J. There were also differences found in ‘31 scout
related wiring.
K. Of course, crankcase venting had also changed,
and relocated to the r/h side, top portion, of the
timing cover.
Again, to reiterate, the writer’s intent was indeed
to advocate the ‘contextual’ importance of the
‘Indian ‘29 project and what ensued from its failed
negotiation, and how this facilitated the procure-
ment of a rare piece of history. Moreover, as the
article infers, the ‘29 Indian project and the bike
pictured, are not the same bikes. The ‘29 Indian
project did not become the bike you see pictured.
Perhaps an ensuing ‘?’ after the ‘title’ may have
been in order, but that too, may well of created
‘structural ambiguity’ and feisty debate. Thank you
Lars for your vibrant appraisal.Danny Marks
Via emailThe Martini man
I read your friendly reviewof the Martini
Yamaha(OBA 63)and the pictures, some of which,
the black and whites of Mike Hailwood on the bike,
I took! Not that I’m looking for credits you
understand. It was just a pleasant surprise to see
the story. I had worked as a mechanic on theLETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Wedge fairing
Reading the obituaryfor my great mate Bob
Levy (OBA 67) reminded me of how the ‘Wedge’
fairing on Bob’s Kawasaki outfit came about. We
went to school together, and I was a Coppersmith by
trade so I knew how to work with metals. Bob had
problems at Bathurst with the outfit lifting off the
ground over the two humps on Conrod Straight – the
sidecar wheel would come down first because of
the weight of the passenger. I designed the wedge
fairing and built it in aluminium and Bob then had it
made in fibreglass – and it worked perfectly, holding
the outfit straight and true over the humps at
Bathurst. I believe the original fairing is still around,
in the motorcycle museum at Nabiac.
Bob Howle
Blacktown, NSW.
Indian ID – the response.
Thanks for the tuitionLars Glerup (see OBA 67
letters “Indian ID”). The cart of assertion ...appears to
be, well before the intended horse of fact. The
captions ‘Indian 29 Scout’, are in fact correct and are
indeed the writer’s intent. However, I have omitted,
during a process of transcription, to convey a ‘ques-
tion mark’ and attach it to the Indian ‘29 Scout
captions. They appear in my draft copy, pen to paper
scribblings, but not in text. My apologies for this
inadvertent oversight.
The ‘29 Indian Scout is the precursor, to the
acquisition of the bike pictured. Moreover, the article’s
primary intent, is to herald the unlikely odds of a
separately rare acquisition, and how it came about
...which ultimately, the failed ‘29 Scout negotiation
led to. The article is not, an Indian ‘make and model’
purist’s account, nor was it intended to be a ‘numbers
man’ approach.
However, if the writer’s sole intent was to purport
the differences between a ‘29 and ‘31 Scout, he
would strongly emphasise the following...
A. The most prominent ‘31 difference, compared to
a ‘29 is, the rear wheel detachment, via a rear
hinged guard, whilst on the rear stand.
B. Cross bar handlebar was adopted for all models
of Indian Motorcycles in 1931, and was most
definitely ...’not only for the ‘31 scout’.
C. The ‘31 scout boasted, new heavier gauge spokes
and nipples with cadmium plating and;
D. a new horn of the high frequency vibrator type,
with exclusive Indian head design front, created
for Indian, by Harry Dunn, the acclaimed period
artist, who earlier, painted many battle scenes
in France and;
E. a new foot activated ‘town and country’ larger
exhaust design, also on 74 models (tail fin and
cut out).
F. A centre mounted headlamp allowing for easier
and more accurate aiming of the headlamp range,
by means of a faster ‘single nut’ loosening process.
G. A new Auto Light Electric Company Generator,
being more durable with greater output.
H. New tank transfer
I. Where Nickle plating was found on the ‘
...chrome plating was found on the 1931 scout.Each issue, we’re giving
away a pair of tough,
stylish Draggin’ Jeans,
valued at $249, for the
Best Letter contribution.
Don’t forget to include your name
and address in case you’re selected.
And why not have a look at the
latest fashion range from the
Draggin’ Jeans website at
http://www.dragginjeans.netWrite a winner!
Bob Levy and Mal Byrne
on the Wedge at Hume
Weir, 1974.