Burt meets numerous helpful people, including highway police, a Native American who aids him when his trailer fails, a woman named Ada who allows him to repair his trailer in her garage and briefly becomes his lover, and an Air Force pilot who is on leave from military service in Vietnam. He finally arrives at the Bonneville Salt Flats, only to be blocked by race officials for not registering his motorcycle for competition in advance, and not having the mandated safety equipment. In a show of sportsmanship, however, various competitors and fans in the Bonneville series intervene on his behalf, and he is eventually allowed to make a timed run. Despite various problems, he succeeds in his quest and sets a new land speed record at the 8th mile of his run; when he reaches 201.851 mph (324.847 km/h). By the end, his leg is burned by the exhaust, and he then falls with the motorcycle and skids to a stop, but he is able to return home to New Zealand as a hero. An epilogue describes that he went to Bonneville again several times to compete and set new records. Cast Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro Jessica Cauffiel as Wendy Joe Howard as Otto Chris Williams as Tina, a transvestite motel clerk Paul Rodriguez as Fernando, a used car salesman Christopher Lawford as Jim Moffet Gavin Grazer as Mike Sobota Annie Whittle as Fran Aaron James Murphy as Tom Chris Bruno as Bob Tim Shadbolt as Frank Bruce Greenwood as Jerry Diane Ladd as Ada Saginaw Grant as Jake Walton Goggins as Marty William Lucking as Rollie Free Patrick John Flueger as Rusty Daniel Sing as Ken Production Director Roger Donaldson had been working on this film for over 20 years before he started filming it, and had previously directed a short television documentary about Munro called Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed in 1971. Arranging the financing for a full feature film was much more difficult, but a key Japanese investor, and Donaldson and Hannam's own money allowed the film to be made. In interviews, Hopkins stated that Munro was one of the easiest roles that he has ever played in his career; simply because Munro's view on life was not all that different from his own.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.solarnavigator.net/films_movies_actors/the_worlds_fastest_indian.htm| publisher=Solarnavigator.net | title=The World's Fastest Indian| access-date=21 May 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070609023847/http://www.solarnavigator.net/films_movies_actors/the_worlds_fastest_indian.htm| archive-date= 9 June 2007 |