As usual the most progressive Indian Association in Australia (IIRA) has done it again, for all the prices & details go to the Caps, Clothing & Accessories Area or (click on the highlight), for the ordering details, you can also buy the cap, & the ultimate “gas mask bag” for your phone, iPad etc
Continuing the theme Dick Renstrom on Indians this article first appeared in Motorcycle Action in October 1975 (click on the the Highlight) I like the note on Indian fours ” A poor design that gave lots of expensive troubles”! Mark Barthelmie (the Vice-Prez) take note
Sunday Telegraph article : “Icon puts on warpaint”
I just love this advert from Dick Grylls in the Northern Territory, Naylor & Root are a company in UK, (they still exist click on advert) in 1947 they disposed of ex Army Indians & Harley’s after WW11 I wonder if any are still out the back. You know our Vice Prez soon to be Prez Mark Barthelmie has just got married over in UK, a little bird told me today a member has proposed to another member in our Association, two people this year getting hitched I know we are adventurous, but romantic?
Just a bit of humour for the Queen’s Birthday Week-end holiday I could have been all patriotic & put a picture of our ruler in UK, you know the one with the corgi’s & all the other hanger on’s that make up the royal family, but I thought something more appropriate, a girl who thinks she’s a queen Paris Hilton & the princess Nicole Richie on Indian’s much better to look at than the real one
I went & paid Sammy Vella a visit yesterday it was good to see him at Brunswick Private Hospital in Moreland Rd, he seems in good spirits considering he is waiting for a operation on his leg hopefully next week. Sam was a little amazed at the venerability of motorcyclists who are always at risk from motorists who are so cut-off from their world in a “tin-top”, Ian Rhook who always seems to have the right piece of philosophy at hand posted the above statement on the Facebook page which I have reproduced, this piece of seemingly logic is appropriate beside our mate Sam. Getting onto other subjects, women the other photo probably taken in the mid thirties seem distracted, half of them including the cute little girl are looking in the opposite direction I wonder what was, coming maybe a Harley Ferguson, the last one is a knock-out of the ultimate in faired guards, the ideal camper with a canoe on top, certainly beats a Toyota Land -Fill (sorry Land- Cruiser) with a huge caravan & a “Tinnie Topper” taking up all the highway we see so often these days
Chris Horner sent this in as a test to see how fast you react, for instance when you see a car doing a right-hand turn in front of you which is exactly what happened to poor Sam Vella last week-end coming home from the Association Run. All the best Sam, we are all thinking of you, he is in Royal Melbourne Hospital with a broken leg & the Sport Scout is fine for people who are curious. Getting back to this test it is one way to see how quick you react to a emergency, my average is over 3 seconds, so the ideal time I believe in under 2 seconds give it a test (click on the link below) The pictures above are of one of my favourite Indian’s & one of the best a Clymer Indian -Velo 1972-73 what a horny bike Classic Style has this beautiful Indian for sale so give Jon a ring for a piece of unique Indian history
Our Association patron Chief-Rain in the -Face pictured above is working full tilt on cold & wet Winter Rides last week- end a sample, this brings me to mention a perfect time to get your Indian ready for Winter & Spring. I am preparing for the Harold Parson’s Winter Rally 18-19 August it reminds me to encourage those who are attending to book accommodation at Stratford Motel (03) 5145 6500 the rooms a limited so book early. Progress on the Vindian is slow but yesterday the 4.25 gall tanks arrived from Iron Horse Coral USA they need to be modified to wrap around the rocker feed line on the right & the Carb on the left tank, this is fairly easy to do for experienced people so they are being “farmed out”. The new Vincent flywheel ass, oil pump & clutch chain wheel arrived today from Maughan & Sons U.K & is ready to fit, long restorations are always slow but I am aiming for the Vincent Owners Club Rally in Aldinga S/Australia in late September thats 5 months all up, a bit slow for me I did a 1969 Triumph Bonneville in 3 weeks 15 years ago but thats the cost of getting old.
The cute photo above came from Indian-Victory in Charlotte thanks for that, this is a good representative period shot of a fifties Indian motorcycle family, these days our Indian family extends to all riders especially those who are fortunate enough to actually own a Indian. My Indian family is fellow IIRA members hopefully they think the same of me, members in other Indian Clubs are our distant relatives, & as with all relatives some you get along with, some you don’t, enough said! Yesterday was our monthly Run & as it was our first run for the winter & rain was forecast 8 members turned up & set off behind Ian Rhook to Donnybrook Cheese Farm, this was a relatively short run that finished after a good lunch at the the restaurant, Phillip White was there on his Ariel Square Four & Ian Rhook was keen to ride it, Ian”s report was he liked it but “Alvin” (741 Scout pictured above with Sammy Vella’s Sport Scout) was better hmmm, I must try “Alvin” soon as I used to own a Ariel years ago & was pleased with it but the handling was terrible which made me say ” You know how to make a Square Four handle? Fit a sidecar”. Alvin got his name as it was painted on the tank by a hippy in the seventies I believe, peace man & all that stuff
Phil Irving (P.E.I) said the above statement about the fit of the Vincent into a Chief frame he was right it is very very close, Saturday was consumed with Sam Vella of S.J.V Engineering (03 9383 7888) putting the final touches on the rear mount which he made. The factory under engineered this area dangerously, they welded a small tube on the frame and pushed a 9/16 stud through as they used on a Vincent frame, although in that case the R.F.M (rear frame member) is well supported & also the engine is “hung” the 2 previous Replica’s have copied this & it may have worked on a factory prototype it is not strong enough for everyday use! Notice the 3rd photo this mount will be brazed on, as you know Indian lugs are cast iron & welding on can’t be done with a Mig welder, my mount bolts the engine in with 2 x 9/16 U.N.F bolts, I modified the standard Vincent front stand plates to bolt the engine into the Indian engine mount point on the frame, the R/hand front down tube needs the be heated cherry red & flattened in 2 places to clear the magneto & front engine pipe, otherwise it’s in. Brazing the frame cross-brace rear mount in Thursday night at Rob Baker Engineering (03 9899 1400)