New Year, New Members, & New Bikes

The New year is starting off “gangbusters” with 3 new members this week, we must be doing something right, Sam Vella is out on the Sport Scout, Stevie Higginbotham is riding the 1959 Chief (pictured below) & V.Prez Mark has bought another Springfield Chief a 1948 converted to a “Eighty” from Kiwi Indian. This combined with a new Tasmania representative Tibour Muncha (741 owner) & another 741 owner from S.Aust means that we are far from being overun with 1999-on Indian’s at the moment I believe we have about 8 late models, so anybody wanting to join with a late model or any other version please contact the Membership Secretary so we can have a more balanced mix, personally I hope we are going to get a Indian-Velo owner soon  to have a nice mix of machines, these models will be great at the Broadford Bonanza & the All British Rally this year

Stevie's on the road

FaceBook Page is open for Buisiness

1917 Model O Indian

Our FaceBook page is open for business, please comment on relevant subjects ie: Indians otherwise like all graffiti I will eliminate it. Picture above was taken in 1976 at the annual rally in Mildura, run by the Classic M/cycle Club of S.Aust. The Model O Indian looks like the Douglas it was designed from although never a runaway success for Springfield, small numbers were sold, even less in Australia. This particular machine was & is the only one I have ever seen in the flesh

 

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You don’t see them like this anymore or at this price

For those of you that think your webmaster is a newish Indian owner only having just come back into them (from a long break till 2003) beside the 1947 & the 2002 I now own, I used to own the Scout below in the late eighties, which did many miles in my 12 months ownership, before regretfully selling it to Greg Hutchisin, I believe Greg still owns it currently although now restored. I remember that when it was purchased it came with a 1925 Scout dismantled & semi-restored, also “chucked in” was a Vincent Series C Comet the lot was $10,000, I remember thinking why would I want the Indian as the Vincent was what I desired but after getting congealed crap out of the fuel tank,fitting a float & a set of tyres it was running, unbeknown to me at this time was the rear cylinder had a bad “tram track” where the gudgeon pin had come adrift in the piston this did’nt stop it running although when it was found a year later it sealed the fate of this machine with me. The value of the Vincent was $7,000 so the two Indian’s were around $3000 (dog’s name was Sandy sadly departed in 1997)

New Badges to be Struck.

 

When the IIRA of Australia came into existence we produced badges for new members 100 were manufactured thanks to Chris Horner, these were only given out to Indian owning members with Associate Members receiving decals or recently a sew-on patch. The question now is we need more badges made as we have ran out such is the growth of our Association, I suggested a slightly different colour as to distinguish original Members & to have year tag attachments for bars, your thoughts would be appreciated please. Vice-Prez Mark is going to get a batch done so this will be on our agenda at the first meeting next month. Sammy Vella rang me yesterday with the news that the Sport Scout is not only running, he had visited Association Run Co-ordinator Ian Rook on it, this sure must be a culture shock after a CX-500 Honda, but he is extremely happy with the machine.Rod Leaman sold the 1947 Chief to a new member, & your webmaster has nearly finished the 1948,it only needs the cam case,oil pump, exhaust & fuel tanks fitted then I can start it this Indian, it will be out at the “Lakes & Craters” rally in February.

60,000 Hits and I like L/hand drive Outfits

 

What more could a webmaster ask for in 16 month’s, 60,000 hits on our site. Meanwhile another couple of photo’s from Twin City Indian one completely at odds with the weather in Australia at the moment with the temperature well over 30 degrees C, but the fishing one is cute, might be able to do some of it over the next couple of weeks but without the Tweed suit or the Indian outfit, this brings me to the point of R/Hand drive outfits they cover the best side of a Indian. I personally think the Brit’s did it the correct way L/Hand drive forever. 

Smoke Signals in your email

Here's your latest mag.

The latest edition of Smoke Signals has been sent to members by email today.

It’s also at the printers – so the ‘analogue’ version should be mailed by the end of the week.

Inside the 32 pages are two road tests on Gilroy and Kings Mountain bikes, a tech update for Springfield owners, two ride features, plus a bit of news and lots of lovely pictures of club members’ finest metal – mostly from Springfield.

