When we left Death Valley Thursday morning, we headed Southeast towards Nevada. Death Valley is very close to the Nevada border and we ended up in the town of Pahrump, where we visited a few casinos and spent the night.

Friday morning we got up and took off for Southern California. Our first stop was Riverside, home of Kiwi Indian. Steve was minding the store and was kind enough to show us around. The first item of interest was this unrestored Model B Eliason Motor Toboggan, which was manufactured in the 1940s with an Indian Scout engine. (Cindy from the All American Indian Motorcycle Club contributed the following descriptive article from the Jan-Feb 1945 Indian Motorcycle News pages 1, 2, and 3 and the cover of the Nov-Dec 1944 Indian Motorcycle News featuring a Toboggan.) Another unusual item parked in a corner of the shop was this very nice Silver Arrow motor boat motor. (Here is a boat motor Sales Brochure page 1 and 2.) Steve was very hospitable, and even gave me one of their in-tank oil filters for Chiefs and Scouts to try out. The filter seems like a real nice item.

We left that shop and a short drive to Perris brought us to Starklite Indian Cycles. The first thing we came upon was Gary Stark giving a bath to the new Overhead Valve Conversion Indian Chief. He later let me take this machine for a test drive, and all I can say is "WOW, that thing is fast". Bob Stark was there and was kind enough to take me on a guided tour if their museum. This building is crammed full of indian machinery. Here's Bob showing us a custom 600cc Model 741, in a 1936 frame with a Warrior front end. There are two similar bikes in the museum, and visitors often borrow them to ride around the area. Here are Gary Stark's first three motorcycles. They are Indian two strokes from the 1970s. Also Floyd Clymer's one-of-a-kind prototype 1967 Indian Papoose Electric cycle is on display. You can see an Enfield Indian in the background. This photo is of a Three Wheel Indian Scout. In the background is eight identically race prepped Indian 149 Arrows that are bored out to 250cc. Tucked away in a corner of the museum is an Indian motorcycle merry-go-round ride and an Indian boat motor. Upstairs in the attic I came across these motorcycle skis. I believe they were designed for the 149 Arrow and 249 Scout and Warrior cycles around 1950. The last bike we saw before leaving was this alcohol burning, overhead valve racer from the 1920s. There are more photos of this very interesting machine on the Starkite Home Page. We said our good byes and left as it was getting late and we had to get to San Diego that night.

We stayed in San Diego Friday night and arose early for the short drive to Del Mar. This event is held at the famous race track. There was an indoor swap meet for parts, new motorcycle manufacturer booths, vendors galor, a bikes for sale area, and a fabulous Concours de Elegance. Here are a few examples of that day's activities. From the "bikes for sale" area a Crocker for about $70K. An Indian / Vellocette in the Concours. Here's the photo that caps off the trip. It was taken at Walnecks Cycle Trader's booth of Trish and I aboard Wild Bill Gelbke's Road Dog. This machine is 17 feet long and weighs 3280 pounds. A fitting end for a great vacation.

Click here for part 1 of this story "Death Valley AMCA Run 1999"