Last months rant from me about complacently getting what you want was graphically illustrated on Facebook recently about Club and Association rides, I have had a bit of feedback and a couple of suggestions that I will bring up at the monthly meeting Tuesday week. So if you have a idea on this matter we are all ears to hear what your thoughts are both good and bad.
A lot of restorers of old bikes like to tell you how great the invention of RTV silicone is, I must admit it is fantastic for use on shower screens and for sealing exhaust pipes on old Indian’s into the barrels but that’s about it. I see Triumph engines similar to the engine above and obviously they must be owned by eccentric pastry chef’s who ice cupcakes and wedding cakes or plumbers that seal guttering or sewer connections. I have noticed a few Indians over the years the same with over use of the product, the secret is if you must use it at all use it very sparingly because in the end what oozes on the outside has done the same inside and its affected by oil so it grows and breaks off eventually ending in the oil pump and galleries, hence I never ever use it, the best test is squeeze a small portion out let it harden then put it in a dish of petrol you will be amazed how it grows, then save the tube for use in the bathroom
So we are all going to suffer the brunt of the fact of more motorcyclist killed are dead in the first five months (29) than all of last year, the Vic Police have announced stringent checks on anybody riding a motorcycle immediately. Well if you read the facts above 23 were not regular bike riders out of the 192,000 on the Victorian Roads today so really only 6 were killed and the Chief Commissioner admits that 85% of the accidents were the bike riders fault so 15% weren’t, looking at this 5 are really innocent victims! The toll is in the real world less this year than ever, last year off road bikes and scooters were counted in the fatality figures what next race track deaths, idiots have need for no need sympathy, only their families or worse still the innocent victims they have killed or maimed I agree with the Police they are the ones that need targeting, but not ordinary motorcyclists.
This picture turned up on Facebook recently and the story is it’s a brand new Chief that the proud owner was taking home from the dealer, I don’t know what to say except I have to feel sorry for him
A couple of photos recently cropped up on Facebook recently the 1947 Chief is far from being completely dismantled but still its a fairly good photo of whats there, for the experienced Indian owner this is a slight inconvenience being in pieces but to others its daunting task which leads to the photo on the right. So what should the majority of potential new owners do, buy a completely restored model well yes of course as in the long run restoring from a oil stain or a spark plug costs a fortune & in the long haul and most people will agree that the guy thats selling a restored model usually is loosing a small fortune.
Looks like all but four rooms are booked at the Railway Hotel Myrtleford 03 57521583 so if your going book your room now otherwise its alternative bookings are at Golden Leaf Motel 03 57521566 or Motel on Alpine 03 57521438
There is a amusing fact that our American cousins get the President they never voted for, it’s kind of right as only 35% of them vote so they all complain about Obama, Bush, Clinton etc, it’s a strange thing that they just can’t be bothered and it’s a threat to the core of the “land of the free”. I thought about this today and the chain reaction this can cause even in a association like ours, complacency that is, not Presidents in USA, a small group of people do a hell of a lot for the majority of the members in there own time and with no profit gained except watching others enjoy themselves, and sometimes at there own cost in family time or money, to have no support is shattering and demoralising I personally have felt it as no support is asked for except to attend a rally or a event in the association year, and very few will attend which slowly erodes your will to organize such things. So when a core run like our Anniversary Run representing our first year is on and been moved to our always noted Sunday ride why is it that only two people reply that there interested in going after being SMS messaged and having it listed on their free 16 month calendar, are the rest of the members to lazy or ill manered to even answer the text, well yes they are! Little do they realise that the free food and drink that has to be supplied free of charge will be wasted because maybe on the day they will decide to attend, or in fact they “give a rats”that people have to do all the arrangements and then instead of 20 turning up 2 or 3 arrive. So you hear all the excuses, ” my mother in law is visiting” its my daughters/sons birthday, my bikes not going, it’s going to rain and it might be cold, I didn’t know it was the ride day, it’s to far away, the rides to long or short, none say the truth such as “I’m a selfish bastard and I don’t care what you do, but I will complain at every chance I get” this at least would good to hear as we would not go to any trouble. The “knock on affect” is no Sunday rides then no rallies leading to as we do nothing there is little to write about so less news and no newsletter or website leading to eventual disintegration of your association, it’s that easy to destroy what you have, just keep doing what your doing. Serious thought on all Sunday monthly rides will have to be made it looks like bi-monthly or quarterly rides may have to be considered. The picture above is a previous Anniversary Run a few years ago
Indian announced today a new limited edition version, nice paint, saddle seat and wire wheels, the rest looks standard Scout, no price has been announced as yet but if your interested contact Scottie 03 93423888 at the Elizabeth st store
