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AND THE WINNER IS...
THIS SPECTACULAR 1918 INDIAN
Collector of old engines, magnetos, engine parts, literature and old motorcycles...that is what is on the faded wrinkled up business card Louis Bari gave me listed as his occupation. I'm moving through the masses of bodies in attendance at Canada's International Motorcycle SuperShow scouting for custom bikes to photograph, by mistake I turned toward the sweet aroma of the food cooking into the very impressive Antique Hall. The Bari clan have a few Harleys and Indians on display among the more than 100 antique bikes and clubs. Later I discover this is just a drop in the proverbial bucket of the Bari collection back home in London, Canada.
Although I've been most privileged to photograph the greatest crafted custom iron in the world. I have a personal addicted to old stuff that speaks of our history. This hall was jammed plum full of every model representing decades from 1900 through the 60's.
Louis and son Adam, have been almost 4 years in research and parts collection in the production of this nearly 10 point restoration of this famous Board tracker. The 1918 classic was just too gracious not to be photographed and fondled.
For a time the Indian dominated Board Tracking, then by 1910 other models caught up to the Indians speed including Harley-Davidson. Indian's Hedstrom than reengineered the motor with more valves, less heat , more speed, and this brought Indian back as the machine to beat on the board track racing circuit.
Imagine if you can, riding this machine damn near 100 miles per hour with no transmission,
no brakes, no suspension. Add 30 competitors racing on both sides of you full throttle,flat tracking on boards made slippery from this era's machines total loss of oil system and you have a formula for one hell of a spectator sport.
Indeed rumor has it the term murdercycles evolved from one particular Board Track race in New Jersey where two board track racers came together at 100 mph and lost the bikes into the crowd. In those days the racers would draw 10,000 spectators and these folks would hang over the walls cheering their favorite racers on. This accident killed several people and both racers. The headlines the next day describe the racers and bikes as "Murdercycle". I have never seen this article but have heard the story from several old timers multiple times over the years.
Louis and Adam are gifted machinist with meticulous patience and the passion to never
give up on restoration projects, that is indeed how this machine came to fuition.
They found the frame rusted and not only in trouble, but missing most of the back sections, the forks, tank and motor in 2004. In 2005 they began to design, weld and massage the frame back to life, hand built the sprocket assemblies and hub for alignment. Then tore the power plant apart and found a mess. Many part were extremely difficult to find. Often times there where several attempt to just make a particular piece, another year of searching. Louis says the complete fabricating of the handlebars bent surpassed the motor as the most difficult part of the restoration. He and Adam also had to make all the bolts for the handlebars because of the special Indian threading.
Once this 4 year undertaking methodically came to fuition to present the 1918 proudly appearance wise. Now, it was time to tune the motor to run properly and this introduced another challenge as they never did find literature that provided good wisdom on timing angle. Trial and error finally put Louis on the seatrunning around the farm and at meetsbreaking damn clean on this nearly 90 year old machine.
The Bari's Indian won 1st Place in his class at the SuperShow. The 1928 Harley they had
there won 2nd Place. I'll bring that your way sometime soon.
Be damn careful out there,
Michael Farabaugh
Ballsbiker.com |
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Owner(s): Adam & Louis Bari
City: Tillsonburg, Ontario Canada
Design: Adam & Louis Bari
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GENERAL TRANSMISSION - None
Year and Make: 1918 Indian
Model: Board Track Raler
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ENGINE
Year: 1918
Model: Power Plus
Rebuilder: Adam & Louis Bari
Ignition: Bosh Magneto
Displacement: 1000 CC
Pistons: Venola Pistons
Heads: N/A
Cam: Stock Indian
Lifters: Stock Indian
Carbs: Schebler
Air cleaner: N/A
Pipes: Re-build by Adam & Louis Bari
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FRAME
Year: 1918
Builder: Adam & Louis Bari
Type: N/A
Other Modifications: N/A
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FORKS
Type: Stock Indian
Extension: N/A
Builder: N/A
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| WHEELS
Size: 28 X 3
Hub: Stock Indian
Tire: Coker Tire
Brake: N/A
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PAINTING
Painter: J.S. Collision Jamie Tupper
Color: Indian Red
Type: Acrylic Enamel
Chroming: Superior Metal Finishing
Time: 1.5 Years
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ACCESSORIES
Bars: Adam & Louis Bari
Handlebar Controls: Adam & Louis Bari
Fenders: N/A
Headlight: N/A
Taillight: N/A
Speedo: N/A
Pegs:
Pedals
Electrics: N/A
Gas Tank: Stock Indian
Oil Tank: Stock Indian
Oil System: 1/2 Mechanical 1/2 Hand Pump
Primary cover: N/A
Seat: Messenger Raler
Mirrors: None
Grips: Jockey Stick Type |
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