indian – Girlie Motorcycle & Road Trip Blog

Riverhead Muffler Man Indian – Downed by Hurricane Sandy

By Fuzzygalore | November 14, 2012 | Comments 8 comments

The Riverhead Muffler Man Indian whose name I’ve just discovered is “Chief Running Fair,” was downed by the winds of Superstorm Sandy.

When I saw photos of the poor guy, torn in half at the waist shortly after the storm subsided he looked like he was reaching for a lifeline from next to his own still-standing legs. “I’m hit!”

My heart broke a little.

Riverhead Mufflerman Indian on Patch.com — Photo from patch.com

This weekend while we were bumbling around in the Ural, we made a pit stop to see him for ourselves. All that was left when we pulled up was his peeling pants. Insert huge frowny face here.

But… as I looked around, I noticed a few feet of his arm sticking out above a fence inside the grounds of the Raceway. It was kind of like he was waving to me saying, ‘I’m over here. I’ll be okay!” And I sure hope he will be. According to a Riverhead Patch article, the owners of the Raceway do intend to restore him.

Hang in there, big guy!

The mighty Indian just a week before Sandy brought her havoc to our area:

Sights from the Road: The Cherokee Muffler Man

By Fuzzygalore | June 22, 2012 | Comments 1 comment

Kenny and I made a quick stop in Cherokee, NC to snap a photo of a gent we’d passed many moons ago but never stopped for. The Cherokee Muffler Man:

Handsome, right?

And look – he has nipples! This was the first time I was ever consciously aware of an Indian-model Muffler Man’s anatomical correctness 🙂 I did go back and look at the other Indian Muffs I’ve seen and they do all indeed have them.

Other Indian Muffler Men

Muffler Man Photo Gallery

Unfortunately the Cherokee Muff’s headdress is now broken. But even so, he appears to be well-loved and in really good shape. According to Roadside America, he’s been there for 30 years. That’s a lot of waving for one guy.

Did you notice those crazy white eyes? Perhaps they were light blue at one time. Either way – they look like they can peer deep into your soul. ::shudder::

Muffler Man: Checking in with the Jackson, NJ Halfwit

By Fuzzygalore | April 18, 2012 | Comments 5 comments

Over the last few weekends my travels have added two more checks in the “Visited” column of my Muffler Man to-do list. There are still plenty more to see but I’m enjoying picking them off one by one.

Sometimes I think about those places that I’ve visited, towns I’ve passed through before the time I cared even the tiniest tiddly-boo about the Muffler Man. I think about what might have been…

But, no sense in crying over spilled milk. I prefer to not see those trips as missed opportunities. Someday I’ll go back. I just hope the mighty muffs will wait for me.

The Muffler Man Halfwit of Jackson, NJ:

Though he could use a fresh coat of paint, overall he’s in pretty good shape. He’s also mounted on a trailer which if you think about it is pretty handy. Who wouldn’t want to bring their muffler man to the Stop & Shop or to the park, maybe swing by the in-laws for lunch?

One thing to note however is that his arms are a little veiny and those hands are a wee bit strangle-y. But, judging by the hat he’s Amish so it’s probably nothing to worry about. He might’ve just gotten done with a barn raising.

See in street view

Interested in finding Muffler Men out there on the road? Check out Roadside America.

Muffler Man: Mohawk Motors Indian of Shirley, Ma.

By Fuzzygalore | April 18, 2012 | Comments 0 Comment

A few weekends ago I took a ride with some friends who wanted to stop in to the open house at MotoMarket in Acton, Ma. Since I had no interest in buying anything I let the guys know I would be excusing myself for about a half an hour while they ate lunch.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m just going to check something out.”

“It’s a muffler man, isn’t it?”

They know me too well 🙂

This big guy stands outside of a used car dealer, waving to the traffic that goes by.

Upon closer inspection he too needs a fresh coat of paint. The poor fella is has a serious case of the peels. And something isn’t quite right with that raised arm. And… well.. there’s this:

::tsk:tsk:: Poor guy. It looks like he’s wincing.

See in Street View

Interested in finding Muffler Men out there on the road? Check out Roadside America.

As Seen on TV – The Riverhead Muffler Man Indian

By Fuzzygalore | March 20, 2012 | Comments 8 comments

Continuing the tv/movie vibe from my post about the Buzz’s Skelly ~ In the same town of Riverhead is a Muffler Man Indian that was featured in an episode of the Sopranos. I have posted about him before but, every now and again I stop by to say hello.

With these big fiberglass beauties standing outside and braving the elements year after year – you’ve got to check on them every once in a while to see how they’re holding up.

It’s starting to look like the Indian could use a little TLC. He’s got some cracks in his fiberglass that are giving way to holes and he could really use a fresh coat of paint. I hope the folks at Riverhead Raceway give him a little love soon. It would be a shame to watch him deteriorate further.

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