However much we all enjoyed this years New Zealand Indian rally it was saddened by the sudden  passing of our good mate John Hartley, at Kaiaua during the rally. John left this world doing what he enjoyed most, riding his favourite Indian. Not from a riding accident but from unknown (medical) causes, he collapsed on his bike.

John fitted a lot into his all too short lifetime and motorcycles especially Indians played a major role . 

John bought his first 741b Indian early in 1974, and he soon bought up every available Indian bike and part he could find in Tauranga. In fact his friends and family often wondered “why”. 

John served in the IRONZ presidential seat for 1999 and organised the memorable Tauranga rally that year. As always he gave it 110%.

John passed on his love of Indians to his family, Ryan Maloney (register member) is John’s nephew and his daughter Julia “JJ” owns the famous rocking Indian which John built for her. All the parts to restore the bike for the road are waiting for her to ride when she is of age. In true Hartley fashion Julia says that she cannot wait. 

  

John “Jack” Hartley 
June 28, 1956  -  February 10, 2001
 
 
 
 


 
When John left for Australia,and subsequently Europe in the mid seventies, he left his Indians with his Dad and even while he was away he had Brian (his brother) buying Indians and storing them for when he got back. 

Upon his return in 1984 the first thing he did was get the Indian out of storage, get it going and ride straight to New Plymouth to a vintage club rally. His new bride was not all that impressed with the 500 mile round trip on a rigid bike with only a cushion for comfort.
John was always a starter for a road trip on the Indians and hardly ever missed a rally. Always one to ride, no matter the weather or the conditions, John’s Indians always made it through. He would never concede to trailering until the wheels just would not turn.

In 1991 John went to Argentina on the way home from one of his many overseas trips to work in the diving industry. There he made an epic journey into the deep recesses of the country to buy a 1947 Chief and sidecar.  A one owner machine. This was the real reason he had got into the dangerous deep sea diving business in the first place. John had wanted an Indian Chief ever since he could remember.
The Chief gave John a few headaches, and much pleasure, once it was set up to his liking, but he always had a special place for his first Indian, which he named “Wounded Knee”.

John will always be remembered in IORNZ and many stories will be told  when two or more of us gather.

He never stopped riding Wounded Knee, even though he had the Chief and a fine collection of bikes including Vincents and a cammy Norton.

Charles John Hartley was his full name, a family tradition for the eldest son however  “Jack” was unique to those of us in IORNZ  because of his resemblence both visually and in manner to actor Jack Nicholson. It wasn’t wasted on John he did his best to live up to it.

It gave many of us great pleasure to know John, he was a good mate and was always there when something “Indian” was happening.
The Measure of a Man
Not, how did he die... but how did he live.
Not, what did he gain... but what did he give.
These are the units to measure a man as a man,
regardless of birth.
Not, what was his station... but had he a heart.
And how did he play his God-given part.
Was he ever ready with words or good cheer,
Giving a smile to banish a tear?
Not, what was his Church or what was his creed
But had he befriended those who were in need.
Not, what did his obituary in the newspapers say...
But how many were sorry when he passed away.
He lived a full life away from Indians with many other interests but he always somehow got people from those other walks of life to appreciate and ride his Indian. He even managed to get some, who had never even previously  ridden a bike to go out and buy Indians.

Over 600 people, including many members of the register,  joined John’s family in a celebration of his life, at his home in Tauranga and we escorted him to the cemetary with his and other bikes. 

We will all miss John and his antics and will remember him with a special memorial award at each NZ rally.

Farewell my friend- till we meet again, Craig