A mottley crew heads off across Europe, in 1953. (Pic is copyright)

It was the Summer of 1953 (the year the Indian Springfield factory closed its doors) when a chap called Geoffrey Gander, and a few mates, set off on a European holiday on their motorcycles.

This lovely tale is worth a scan when you get a spare moment – mostly for the pictures. No Indians in the group, but for V-twin fans there’s an SS100 Brough Superior, plus (shock, horror! – Guido) a couple of Sunbeams.

See this link…

(Please note the pics are copyright and the author would appreciate a small donation to help him cover the web bills. See the end of the story for the donation link.)

A couple of links on a huge hoard of various bikes for sale in USA

Hemming’s Link  & Buck’s Indians link

John Smith El President has returned from USA  & is writing a story on his trip, meanwhile a picture has been provided by him I think this is from the famous Barn Ride Meeting

Cute, isn't it? Motorcycles and their cultural influence headline an exhibit in the USA.

 

Chris Knoop sent us a link on The Wall of Death click on the highlight

The Morris Museum in New Jersey, USA, is running an exhibit on the influence of motorcycles on culture.  See this link

 

 

We have started a Tech Article area for people who sometime need some advice on repairs or mods to their Indian, this first one is the re-print of the Electric Moccasin article by Phillip White  that was printed in our quarterly magazine Smoke Signals. There is another in the wind about Topping Your Chief  that proves you don’t need a $1000,000 to fix your machine that some of the professionals charge, basically our machines were built in a simpler time where regular maintenance was done in the field not in a high-tech workshop, as a matter of fact lots of Indian’s in WW11 were overhauled in very adverse conditions with service personal that were trained in 3 weeks (see pictures below)! The Myth that surrounds Indian’s that they are hard to repair astounds many, but in saying this they must be repaired to factory specs & methodically to have a useful reliable service life with regular maintenance, some things such as machining or welding need to be given to a professional that can be provided by the many listed in our Parts & Repairers Area, meanwhile enjoy the first article in our series.

This section is open to all enthusiasts whether you are a IIRA member or not. If you have some expertise or handy hints on keeping those wheels turning we would like to hear from you. Just drop us a line at  unionjack@unionjack.com.au. or guyallen@optusnet.com.au .If you are a club member and require help on a particular problem just log onto our “Members Only” area .

Thanks to Australian War Memorial for use of their photos which were copyrighted but are now expired, these pictures are on public domain

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Our shiny new Facebook page

Thanks to Connie, Phil, and others, we have a Facebook page up and running.

It’s early days and the content will be chaotic.

For those of you with an account, use this link and drop in, add your thoughts, pix, diaries, whatever. Don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button.

Oh, and if you feel inspired to drop a story on Facebook, why not send it to me for our next club mag, too?

Guy “Guido” Allen

Email: guyallen@optusnet.com.au

The Crazy Horse Rally at Corryong was a huge success  thanks to Victory Motorcycles, Classic Style, Hoggies Country Bakehouse, Corryong Historic Machinery Club, Cudgewa Hotel, & Mountain View Motel all these business’s either supplied raffle prizes, donated food ,a Function Room, & also to all the Marshall’s  that helped on the corners, without them it would not have happened & we are forever in your debit. Financial members will have a full report next week in you quarterly Smoke Signals Magazine.

 

 

From our friends at Twin City Indian & you can purchase the postors  (click on each pin-up for a close-up)

 

 

 

Your quarterly Smoke Signals magazine is out next week & we now have “Guido” (Guy Allen) as our new editor, at this point I would like to thank Chris Horner for his previous job as editor, a preview of the current cover is available below please click on highlight, I am told it is a “bumper edition” at the printers so lots of reading on the toilet. Remember next Tuesday night is the Association Meeting, plenty of things are on the agenda including a wrap up of last week-ends Crazy Horse Rally,for members that have ordered Tim Pickering’s book at the last meeting, they will be available at the Highway 31 venue on Tuesday. Meanwhile a couple of photos of early Indians supplied by our friends at Twin City Indian in USA these prints are available for sale with many others

 

Smoke Signals cover 09/2011  preview (click on highlight)

 

Recently one of our members was stopped by Victoria Police, the constable on viewing the machine realised he was on a Club Permit, checked the label, the Club Permit log book, & then the rider’s licence, all was fine the next question wasn’t, proof of current financial status in the Club/Association, this is unusual although it can & was requested. Luck was on our members side as he had his Membership card in his wallet, a anomaly exists so we suggested that as proof your membership card is carried at all times when you are on the road although strictly not legally required by VicRoads,it can be asked for by the Police. Other Clubs have had members asked for the same thing, recently there have been assumptions not backed up with proof sent out by other Clubs on this issue, hence the above title in Latin from Mark Twain. I have had confirmation officially from VicRoads and their stand on this matter & you will see what I mean, always check our site for proof, not speculation.  ( Almost forgot the translation “Never let a good story stand in the way of truth”)  

VicRoads Policy

Last week-end’s Association Run to Healsville has been put to bed by Stevie Higginbotham a ripper read now on the Section News Area  Click the highlight for a very good review

Healesville Run Review by Stevie Higginbotham