One little, two little, three wheeled Indian...

YOU'VE got to keep yourself busy as you get older, says retired Masterton man Neville Warren.
That's how he came to build an Indian motorcycle-based tricycle as a 79th birthday present to himself.
And it's not just for looks. Come February he's riding it to Greymouth for the New Zealand Indian Rally.
Neville's "not one to skite", but he's pleased with the end result of four months work over the winter. The "despatch and service" trike, modelled on vehicles used historically for deliveries and to carry mechanics to roadside jobs, is a mix of 1941 650cc Indian motorcycle and a more modern Triumph Herald car.
That gives him independent rear suspension and modern brakes. He's also added hydraulic forks (off a 1946 BSA) to further improve the ride.
The drive is by chain to the modern diff, with the crown wheel replaced by a sprocket.
Neville's been around motorcycles, and especially Indians, for years. Back home in Australia, the first vehicle he ever owned was a 1927 Indian Super Scout sidecar outfit he bought for ?15 in 1942.
When he came to New Zealand in 1951 he bought a couple of Indian motorcycles at a Government surplus sale, one for ?6.10.0 and the other for ?8.10.0.
He settled in Masterton and established Warren Engineering, which became Lawnmower and Chainsaw Services.
Neville became known around the beach racing world in the sixties, on one occasion having a hand in two national championships.
"I built a 500 Triumph Speed Twin for John Wilson," he said.
"I fitted the head back to front, with the carburettor at the front, and it went pretty well." Wilson won the New Zealand title.
Neville took the 350cc title on his BSA, and was leading the 500cc race when water got into the electrics and stopped him.
"The tide was coming in by then and there was a lot of water about," he recalls.
Mention beach racing and Indians and the name Burt Munro comes to mind. Neville met the great man a couple of times, after his 200mph endeavours on the American salt flats, and has memories of yarning with him in the pits at Pukekohe.
Neville Warren's previous vehicle-building endeavour took a lot longer than the trike.
He restored a Model T from a handful of rotted components, and used that on Vintage Car Club outings.
That car is now with fellow VCC member Howard Sims.
Neville's already got his 80th birthday celebrations arranged ? and it won't involve building a vehicle. He and his son have a date at the Birdsville races in Queensland. Horses, that is.
Not motorcycles.