Tim Hanna: One good run - the legend of Burt Munro

Book of the film or film of the book or book of the film of the book? Tim Hanna's account of the life of the Southlander whose obsession with motorcycle speed records inspired the hit film The World's Fastest Indian, doesn't fit easily into any category.

Its publication has clearly been timed to coincide with the launch of the film but it is no quick knock-off of the screenplay. Yet the author also makes it clear that it is not a history.

He describes it as a dramatic recreation of Burt Munro's life from his days as a farmhand, his discovery of motorcycles - and particularly the Indian of the film title - and the single-minded pursuit of speed records that came to dominate his life.

Hanna drew on George Begg's earlier book Burt Munro - Indian Legend of Speed and has been able to talk to people who knew Munro. It is an account well worth the telling and there are anecdotes, character insights and technical details no film could show.

Ah yes. Technical details. Hanna is the author of a meticulously researched biography of John Britten, who created his own modern motorcycle marvel in Christchurch. He clearly knows his cam profiles from his manifolds and there are times when the detail can prove a challenge for the general reader.

But the story is so good you can skip the hard bits and marvel at how anyone could fashion a record-breaking machine from discarded bits and pieces.

Munro had the genius that could make $50 car wrecks carry him across hundreds of kilometres in the US and the cussedness to turn down a wind tunnel test for his streamlined bike.

Whether fast-talking his way out of speed tickets, chatting up pretty waitresses or playing down the dangers of his speed pursuit, Munro captivated Americans. Some Southlanders may have misgivings but they were proud of the old fellow. Might be a film in it.

* Penguin Books, $35