involved. Briefly new rods, pistons and cylinders. I made the rods and cylinders and had the pistons made. We then were invited to Pebble Beach. Both fairing halves had not been on the bike together since the restoration. They didn't fit anymore. Everything is painted. So about 2 weeks of making parts setting it up like Burt had it and making the fairing fit, we went to Pebble. We loaded up on Friday at 3:00 and judging was Sunday morning at 8:30. Fortunately it is only about 3 hours up the road from here. We won best of class for racing motorcycle. It is still a little mind numbing to think about. So I have started the model. The short block is finished and the heads are next. I am making 35 complete running bikes in quarter scale. Here are a few shots:

Jay Leno and I. Jay is holding the model engine. The guy in the center is Tom Hensley who owns the bike and a larger Indian collection.



Receiving 1st place in class.



The quarter scale engine setting on the real bike.



Full scale and quarter scale engine



The forked rod that is in the Munro Special and the quarter scale of the same.



Of course it comes with a tool kit. I have to make all of the fasteners because you can't buy them to scale. So I have to make wrenches. Might as well copy Snap-on.



I will keep the board posted on progress. The heads will be cast iron so I am making the wax molds now for those. I will be using the lost wax casting method.

Until next time.

Phil Schack

you have talent bro.

I know Tom well.

Hi Bignmz04,

He was just here today. We pulled the bike apart. I have to make some magneto pickups, grind the valves on the rear cylinder, and other odds and ends. It is great fun working on the bike. You kind of get an idea of how Burt thought. It is truly amazing what he did with his resources. Thanks for the compliment on the talent. If you want to PM me I will tell Tom you said hello.

Phil