Like father, like daughter ... Indian still fits Munro genes

While Burt Munro was being celebrated the world over in the hit film The World's Fastest Indian, his daughter - Whangarei's Gwen Henderson - was just enjoying her dad's story being told.
The "not quite 80, but more than 70"-year-old woman is thrilled with the Whangarei Museum's decision to stage a Bike Run this weekend as part of the Kauri Festival celebrations.
A replica of Munro's Indian motorbike used in the movie was trucked up from Southland for the event, and Mrs Henderson clambered into eagerly - wearing stilettos - for a photo last night.
"I think it's a great idea," she said.
"There's been such an amazing interest in the film since it came out.
"It's a real Kiwi story which has caught the attention of a whole range of people."
The sparkly Mrs Henderson smiles as she speaks of her father, who she says would be right into the bike run if he were alive.
"He'd be first in line. He'd be over 100 if he was alive today, so that might slow him down a bit."
But she does have family riding on Sunday - Mrs Henderson's Ruawai-born son Robert is coming up from Auckland to take part.
"But he's riding a Harley, not an Indian."
Mrs Henderson says her family has "got the genes" for motorcycle riding, and she's even been known to "hop on the back of one" every now and then.
Whangarei Museum promotions manager Sue Walters said the idea for bringing the Indian bike to Whangarei was initially a flippant comment, but was made a reality thanks to a friend's connections in the Southland hardware business.
Ms Walters was over the moon when she learned the Burt Munro's replica Indian would be available - "I got off the phone and just kept saying `We've got the Indian, we've got the Indian'!"
The bike run will begin at 9.30am on Sunday at Heritage Park at Maunu, heading to A.H. Reed Memorial Kauri Park in Whareora Rd, then travel over Mt Tiger and back to Heritage Park.
"I really wanted an event that would bring people to Whangarei and show off our great city, and bikers generally travel, so it seemed to fit," Ms Walters said.