This is a picture 344 that will be featured in a upcoming article in the next Smoke Signals Magazine out next month, the owner is a regular at all our meetings the the story behind this old warhorse bought for a “tenner” ($10 ) is amusing a good article to start the New Year. This brings me to something that in the past was popular in the Association, telling people how you got into Indian’s, you have seen the pictures of my 1921 Scout on the webpage in the past how about a article on your story no matter how recent we are all interested either email or fax Guy Allen or Phil Pilgrim

From 1 January 2014, Victoria will abolish registration labels for all light vehicles, including motorcycles and scooters in a move claimed to save Victorians $19.5 million a year by reducing the red tape burdens; in fact it will significantly INCREASE the aggravation already being experienced by users of the red plate or club permit system.Victoria Police will continue to enforce the law to ensure that a vehicle is registered when it is used on a road.  Without registration labels, police and other bodies will use the VicRoads systems to verify the validity and type of vehicle registration based solely on the vehicles licence plate – and this is where the catch 22 comes in for Red Plate vehicles. Red Plate vehicles ARE NOT included in the VicRoads systems that the authorities will be using to validate registration and as such, when checked in that system they will be flagged as unregistered and the police may well issue on the spot fines in excess of $700 for operating an unregistered vehicle.  To fight the fine through the courts could cost you thousands of dollars! Did I hear someone say bullshit?  Prove it for yourself.   You can check any vehicle’s registration by entering the registration plate details online at www.vre.vicroads.vic.gov.au  or by calling VicRoads on 13 11 71 .  Try it for ANY valid red plate number and see what happens. So in addition to completing and carrying the applicable log book all operators of red plated vehicles are also strongly advised to also carry proof of payment of their registration along with proof that their membership of the associated club is current and valid. Although registration stickers will be no longer issued, there will be no change to the traditional reminders which car owners are used to receiving. VicRoads will continue to send vehicle registration renewals notices around six weeks before registration is due, and a reminder letter will be sent if registration is not paid by the due date.

The IIRA annual Christmas Party was a great success at Zorro’s Apparel thank you Mark & Chrissie for all your effort, the really great thing was one of our members John Gee turning up on a 111 Series 2014 Chief this was only picked up yesterday and is the first of around 8 new Indians that our members have bought, it made the people there envious and the ones that have placed deposits even more so. This is the first Chief I have seen and I’m glad I had sunglasses on there is a lot of “Bling on the new Indian

Ever had that sinking feeling when there is a run and no back-up vehicle, personally I havent as I have confidence in my motorcycles but even I worry about a flat tyre. The Motorcycle Australia Cover we had in the past was great as one of our members found out when his Indian & and sidecar stopped and while others there were willing to leave him stranded (not our Association), a simple phone call had him picked-up & delivered to a place of repair.This was exceptional service seeing he was in another State and at that time on a holiday, unfortunately Motorcycling Australia has stopped this cover but another National company NSW Motorcycle Alliance has taken it up & will even cover your car for a little extra, your Association is committed to helping all our members & we are encouraging you to join especially those who have multiple machines and are going on our Rallies, we have sometimes a back-up vehicle but do not use this to encourage you to go rallies, your machine should be capable of your full confidence as it is inconvenient  for your mates who have to fix your machine on the side of the road for you (click on logos above)