... small family gathering and a bike ride all rolled into one.
Yesterday was my brothers 63rd birthday and the 30 year anniversary of his death. Sad day.
But, one of my sisters suggested we get together at this function being held at the Indian Dealer, in our home town of Westfield, MA.
It is a annual Veterans Day event and this year a fundraiser for Josh Morin, who was the third rider hit by that dirtbag truck driver up in NH this past summer.
In the video clip, as Josh is being interviewed, my sisters are the 2 blondes standing behind him and the 2 grey haired guys are my BIL's. It's funny cause we didn't know Josh and we were trying to locate him later just to give support. We did donate and bought tickets to several raffles.
My sister bought 5 tickets, not realizing her husband got to eat for free, as he's a Vet of the VietNam Conflict. So she donated the extra ticket to the cause.
https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/indian-motorcycle-of-springfield-hosts-veterans-day-barbecue/I rode out on my I/S, taking the highway, got to the Indian Dealership a little earlier than my family and checked out the new Indians.
I gotta admit, they are making some nice looking rides. The store is a quality place with a lot of history on the walls. Five or six old Indians, including 2 inline fours. The place is part museum. It helps that the factory was just over the Connecticut River in Springfield, MA. I actually know a couple of guys that worked there back in the 50's.
This one really got my attention, super cool bike.
https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/ftr1200-s/The function was well presented. They moved all the bikes outside, set up tables in the showroom for the chow and had a great blues band playing. A old and rather rotund gentlemen was playing the slide guitar. I can't remember his name, but I've seen him out playing several times over the years and he is excellent.
They had a food tent with the BBQ and everything was really good quality, gonna have to get the caterers name.
They had an impressive beer truck that had to have over 25 different taps flowing.
Everything was excellent quality and the dealer, and his store, impressed me as a good place to do business.
If I'm ever in the market for a V-twin, I'm going there.
Had to be 100 or so riders, which is good seeing as it was a cold (40's) cloudy, windy day.
Mostly Indians with about 10 HD's.
I did see 2 Valk's, a black and red I/S and a Standard that I didn't get to see what color. I didn't get the chance to talk with either owner, as I saw the I/S as it was leaving and the Standard as I was leaving.
But at about 3%, Valks are holding their own, even after 20 years.
I turned up the Gerbings and took the long way home.
Great day for a sad day.
