Britain’s own ‘Burt Munro’ breaks speed record

In a scene reminiscent of the film ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’ which celebrated 60-something New Zealander Burt Munro and his land speed record attempts at Bonneville in the ‘60s aboard an old Indian V-twin, a Brough-riding Brit has just grabbed a speed record of his own.

The rider was 68-year-old Londoner Eric Patterson, a retired painter and decorator who also runs Kempton Park autojumble who, riding a new-build Brough-Superior averaged 124.98mph in the VGA Vintage Class at Bonneville Speed Week.

What’s more, the record is made even sweeter by the fact that it was the first time a Brough had been back on the salt for 62 years.

The Bonneville Speed Week record bike is based around a new rigid frame with girder frame, its JAP engine running on pump gasoline.

Read the full story in this week’s MCN (28 September), on sale now.