MAINTENANCE, ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR

A lot of people come into my shop around September and usually complain that their motorcycle needs maintenance, almost surprised it has’nt healed itself over the winter months, really,  unfortunately your machine will require T.L.C  even just sitting and nows the time to get into it. Perhaps the annual oil change or new chain maybe a tappett adjustment or something more serious, nows the time as in the Sept-Oct months there will be the Crazy Horse rally at Myrtleford and the Pub & Grub ride in October which can be quite a few miles,  order the parts and be ready!

Who’s going to the All British Rally?

The 47th All Brit Rally is on again over the Anzac Weekend 25-27 April at Newstead, the 1000 bike line up will be in Malden on the Saturday at midday, always a fabulous weekend not to be missed

Rally round -up

Some members of our club attended this Vincent rally in February, and it is a runner up to our Gypsy Tour in 2026 to Tassie.

 

The March VOC rally to Tasmania

A bit of a test ride for next years Gypsy Tour 2026, the Vincent Owners Club rally was well attended with 82 Vincents and only my Vindian. Members Owen Jones rode his Vincati, while Dave Kimpton rode his Series C touring Rapide, our honorary member Jason Douglas drove back-up (the giant) which he will be doing next year on our Tour. Gary Rizzole rode a 1970 Bonneville and joined our small group, all the bikes in our group went well with over 1400 klms covered my saddlebag mounts broke, fortunately Owen had a small arc welder on board so it was a easy fix! The weather was reasonable only two wet days the rest were excellent. A full report will be in your next Smoke Signals, Member Guy Allen just imported a Rapide from USA so we are getting quite a number of Vincent’s in our club, I myself have just bought a 5000k Ducati GT 1974 so those Italians are also infiltrating!

A sign of the times?

How are Indian Motorcycle values holding up?
I’m currently analyzing Mecum Auction results and finding massive declines especially when you factor inflation into the sales prices.
Here is my first sample: The first bike a 1907 Indian Tri-car sold for 2015 for $181,000
in 2025 a 1907 Indian Tri Car sold for $60,000
The 1907 Indian Tri-Car that sold for $181,000 in 2015 is equivalent to $244,388.19 in 2025 dollars.
This represents a significant drop in real value of about 75%
The one that sold in 2025 is actually in nicer shape! It was a steal when you compare!
Gary Stark

Gypsy Tour of Tassie 2026

Please Click on the link below for Expression of Interest form, I know its next year but there is a restricted entry and the ferry has to be booked well in advance.

Expression of interest form copy

 

Christmas and New Year wishes, with upcoming events

Nearly the end of the year and all best for the coming year for you and your family, hopefully your editor Ray will have a summer edition of Smoke Signals out before Christmas and in it beside a few riveting articles from contributors Guy Allen and Phillip White, myself and some others it should be something too finish the year off. You will notice a Gypsy Tour of Tassie in March 2026 coming up that has a couple of things to conform to if you wish to enter.

The most important thing is you get a ferry booking on the new Spirit of Tasmania 4 or 5 which will be in service at that time, all accommodation will be announced after your expression of interest form is filled and a deposit paid, there will be on 16 only openings for this trip so don’t be complacent. There will be a backup vehicle for luggage so you will not have to worry about carrying stuff with you.

Anyway the Midday Express at Thornton is only 4 weeks away so book the Rubicon Motel and I hope to see you all there.

 

Well the end of the year is nigh

 

I always like to do a summary at the end of the year of whats happened, in January the Midday Express to Thornton proved very popular and it will be repeated next year on 18th  Jan,  March  was a General meeting and March was a club run, July was the AGM and a free meal up to $30 at the Grandview Hotel, September General meeting with the Crazy Horse Rally at Corryong, October the Pub & Grub ride which was a great success as well, November another meeting at the Railway Hotel with the Christmas Party at Lancefield at Wayne and Wendy Smith’s. All of that and another 6 new members so growth again I would call that a successful Goodyear!

 

End of the year blues

How come the end of the year becomes a funnel with the earlier months ticking away doggedly slowly, while in the colder months when you are supposed to do your maintenance summer seems years away till the good riding season. Sure September & October were great with both the Crazy Horse Rally at Corryong and then 3 weeks later the very well attended Pub & Grub Ride, things start to funnel from now on with the quarterly meeting on the 26th of this month then the Christmas party on 1st December, just after you’ve got that under your belt the Midday Express Run to Thornton on 18th January for a overnighter and so it continues with all the personal stuff with family jammed in-between! If time is ever metricated so we have 300 days in a year, 20 hour days, 10 months in a year, 30 days in every month or 5 days in a week it would be worse, but something to think about.