The last Association ride to Malmsbury and last weekends rally to Llannely highlighted to me what its all about, good weather, close friends, and a interesting ride, what more could you ask for well actually one thing a few more to participate. The thing that never ceases to amaze me is everyone knows that that except for December or if there is one of our 4 rallies on in a month that there is a run on which it will be cancelled, so that means 7 times a year on the first Sunday of the month there is a Association ride happening or 4 times a year there is a rally. This has been that way since 2011 and yet people cant organise themselves at least once a year because they are “all booked out” REALLY you’ve got to be kidding, but needless to say they can’t get away at least one time a year I reckon its time to smell the roses chaps!
Jim Tierney was a remarkable guy a staunch Indian rider on his 2014 Chief Classic, he always attended the Rain in the Face, and the Crazy Horse Rallies, a new Triumph Thunderbird owner as well, unfortunately he was killed riding in USA details are sketchy at the moment and his fellow A.C.T mate Lenny is also grieving at this time as well. Many of his friends in IIRA such as Noel Thornby, Gary Hogg, Phillip White and myself I’m sure will be in shock such a great guy is no longer with us Jim rest in peace mate
Lots of people love a standard Indian with enclosed wheels, and sweeping art-deco lines but others like bikes a little different the “Nordian” was on Facebook recently but the other one is a local bike with a 4 speed Norton gearbox and electric start, Suzuki front end and a H-D swing arm back-end grafted on, both owners wouldn’t want a standard factory Chief and personally I reckon either would be a treat to ride. The good thing about Indian owners is they are not that anal about matching this or that, or whether that 1948 model had chamfered washers only in that year which worries some people like Vincent Owners to name but one group, thank goodness we are not like that. Summers on the way and in October we have a run to Malmsbury on the 7th and the Teepee Rally the following weekend check the calendar for times etc, I think its time to get the old girl out and give her a service and a good kicking and Im not talking about your missus.
I have always had a fascination for Scouts mainly the reason I bought a 2015, but recently I was offered this one from an Association member that I had the opportunity to buy in about 2011, and I was thwarted at the last-minute. A phone call last Thursday clinched the deal, and I picked it up the following day and now all I have to do is clean contaminated fuel from the tanks and carby, but I did find the original owner wrote in pencil on the underside of the fuel tank it had 00001 miles on the speedo after a full resto in 1995 the little Scout now has 185 miles!
Last weekends Sunday ride to Antique Motorcycles was really well attended for a winters day, it was followed to our vice-presidents place Crazy Horse Moto for a equally nice BBQ and thanks to Mark & Sandy for the hospitality for cooking our meals and looking after us, a ride report below.
IIRA 5 Aug Ride to Antique Motorcycles
Another rally like the All Brit and at the same place in Newstead near Castlemaine, this should be popular hopefully not just a Harley meet. A beta version of the new suggested website is listed below and it should go “live” before Xmas. Also if you want your bike in our 2018 calendar please email me good quality photos of your Indian to me pronto as we are closing this off before the end of this month this is an exclusive only to members all Indian Calendar the same as the other two we have produced in the past, machines must be Indian and owned by current financial members, which means if you havent paid your subs your motorcycle is now illegal to ride you will get a $800 fine and 3 points off your licence, in short pay your outstanding subs immediately!
Our Clubman of the year & well deserving of it Richard Onyon, for all the effort and help to our association he has given in the past and especially over the last 12 months, good on you Richard.
Daryl Colt’s Chout is a combination of a twenties Scout and a 1200 forties Chief engine, he has just finished it today and brought it to me for a inspection to put it on Red Plates, what a absolute stunner it looks factory stock even the fuel tank (made by member Paul Taylor) is a piece of art wider than the original but you dont notice it, the same as the CNC bottom engine mounts they look like something that came from Springfield. Daryl it seems to go better and better on these projects, first the Prince and earlier in the year a 741, I wonder what he is planning next, he’s bringing it to the meeting tonight for all to see at the AGM, see you there
Richard Onyon your second in command club captain has given himself a treat and traded in his Scout for a 3,500 klm Dark Horse looks like will see him out on the association BBQ next Sunday on it.