[boynton6spd]

What did he do to get his franchises pulled? That's wild!

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

Before anyone makes any more allegations against Art, please keep in mind that he loves to sue people. Hell, the man sued his adoptive parents. He does follow these posts and I can assure you, he will update and defend his position as soon as this rally is over.
Personally, it is my opinion that he is a con man and an asshole and since that is my opinion and I have no proof, that statement is not considered libel.
Just do a Google search for Art Welch and Arturo Welch.
In mere seconds there will be enough data there to show exactly what kind of person he is.

 

[Gman1]

Well…. I started this post, and will say it’s been interesting reading. [emoji15]
I’m just a guy who likes to ride & share the road & life with good people. Wife & I biked here 1000mi cuz new to the Indian scene, saw the event on FB, and this is home state… so combining this with family visits around WI before heading back to CO.

Last night…. Maybe 50-60 bikes present. Art told us the planned music concert is cancelled cuz the band cancelled on him 6 days prior to event. I think he’s genuinely bummed.
Don’t know any history or drama; won’t jump to any conclusions, but again, thx for various perspectives.

Already made some new friends… Jim & Laurie from MN & Terry “NECK” from VA.
Off to ride & tube float a river now…
Cheers [emoji41]

 

[Bird Dog]

Well…. I started this post, and will say it’s been interesting reading. [emoji15]
I’m just a rider who likes to ride & share the road & life with good people. Wife & I biked here 1000mi cuz new to the Indian scene, saw the event on FB, and this is he state… so combining this with family visits around the state before heading back to CO.
Last night…. Maybe 50-60 bikes present. Art told us the planned music concert is cancelled cuz the band cancelled on him 6 days prior to event. A big stage is setup. I think he’s genuinely bummed.
Don’t know any history or drama; won’t jump to any conclusions, but again, thx for various perspectives.

Already made some new friends… Jim & Laurie from MN & Terry “NECK” from VA.
Off to ride & tube float a river now…
Cheers [emoji41]

How do you like the riding weather that you had a chance to experience and hopefully enjoy this week in this part of the country this past week?

 

[Gman1]

How do you like the riding weather that you had a chance to experience and hopefully enjoy this week in this part of the country this past week?

Hey BirdDog- We like it a lot[emoji845]
I’m a cheesehead from Fond du Lac… college at Point 80-85.
Living in CO since 2007 but come back “home” a couple times /year to see family. Combining this IBW event with family visits; Sat up to Ashland, then later down to Hayward,, Point,, Fondy.
Back to CO on 28-29th.

 

[Bird Dog]

Hey BirdDog- We like it a lot[emoji845]
I’m a cheesehead from Fond du Lac… college at Point 80-85.
Living in CO since 2007 but come back “home” a couple times /year to see family. Combining this IBW event with family visits; Sat up to Ashland, then later down to Hayward,, Point,, Fondy.
Back to CO on 28-29th.

I live about 15 minutes from Stevens Point, down in Wisconsin Rapids. Point Special beer is just as tasty as it was back when you were in college, only the quality control is much better than it was back in those days.
I just pulled in at Nueske's Smoked Meats in Wittenberg Wisconsin. This place sells Applewood smoked bacon. This place is well worth a trip and visit to, it has a tourist store on the inside as well as its famous Smokehouse.

 

[Gman1]

I live about 15 minutes from Stevens Point, down in Wisconsin Rapids. Point Special beer is just as tasty as it was back when you were in college, only the quality control is much better than it was back in those days.
I just pulled in at Nueske's Smoked Meats in Wittenberg Wisconsin. This place sells Applewood smoked bacon. This place is well worth a trip and visit to, it has a tourist store on the inside as well as its famous Smokehouse.

THX brother!! [emoji1360][emoji41]

 

[Gman1]

Fun day at IBW… many went for a long scenic day ride up to Duluth & back. We floated the river with new friends here, then rode up to Loggers Bar & Grill in St Croix Falks (highly rec!!) Then back to the IBW event site for evening socializing.
Guessing 80-90 bikes here, Thur night, from all over the country. Everyone got the promised patches & custom shirts tonight. The two celebs were there chatting with anyone.
One food/drink vendor, they were working hard & doing a good job.
Only two vendors on-site selling products. Lots of merchandise (shirts, patches, posters, etc) for sale offered by the organizer.
Yeah a smaller venue than planned.
Much smaller.
But… friendly Indian riders everywhere. New friendships made.
[emoji41]

 

[Bird Dog]

You're enthusiastic posts give truth to the old Axiom, that even those who are most foul still deserve a champion and Knight errant.

 

[rickkcir]

What did he do to get his franchises pulled? That's wild!

It didn't get pulled 'exactly'. The dealership went out of business when the person behind the scenes funding it, pulled the plug on him. And then .. the finger pointing began.. that was late Sep / early oct 2017. Polaris execs were no doubt , smiling behind closed doors.

 

[rickkcir]

Fun day at IBW… many went for a long scenic day ride up to Duluth & back. We floated the river with new friends here, then rode up to Loggers Bar & Grill in St Croix Falks (highly rec!!) Then back to the IBW event site for evening socializing.
Guessing 80-90 bikes here, Thur night, from all over the country. Everyone got the promised patches & custom shirts tonight. The two celebs were there chatting with anyone.
One food/drink vendor, they were working hard & doing a good job.
Only two vendors on-site selling products. Lots of merchandise (shirts, patches, posters, etc) for sale offered by the organizer.
Yeah a smaller venue than planned.
Much smaller.
But… friendly Indian riders everywhere. New friendships made.
[emoji41]

No doubt, folks are having a good time ... making the best of it.. making good friends. Similar for many of us over the years that attended between '12 and '17. Problem is.... this was way over promised and falsely advertised the last year or so ... All those celebs were paid good money to show up from the proceeds you and others paid ( they aren't showing out of the pure goodness of their hearts). All that merchandise you see was paid for previously pre 2018, by money that was mixed up in bankruptcy, dealership imploding/closing, etc (not counting shirts and that were printed for this, and paid for by you all)...... I'm guessing cash is king/ preferred method of payment ( sssshhh) . For the last few years he's been trying to sell it all on ebay ... been hidden away in a basement or storage shed for several years.