If you’re a member and have not received the email version, let me know via guyallen@optusnet.com.au.

We’re already lining up features for next issue, including an owner report on a 1940s Chief, a feature on a super-early V-twin, and lots more.

All the best for the festive season, folks.

Guy “Guido” Allen

Rode Safety circa 1955

I have put a link on our YouTube Area for this link,there are now 64 to view. Road Safety was important in 1955 as much as it is in 2011-12 & especially at this time with holidays fast approaching, the 30 min clip from 1955 is virtually as relevant now as it was then, although there are less regard for horses, enjoy Rode Safety 1955 (click on Highlight) The International Gypsie Tour 2012 from W.A expression of interest form is attached all details in Upcoming Events Area

Gypsie Tour 2012

Time to Extract the Digit

 

Burt with 2 Indian's

There has been a bit of updating in the Members Only Area recently including the continuing sage on Timmerman electric starters, this will be soon in your forthcoming quarterly  Smoke Signals Magazine due I believe before Christmas, Guy Allen should have a bumper issue out to keep you all entertained over the New Year. These are two extra advantages for people who are thinking of joining the best Indian M/cycle movement in Australia, we have more runs,meetings & rallies than anyone else in Aussie interested in Indian’s, topped off with a Facebook Page and a popular website constantly updated & nearing 60,000 hits from all over the world in 16 months! I and all financial members are  very proud of the new editors achievement’s in the Smoke Signals Magazine, it is a good balance of technical articles & recent reports on rallies or monthly runs without being full of unnecessary photo’s or what happened at meetings 3 months ago which unfortunately happens in various other Clubs I am in. The support from all our current Members has been fantastic, people that went on the Peninsula Run last week have demanded another one next year, this was only achieved by a single member who took time & effort to organise a very enjoyable day, well done Chris & thank you. The Lakes & Craters Weekend is going to be another not to be missed in February with Ian Rhook let loose in his “Old Stamping Ground” at Camperdown,we are inviting our Warrnambool members, & friends to enjoy the Saturday-Sunday Runs with us  all being well with Chief-Rain-in-the Face & the weather I am really looking forward to it, 2012 is going to be busy for us with, Lakes & Craters, The Great Race, Sitting Bull Rally,, Crazy Horse Rally(3 days) Gypsey Tour from W.Aust, Bay to Birdwood in S.Aust, not counting all our Monthly Runs, so you have the rest of this month & the next to fettle your Indian start now.Thought I would put a couple of pictures on the site in case you get bored with all the writing, as one member quoted about a recent book published on Indian’s. One is Burt with 2 Indians, a Standard Scout & his record breaker, the other from our friends at Twin City Indian this shot appears to be 1947-48  

Harley Owners advice

Chris Horner has sent  this link from YouTube to us, which I have added it to our YouTube Area, its very, very funny.

Harley Owners advice ( Click on highlight)

 

An Engagement, Corbin & Stewart-Warner speedo supplies & job offers

Congratulations to Vice-President Mark Barthelmie on his engagement to Sandy Ayre the first of such things in our Association, I believe wedding plans are in place for middle of 2012 all the best Mark & we look forward to meeting Sandy next week at the Sunday Monthly Run on 04/12/11

Occasionally I mention the Links area as there are many great suppliers that I and others in our Association have used with good results in the past. I have just added a guy in Canada, Janous Napierala that has in past offered great service, on ebay his tag is “Speedo Rat” the web site is a wealth of hard to get parts i.e. speedo,drives,tags,distributors etc for nearly all model Indians, although most things are listed “ring for a price” it’s worth it. I have had a “Red Bar “Corbin overhauled by a well known local Victorian agent  at vast expense in the past & after 3 times gave up with severe needle flicking between 40-60 MPH which now is repaired properly by Janous  www.speedoshop.net (click on highlight) Just noticed in Saturdays AGE newspaper Victory M/cycles advertising for  marketing, sales reps & potential agents for Indian to contact them anyone need a job, click on link below

Indian Job Advert