He was an old pensioner in New Zealand and spent his days modifying and old Indian scout motorcycle. He melted down scrap and casted his own parts. There was no place in New Zealand flat enough and long enough for him to really see how fast his bike would go. He got a lot of support from the locals to raise money and was able to make the journey to the United States to go to Death Valley, where he and his old motorcycle were underestimated by all. But he crushed the land speed records (in his category) which may still be unbroken today. He was infectiously likeable and a really unexpected god of speed, the ultimate underdog