I wrote about this multiple times over the last year .... a compilation put here in this post >>> July 15, 2021 Indian Bike Week Scam?

The real 'test' is how many bikes are there this Saturday ?

 

[Gman1]

SCENIC RIDE,,

Lunch at Turtle Lake Casino… 90+ Indian motorcycles [emoji1360]

 

[Bird Dog]

SCENIC RIDE,,

Lunch at Turtle Lake Casino… 90+ Indian motorcycles [emoji1360]

Just 3405 more Indian motorcycles to go......

 

[rickkcir]

Just 3405 more Indian motorcycles to go......

Funny ... every year... Casino , Vino in the Valley, bar in Stillwater ... wonder if they did the ride through the neighborhood with all the white houses .. never understood that one .. lol .. Hopefully Trejo didn't drop a bike again this year

 

[Gman1]

Yep guys…. Thousands more bikes to approach any record. We all know that.

The police in Turtle Lake gave us an escort thru town into the Casino with easy parking. Great service & food at the casino! Danny T and other celebs rode bikes (DT in a sidecar, required via his agent & prob his own wisdom {age 80}.) Super friendly guys, all of them gotta say.

Scenic rides to/from, NICE weather all week [emoji1360][emoji41]
Nothing wrong focusing on the positive, right(?) …esp us first-timers to IBW.

 

[rickkcir]

Yep guys…. Thousands more bikes to approach any record. We all know that.

The police in Turtle Lake gave us an escort thru town into the Casino with easy parking. Great service & food at the casino! Danny T and other celebs rode bikes (DT in a sidecar, required via his agent & prob his own wisdom {age 80}.) Super friendly guys, all of them gotta say.

Scenic rides to/from, NICE weather all week [emoji1360][emoji41]
Nothing wrong focusing on the positive, right(?) …esp us first-timers to IBW.

Good move with DT .....seeing how he put down a Scout back in '17 before they poured him into a side car then too . My dad just sold his Heritage Softaill and hung it up .... at age 83.
Enjoy and have a good time today .... just for fun, give us an update on how many bikes today ... that was the ENTIRE focus of the promoter from day one .. always has been .... no matter how it's spun

 

[Gman1]

212 bikes is what a few of us counted while walking around Sat close to noon. License plates showed from every corner of the country …that was cool to see.
[emoji41][emoji1360]
As expected with any gathering of Indian motorcyclists, lots of good conversations & new friendships thru the week.

The Apple River’s Edge campground accommodated the group event well, my opin. And an obvious blessing was perfect weather all week.
Art gave a heartfelt speech via loudspeaker for all to hear right before the final ride & count Saturday at noon… lots of THANKS spread around; he openly said, “Some people say this event was a scam… Does anyone feel scammed?” A second later I was standing in the middle of hundreds of people all loudly shouting “NO[emoji845]” He promised transparency regards all the event funds. He acknowledged the “3500” is and will be the goal at every event to kick the HD record to the curb …”if not this year, then next,, or the one after that or after that!”

Sunday morning a charity ride is planned for all still on-site… we were asked to bring not money, but rather a backpack filled with kid school supplies.
The 3 (4?) celebs there Thur-Sat seemed to have a good time and mingled with everyone easily.
There ya go.
My take on the event as a guy without any history or drama of past IBW events or people.

Sturgis isn’t for everyone; it doesn’t pull me, preferring smaller venues.
IBW isn’t trying to be a 700K people event is the vibe I got. Yet… a few thousand Indian riders, a bit more structure, more vendors, music and a splash of Indian corp support would make IBW really really ROCK every year.
Cheers all-
Time to Ride….

 

[Bird Dog]

I came across this motorcycle event yesterday in the town of Rosholt Wisconsin. I had no idea it was going on until I rode by.
From the look of it there was several hundred motorcycles spread throughout the town, both guys and gals showing their bikes. Having met the guy who is behind ibw, I will take an event like this over that one every time.

 

[reinie]

I can remember when the Victory Motorcycle Club used to have "Little Sturgis" in Sturgis Michigan. Similar in that it was a much smaller event.

 

[Roamalot]

Thanks Gman for your first-hand account of IBW! I was interested in how it turned out since I made the decision to cancel my plans to go. It sounds like you had a good time riding and meeting fellow Indian owners. Im happy you had a good experience.That's really what it's all about.

There seems to be a lot of interest in a gathering like this. As you stated, this rally could be so much more. Right in the backyard of Polaris, beautiful area, etc. Corporate support, vendor support, community support would do wonders.

I do respect the amount of work and planning that went into this event. I do think there is some good charity work involved.. But I'm also glad this promoter is not making a lot of money doing it. There's a difference between honest promotion of an event and B.S. hype. Posting on Facebook in May that you have over 500 registrations and climbing fast, and then suddenly no more updates on numbers after that? Red flag. Actually, way too many red flags!

A good lesson from this is that how one conducts one's life, and how you treat people is very important. If there is any justice, it will affect your personal and financial bottom line. Some folks can talk real slick and make a lot of promises, but the results never match. And with the ol' Interweb, stuff follows you pretty much forever.