By Corky Guenther

Indians from Springfield, MA

Motorcycles that is.

Although I like airplanes, I never got the itch to fly and I have never been a motorcycle enthusiast. I just never got the bug. Pete Sink’s Indian collection could change that. Though I’m probably too old to start riding and certainly don’t have the financial wherewithal to start collecting now, I definitely gained an appreciation that I didn’t have previously.

Charlie had arranged with Pete for CVBMC members to view his collection and 14 of us met at a local restaurant at 9:00 AM August 8^th. From there it was a short drive to Pete’s home. It was a warm (very) sunny day and Pete had moved the bikes out onto the driveway so we could walk around and appreciate them. They are all, save one, (his latest addition - more on this one later) completely restored and detail correct to their year and model.

Pete’s interest in Indians started in 1951 when he drove a 1950 Cushman motor scooter to the local Indian dealer. He introduced himself and traded for a green 1951 Indian Brave. A friendship developed and Pete, who was not yet 18 and therefore could not at that time be on a payroll, started working on motorcycles. He would be told something like “Go tear that yellow motorcycle apart and when you’ve done that, we’ll fix it”. He did and they did and he was paid in cash. And so it began.

Pete has 9 complete Indians which range from a 1930 four cylinder to a 1952 experimental “Big Frame” Warrior he built up from the bare frame acquired circuitously from the experimental department after the factory closed. It is truly a “one of one”. In between are 1939, 1940 and 1941 Sport Scouts; a 1946 Chief, 1949 Arrow, and two 1951s a Warrior and a Chief. The latest addition to the collection is the 1949 Arrow. This bike has 176 miles on the odometer and is completely original. He first saw it at a meet in Wauseon, Ohio. He returned from the meet and called the owner and made the deal on Monday. The next weekend he went to Ontario Provence, Canada and brought it home. Pete is the third owner of this Arrow. The first was a man who bought it from a dealer in 1961 (no explanation for why it was still there). The man purchased the bike for a father and son bonding project. The son was sent to Viet Nam and was killed. The father stored the bike, reportedly in Georgia, until it was sold to the Canadian owner after 40 years in storage in 2001. Pete bought it August 1, 2014. The bike while virtually new has accumulated a nice patina, and Pete plans to keep it in its original unrestored condition.

Pete took us through the collection in chronological order explaining the differences between and the particulars about each machine. His enthusiasm and admiration for the Indian Marque is boundless and infectious and he kept us thoroughly entertained. The bikes are immaculate and his work and knowledge are awesome. After we looked at the bikes, he asked if we wanted to see his garage. Ya Think? We’re gearheads after all. He has an extensive collection of parts (some NOS) including frames, engines and transmissions as well as shelves full of boxes of other original and NOS parts. The visit concluded with a look at the den where he has displayed a collection of posters photographs and other memorabilia. We thanked him for his time and allowing us to spend the morning viewing and learning about his collection and he replied that our visit had prompted him to get all of the bikes out of the den and vacuum the carpet which his wife had been requesting for a while.

We had a grand time and at least one of us is not as nonchalant about motorcycles – Indians specifically – as he used to be.