The Great Race 2017
Indian take Championship Lead at the end of the Great Race 2017. Perfect weather greeted the record 160 entrants and support crew for the 25th running of the Great Race – Indian versus Harley held in the Victorian High Country over the Australia Day long weekend that covered over 600 kilometers during the three day event.
Timer for the Great Race
The race was open to pre-1958 Harley Davidson and Indian bikes and the theme this year was for period style Bobbers and Choppers. The race commenced at 8am sharp each morning from the BP services station in Mansfield with bikes released in pairs at 1-minute intervals.
Friday’s time trial saw the entrants head south out of Mansfield for 22.8 miles (yes miles – speedos on pre-1958 bikes are in miles per hour) where a right hand turn up into the Strathbogie Ranges saw the bikes tackle the dirt section of the event. From there the bikes trekked to Alexander and onto Eildon for a lunch break. The afternoon sections took the scenic route over the Eildon dam wall and through the mountains to Jamieson and finally back into Mansfield.
Crossing the Bonnie Doon Bridge
Saturday’s time trial headed west to Swanpool, to Lake William Hovel for lunch via Tatong. The Afternoon section commenced from the Whitfield Hotel carpark with some spectacular riding through Whitlands and Tolmie and back into Mansfield.
Sunday’s rolling race, was a magnificent procession of pre-1958 bikes as they wound their way from Mansfield up to the Mount Buller Alpine village.
Up at the Mt Buller Village
The determination of the Indian riders to ensure that Harley didn’t claim the championship for the third time in a row paid off with Indian claiming their 11th victory since the events conception in 1993. Harley has won the event 10 times. No results were recorded in 2002, 2004 & 2005
The Great Race 2017 – Results
Friday
Time Trial
1st – #12 Branko 1957 Harley FL
2nd – #138 Ron Keed 1942 Harley WLA
3rd – #53 David Bedding 1944 Indian Chief
Saturday
Rolling Race
1st – #126 Steve Mowat 1938 Harley EL
2nd – #159 Charlie Barber 1951 Indian Chief
3rd – #157 Pat Arundel 1939 Indian Cheif
Time Trial
1st – #138 Ron Keed (.47) 1942 Harley WLA
2nd – #132 Malcolm Brice (.65) 1942 Harley WLA
3rd – #123 Steve Kavanagh (1.59) 1944 Indian Chief
Sunday
Carpark Time Trial
1st – #103 Chris Richards (20.043) 1953 Indian Blackhawk
2nd – #63 Harry Cutts (19.922) 1940 Indian Chief
3rd – #29 Paul Hanes (19.910) 1934 Indian Chief
Overall
Best Chopper / Bobber
Indian- #35 Kay Murphy 1941 Indian 741
Harley- #158 Barbara Mallon 1942 Harley WLA
Spirit of The Event
#125 Mark Lesek 1928 Indian 101
Overall no co-efficient
1st – #103 Chris Richards 1953 Indian Blackhawk
2nd – #63 Harry Cutts 1940 Indian Chief
3rd – #159 Charlie Barber 1951 Indian Chief
Best Individual Team
Surfside – James Rich 1928 Harley JDH
– John Hajje 1942 Harley WLA
– Adam Chate 1942 Harley WLA
– Ian Gordon 1942 Harley WLA
Best Performance Harley
1st – #126 Steve Mowat 1938 Harley EL
2nd – #40 Chris Wells 1947 Harley FL
3rd – #128 George Hammond 1927 Harley J
Best Performance Indian
1st – #157 Patrick Arundel 1939 Indian Chief
2nd – #29 Paul Haynes 1934 Indian Chief
3rd – #55 Bianca Bonner 1927 Indian Scout
Harley vs Indian – Great-Race Champion
Indian
Related Links
2018 Great Race – Victorian High Country
Click Here for more information on the Great Race.
