Despite threats of rain and an early morning deluge, hundreds turned out for the 9th Annual Indian Motocycle Day, Sunday, July 22, 2018, 9 am–3 pm, at the Springfield Museums. What turned out to be a perfect day attracted visitors and exhibitors to the annual celebration of Springfield-produced Indian Motocycles.
Winners for the Indian Motocycle prizes were:
- Best Side Car: Warren Compton of Chicopee, MA, with his 1953 Chief and side car
- Best Chief: George Gilbert of Portland, CT, with his bright yellow 1915 Roadmaster
- Best Four: Don Skarp of Palmer, MA, with his 1930 four cylinder
- Best Razzle Dazzle: Burch Baer of Monson, MA, with his 1940 841
- The George Yarocki Award for Best Scout: Chris Lennox of Granby, MA, for his 741 Scout
- Best Barn Find: Dick Shappy of Warwick, RI, with his 1909 Twin
- Best of Show: Dick Shappy of Warwick, RI, with his 1911 Single
This year’s Indian Motocycle Day paid tribute to Charlie Manthos (1917-1996). Manthos became a lifelong enthusiast for the Springfield-made cycles when he rode his first Indian as a young man in the 1930s. After decades of assembling a personal collection of Indian motorcycles and memorabilia he and his wife Esta opened their own Indian Motocycle Museum in 1974. The museum was located in the factory that George Hendee built in 1913 on Hendee Street when production exceeded capacity at the Wigwam building at Mason Square. The collection created a wonderful opportunity for Indian fans to experience the history of the Indian marque through the motorcycles, photographs, and many Indian products Charlie and Esta collected. Manthos received a number of donations from Indian riders and former factory employees. A group of these men worked to restore many of the old Indians Charlie acquired.
Manthos passed away in 1996 at the age of 79. Knowing that Charlie wanted the Indian collection to stay intact and in Springfield, in 2007 Esta Manthos made a generous gift of their Indian collection to the Springfield Museums.
Indian Motocycle Day is the continuation of a long-standing tradition honoring the classic motorcycles that were developed and manufactured in Springfield from 1901 to 1953. The event was held from 1980-2005 at the Indian Motocycle Museum on Hendee Street in Springfield, which was owned by Charlie and Esta Manthos. In 2007, Esta Manthos donated their extensive collection of Indian Motocycles, artifacts and memorabilia to the Springfield Museums where it is now on view in the Wood Museum of Springfield History. The Museums re-established the Indian Motocycle Day tradition in 2010.
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Charles Manthos and his Prototype Indian Motocycle
June 19, 2018–June 30, 2019
Wood Museum of Springfield History
The late Charlie Manthos, a professional metallurgist and ardent Indian Motocycle collector, had an entrepreneurial vision of bringing a new, locally manufactured Indian Motocycle back into production. Working with three former Indian employees, Earl “Pop” Armstrong, design engineer Jimmie Hill, and former district manager Bill Belliveau, he created a prototype based on the 1953 Indian Chief, the last of the original Indian production line. He hoped to take it to market in 1975 but his dream was never realized.
All ticketed Indian Motocycle Day guests are also eligible for admittance to the history museum where they can view the Manthos Prototype and the Indian Motocyle Collection. Among the rarest Indians on view is the single cylinder Indian designed and owned by Indian co-founder Oscar Hedstrom. When he left the company, he took this motorcycle with him, and it was later passed on to his daughter, Helen Hedstrom Carlson. Also featured are Indian racer and dealer Stanley Cornell’s unique 1912 board track cycle with its original shipping crate; an entirely restored, operable 1929 101 Scout; and a 1927 hill-climber.
The collection also includes artifacts, memorabilia, and photographs highlighting production of Indian’s civilian and military motorcycles from the early years at the famous Wigwam through the final days of the company in 1953.
MassMutual is the Season Supporter of the Springfield Museums.