Sounds like a movie but in this case its the green in “green backs” as they were called or the cost of frugal & more budget minded members in our Association. The Great Race when I last went over two years ago with my then 14-year-old daughter cost me pretty close to $500 was it worth it for 2 days riding with fellow individuals and enthusiasts with meals provided but no accommodation, well YES. I went to the pictures (Talkies, Flick’s) a couple of weeks ago $18.00 for under 90 minutes with a small Coke and popcorn & a “Choc top” this was well over $32.00 not counting the wife who cost a similar price. So whats all this adding up to, well rally expenses The Crazy Horse Rally on the week-end after this which some people expect to be free in our Association the reality is “no hope in hell”. So beside the Rally Insurance, the blow-out free morning tea, the free entry to the Historic machinery Club Showground Event, the gold coin donation to the BBQ on the Friday night, the back-up vehicle, and the miniscule amount asked for the raffle ticket not counting the cut in the accommodation rate at the Mountain View I reckon $30.00 is not much, as a matter of fact I reckon it should be at least double or triple. Stop whingeing as my haircut costs $25 and I have less hair than I had when I was 25 & they only cost $10.00 then!

 click on images

I am proud to see the W.Aust Indian Club embracing the new Indians, we also based the IIRA on this standard it encompasses the logic of the continuing history and ensures unlike the dinosaurs of the past that there will be a healthy future, this has also become a standard of the Indian Club of Prague and many others, there were those that were fearful we would be overrun by new machines, seriously it’s not happening and the new owners love the old Springfield versions some have even bought them! I have watched the Vintage Club, Velocette Owners Club, Vincent Owners Club, as the years pass diminish in membership, others such as the BSA Owners are growing (mainly Triumph Owners) and of course the Classic Club of Victoria, why is this happening easy it’s called tolerance, the Classic Club (nearly 500 members) accepts all machines but their core membership is + 25-year-old machines, the BSA Owners accept all British machines including Hinkley Triumphs and their annual All British Rally can get 10,000 over 3 days, plus people visiting including 1200 + people entering the rally event. I believe this is a great basis for our future and we will always be proud this rule in our constitution” a Indian is a Indian end of story”  

Harley woes    click on link

Its been a long time for Aussie’s have been able to buy a new Indian & only in recently to be able to get a new one from a local dealer, with 2 years unlimited Klm’s and roadside cover and 8,000 klm service intervals & at a competitive price.When a new model came out in the twenties as the picture above it may have come by rail then you would assemble it and a dealer was possibly several hundred mile away, makes me feel lucky these days.

Even Hitler hates Indian  (Click on link)

Recently I wrote about advertising in 1917 where climbing hills and Hammock type comfort were the important factors well a mere 36 years later it had changed claims of over 100 M.P.H, speed and stamina & surging power was the focus. A couple of things with this is the 80 cu Chief wouldn’t do 100 M.P.H from the factory, anyone who has ridden a late Chief will find as they get hotter they go slower so false advertising would these days cause the advert to be withdrawn, surging power is debatable when a 650 cc Triumph T110 would leave it for dead with real surging power and at a real 105+ M.P.H. Indian in the final year of production of the big 1340 cc Chief were making machines to order and only small handfuls to say the least American’s abandoned these in favour of lightweight easy to ride British twins so I suppose this advert did very little for sales whatever Indian said.