Donald Britten: Backyard Visionary

[Nicad]

John Britten: Backyard Visionary

Saw a doc the other day on this guy I read about back in my Motorcycle days. (Title is wrong his name is John Britten)
This guy builds a bike in his garage and takes it to Daytona. Incredible story. Very inspirational. If you like car design, you will like this story.

http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/britten-backyard-visionary-1993

 

[Rob750]

Isnt this the story that was turned into the film "The fastest Indian" starring Anthony Hopkins

 

[CSteve]

The movie was titled "The World's Fastest Indian" starring Anthony Hopkins. True story, a guy in New Zealand I believe tarted up an Indian, arrived at the Bonneville Salt Flats unannounced and set a world speed record which may still stand.

Great film, lovely story.

 

[Nicad]

No, you are confusing two New Zealanders of different eras.The Indian Bonneville racer was named Burt Munro. John Britten built a complete racing motorcycle of his own design in his home garage. He came up with new ways to build wheels, frames, his own electronic management, his own unique suspension design, his own complete engine, block , heads, exhaust, cooling system. the only parts he did not create were the cylinder liners and transmission (Used a Suzuki gearbox) . He took the bike with basically zero testing to Daytona and ran second against the Ducati factory efforts in his first year. A rectifier gave out while the bike was leading in year two. Sadly, he died of skin cancer at a young age.
WHat I am most impressed by is how the bike handled with such minimal testing.
I'd love to own anything this guy touched as a momento to the skills he had.
Just bought a print of his Bike on Ebay to hang in my shop.