BIKE OF THE MONTH


July 2017 Bike of the Month
Bike of the Month Oran Bloodsworth and his 1944 Indian Chief

Make: Indian
Model: Chief
Year: 1944
Country of Origin: USA
Engine: 1210cc, 74cu in Twin
Transmission: 3 speed
Owner: Oran Bloodsworth
City: Oceanside
WD-40 Specialist Motorcycle
1944 Indian Chief

Congratulations to Oran Bloodsworth of Oceanside for winning Bike of the Month with his 1944 Indian Chief. Oran won a Specialty Chain Lube provided provided by the WD-40 Company.

WD-40 now produces a line of specialty formulated motorcycle products WD-40 Specialist Motorcycle

I met Oran a few weeks ago at the Born Free Hooligan Races in Costa Mesa. I was sitting a few rows up from my regular Speedway seat and just happened to sit next to him. In the same row was Kiwi Mike of Kiwi Indian out in Riverside. I had just met Kiwi Mike at Hobo John's Memorial the week before. Somehow the conversation came up about Vintage Bike OC and he mentioned that he had riden his 1944 Indian Chief up from Oceanside for the races.

Sight unseen, I told Oran that if he rode his 1944 Indian from Oceanside to Huntington Beach, that he would have a good chance of winning Bike of the Month. No guarantee of course... He showed up today.

Fifty years ago when Oran's father was 52 and Oran was two, Oran's father bought the Indian. After riding it to work and back one day, he parked it in the back of the garage and never rode it again.

Fast forward some time and Oran started riding the Indian, but again it was put on the back burner while he raised his kids. Recently after having it in storage for about ten years he's started riding it again. He's not afraid to take it out, after our meet he's headed up to Los Angeles for a week of work and headed straight for the Mulholland Highway Snake.

Thanks Oran for stopping by our meet. See all the photos in our July Gallery.
The Bike of the Month contest is held monthly at the Vintage Bike OC meet. Qualifying motorcycles must be 30 years old or older. Former Bike of the Month winning bikes are not eligible to win again. Anyone attending the meet is eligible to enter a qualifying bike in the contest and vote for their favorite bike. The winning bike is chosen by a popular vote and is featured on the Home page for one month and in this feature article. The Bike of the Month articles are permanent content on the site.

Bike of the Month Gallery
Photo gallery of all the Bike of the Month winners.
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July 2017
1944 Indian Chief
June 2017
1934 Harley Davidson VLD
May 2017
1972 Triumph T100C
March 2017
1939 Indian Chief
February 2017
1934 Cotton 500cc 25J
January 2017
1979 Suzuki GS750
December 2016
1949 Whizzer 20" Sportsman
November 2016
1972 BSA Lightning 650
October 2016
1974 Norton 850 Commando
September 2016
1969 BMW R60/2
August 2016
1971 Norton 750 Commando
July 2016
1951 Gilera Saturno Sport
June 2016
1949 Vincent Black Shadow
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