Indian Motorcycles Secretly Race at El Mirage

Last week we picked up a 2014 Victory Magnum for a road trip story and stumbled across one of the coolest motorcycles in recent history, a 2014 Indian Chief nicknamed Elnora. Elnora was ridden by Indian PR guy (or more formally known as Indian's External Relations Manager), the famous Robert Pandya, at the Cannon Ball Baker’s centennial route from San Diego to New York City in May (not the street ride, but the original off-road route). Robert was prepping the bike to make history yet again, at the last race of the season at the Southern California dry lake beds, El Mirage. Without any press releases or phone calls, Robert on his Chief along with Director of Indian Motorcycle Products, Gary Gray (who was on an Indian Scout) set out to make history.

As we pulled into the parent companies' Redlands warehouse to pick up the Victory, Robert came flying past us on Elnora, and greeted us. "Hey! How you been?" But we didn't answer, just ran to the bike, walked around it, dropping a knee with head tilted, lip curled and eyebrow raised, checking out random details on the unlikeliest of race bikes.

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An Indian Motorcycles' cruiser isn't the first bike you think of when it comes to racing, although that's always been Indian's schtick. You can't write an Indian Motorcycles article anymore without listing Burt Munro's name at least three times, but the more important thing is Burt's relevance this time isn't just used as PR speak or movie hype. The guys at Indian actually took these bikes racing, like he did, and while they didn't set any records, they did set off on a course with these bikes that will potentially make history.

Land Speed Racing

It was the last race of the SCTA season with help from the Gear Grinders Club. Both bikes made certified runs, but no records. "While we did not set any records - which was not our aim, to be honest - we did pay our respects to the heritage and glory of Indian Motorcycles' past exploits, and met our personal goals," wrote Robert in an email. Both riders are now licensed at speed and plan on returning next year.

READ MORE: Review: 2015 Indian Scout | RideApart

2014 Indian Chief "Elnora"

Elnora was pretty well put together as a race bike before Robert and the team started prepping it for El Mirage. The modifications forced the bike into the modified class (A-PG 2000), reducing its chances of setting records. The front fender had been cut for the off-road adventure, but the rear fender was reinstalled for land speed racing. They added an aftermarket air cleaner, custom 2-into-1 exhaust, along with a custom 17-inch front wheel (no one makes a 17-inch for the Chief yet). Both wheels are wrapped in race rubber. Robert installed upgraded rotors and handlebars, but the 111ci Thunder Stroke remains stock, along with the gearing. The bike had a best of 130.227 mph.

2015 Indian Scout "TBA"

While Robert was on his Elnora, Gary Gray was piloting the bone-stock 2015 Indian Scout; this bike hasn't earned a nickname just yet. Both guys were accompanied by some of the Indian engineers who acted as the pit crew. This will be an historic motorcycle one day, as the engineering division of Indian Motorcycles purchased the bike with big racing intentions. Every year they hope to tweak and upgrade the bike, little by little. This year they started with stock, baseline testing as it received little in the way of upgrades for this race; only upside down Clubman handlebars were installed.

"and then I was all like, brraaapppppp…" Gary explaining his riding technique to other attendees.

Running in the P-P 1350 class the Indian Scout ran a 128.447 mph, which doesn't sound fast until you learn that this was on a short 1 1/3-mile course. Next year, they'll add a little more. Maybe one day we'll see this thing as a streamliner…

"Indian Motorcycle would like to thank the many friends of the brand who made the past weekend possible. Team Klock Werks’, Lloydz Motorworkz, RC Components, Dunlop, Fox Shocks, IndianMotorcycles.net, Conquest Customs, Ricochet Customs, Saddlemen, the IMC Engineering, Dynojet and the great people at the SCTA, especially the Gear Grinders club for hosting us."

It proves that you can do anything if you love your job and are surrounded by like-minded individuals. This was a joint project, semi-endorsed by the company, but produced primarily from the works of Robert, Gary and a few others in the Indian/Victory team like Tom Jackson. It's a pretty cool deal and we can't wait to see the guys grab some records soon.

"Now with both a 2014 Chief and a 2015 Scout officially running a sanctioned race event, Indian Motorcycle continues the tradition started by its legendary founders Hendee and Hedstrom – to build great products and to show the world what they can do," according to an email from Robert.

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The International Motorcycle Show will be held this weekend in Long Beach, California where Elnora will be on display beside the Spirit of Munro tribute bike.

El Mirage Photography by Barry Hathaway and Robert Pandya