Plenty to do,so little time

The General (Ian Wallace)

This month has been very busy with The Great Race,Bikes by the Bay & Sitting Bull Rally (this weekend for the latter) chucked in the middle has been a rally for your webmaster last weekend at Bright, run by the Classic M/cycle Club of Victoria.I rode another brand, a Vincati but our Warrnambool member Ian Wallace was the only Indian owner on his trusty 741, Ian unfortunately came off on a bend on Sunday and although a bit sore & sorry he is ok & so is his Indian, best regards to him from all of his fellow IIRA Members.Peter Kime has just sent a report on the Bikes by the Bay meeting from last Sunday I have put it in the Victoria Section News. This weekend as you all know is the Sitting Bull Rally at Albury should be a great time, only thing is 3 weeks in a row I have driven up the Hume Freeway what a dead boring drive that is. Guido has informed me that the Smoke Signals is out next week for all financial members so it will be another bumper issue as he has plenty to report on the Great Race & learning to drive a hand change model. Lastly 80,000 + hits on the  site in under 2 years thanks for tuning in folks keeps the pressure up to produce a current website, nothing worse than some sites no changes for month’s if not years

Great Race a great success

The 20th annual Great Race concluded yesterday, and was spectacularly successful. Some 160 Indians & Harley’s were paired up for the two-day jaunt around the Snowy Mountains, with over 220 people in attendance.The good news was Indian Won again this year, the farm machinery guys(Harley Owners) are out for revenge next year after two years in a row

The Iron Indian Riders Association were there in strength – here are a few pictures of the Members in action. Member Daryl Jenkins on his 1916 Power Plus won his class for the oldest machine to finish the event over the 2 days congratulations Daryl from all of your fellow Association Members, sad to report Jon Munn had trouble on his 1917 on the first day but some quick repairs Saturday evening & he was on the line Sunday Morning. John Gee (Straw) should also rate a mention here as well, he was on the fastest 1916 model rumour has it over 110 kph being towed behind a car, slowing down according to eye witness’s involved lots of smoke from the soles of his boots. Look for a full report in the upcoming Smoke Signals  the member mag, due out at the end of this month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check those club permits

It seems the VicRoads  internal database for club permits still needs some sorting, and it would be wise to check if your club permit is up to date. If not, chase it up.

I have several bikes on the red plate scheme and have recently  discovered two that had run out and no renewals were sent.

Initial inquiry revealed they had temporarily disappeared off one level of the computer system, though further chasing by helpful staff solved the problem.

So, check your documents are up to date.

Guy ‘Guido’ Allen

Great Race Competitor’s ( Guido’s Learning)

Your favourite editor on the “Black Bastard” with his “L” plates after close to 40 years riding & some of that on a 2003 Chief Vintage, he’s learning all over again with a hand change Indian. The other photo is Jon Munn with his 1916 PowerPlus both getting to grips with Indian’s of different era’s both members are entered in The Great Race this weekend along with Mark Barthelmie,Phillip White, John Fontanella,Phil Pilgrim,Robert Gosper, Leo Klausen,John Gee,Rodger Beimers to name some that are also attending from our Association, a full report will follow after the event early next week. The picture of a 1950 Indian Arrow is for sale at Classic Style I believe a one owner low mileage machine a cheap entry level start into the Indian mystique, & for those Springfield owners that want something lighter as they get heavier in old age.

Indian Porn?

New member Daryl Colt (1947 Chief) mentioned Indian Motorworks in Boulder Colorado on FaceBook, there are 105 pictures of this guys shop & stock, man there is just heaps of stuff truly “Indian Porn”. In the past I have posted Indian’s in other forms but the V-4 PowerPlus above is certainly different, only wish I had so much spare time the Indian Snowmobile is another odd machine as well. There has been a lot of activity in the Members Only Area with manuals & articles being loaded, time for financial members to check in.Answer to last week’s Quiz : Pneumatic Valve Core everything still has them, virtually unchanged since 1900 still the same French Metric thread form!

Forget the Midnight Express, & thanks for nothing Chief Rain-in-the Face

To prompt your memory I have decided to place in our header banner (under Town Crier) Upcoming Events this should help those of you that complain they forgot for some reason or another that a Rally or Event is on. A hectic March for those who complain about not enough riding to do & we are the Iron Indian Riders after all. We have three Events on the calendar in March, two official IIRA events & the other 20th Great Race  run by our friends  the Indian Club of Victoria in association with Harley City they are all good things to attend, but the one that is different is The Midnight Express Run is cancelled this Saturday night thanks to our Patron Chief -Rain in the -Face. Your Smouldering Embers has been emailed to you, if any financial member isn’t receiving it, please contact either Guy Allen or Peter Kime. A full report on the Lakes & Craters Rally held on 18-19th has been posted on the Victoria Section News Area Phillip White was the roving reporter, enjoy

Diversification Old & New

I know weird when I see it, & I don’t mind Bobbers, choppers are bit past the post though, my roots lie in cafe-racers but would you say the Indian on the left is a chopper or something else, never mind if this chap turned up on a Association ride we would welcome him, “a Indian is a Indian” end of story. The trike on the right is a period machine built in the teens, close to 100 years before the current rash of trikes from Vespa, only thing new in motorcycle is probably electronics, a small quiz though for the more studious among us What is fitted to every vehicle since 1900 that still directly interchanges & is fitted to every vehicle on the road today? For Members the answer is in the Members Area for the rest of you I will give  the answer in a week.

FaceBook page has grown legs

 

I must admit I originally had misgivings on the FaceBook Page but man that was very shortsighted, I just had a look & I’m blown away. The photos on it from the Lakes & Crater Rally held last weekend are great, also a French chap Ludo le Pans has put 41 pictures of sidecar machines which are fascinating, thanks for the input it all helps with our exposure here & Internationally. Speaking of the Lakes & Craters Rally it was a great success with a good attendance, at one time of over 28 people on Saturday. Ian Rhook has earned his stripes with this hopefully annual event, thanks heaps Ian for your work & also to all the others that provided input & backup. Bloody Sammy Vella on his Sport Scout was almost squeaky voiced with the excitement of the Rally, Phillip White commented on it being the Best Rally he’s been to in 20 years, I must admit I loved it as well, to all those who missed it this was a sad mistake they don’t get any better . The full report is to follow hopefully later this week in the Section News, next week the General Meeting is on followed by the infamous Midnight Express Run on 03/03/12 meet at 11.30pm for a 12 o’clock start all the details on the Upcoming Events Area, those who went last year know the “drill” the good news is it’s 4 days off the Full Moon so your 6v lights don’t even have to work well

Darwin Remembered 70 years on

 

741 B

The 70th Anniversary of the bombing of Darwin more ships sunk, more bombs dropped than at Pear Harbour, 188 Japanese aircraft led the attack & reputedly over 1000 died. As President Obama said last year “This was Australia’s Pearl Harbour” personally I think Pearl Harbour was America’s Darwin!

 

Time, Gentlemen Please

 

Chris Horner has attached a Final Call for the 2012 Gypsey Tour, this is the W.Aust to Birdwood part, the Victoria to Birdwood forms will be out later this month. People doing Chris’s version it’s time to do your final commitment NOW.

The Perth to Birdwood final call