Interview: Alec Ferguson, the Face of Indian Bikes
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For 10 years you’ve seen his face on Indian Bike posters and in commercials. However Alec Ferguson is extra than simply the gorgeous face you see on almost each poster in an Indian dealership; he’s a racer and rider like us who simply occurs to be residing a biker’s dream getting paid to trip.
Since 2013 you’ve seen Ferguson’s face normally obscured by a helmet on Indian bike commercials. Typically he’s on a Scout or a Challenger, typically he’s at a café with pals, or typically he’s taking a break close to a scenic overlook. However in each case, he’s carrying an Indian jacket, and an Indian bike is shut by.
However Ferguson is greater than only a fairly face.
“I needed to be a street racer, to do Daytona,” Ferguson mentioned. “I labored for a Honda dealership, and my supervisor raced regionally, and he gave me a shot. That’s the place I met this man named Ben Spies (an AMA Superbike Champion). I had a pit go. We have been related in age and he’s like, ‘I bought to go do a observe sesh and hold speaking to you.’”
Although the 2 didn’t join on the observe, they did later within the night at a sushi restaurant the place they talked racing. Spies helped Ferguson connect with different racers and groups. These preliminary conversations led to Ferguson transferring to Houston, and later Austin, Texas, the place he bought his shot, however not as a racer. “I used to be a mechanic on AMA and they might let me trip and I might get observe days. I slept in additional backs of vehicles residing the racer’s dream.”
Finally, he was in a position to begin racing: “I used to be an entire impartial, racing for Roadracer Provide on a Ninja 636.”
However, like many racing careers, Ferguson couldn’t hold the sponsorship cash coming in and the grueling week-in-week-out schedule took a toll on him. “We ran out of sources,” he mentioned .Indian Bikes couldn’t instantly touch upon Ferguson’s position, however the firm advised BikEXIF his using capacity is among the many causes he will get requires shoots. For instance, Ferguson mentioned he rides at 70 miles per hour behind picture vehicles and has to pilot unfamiliar $30,000 huge bikes like a new Challnenger safely round unfamiliar roads.
However Freguson by no means thought he’s a mannequin. A stint within the U.S. Air Drive introduced him to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the USA. When he bought out of the navy, he began doing what he knew: bike restore.
Then, at some point, the store bought a casting name electronic mail that an organization was searching for fashions who additionally trip. “I assumed, what on the planet is that this?” Ferguson mentioned. “I present up, and there’s lovely folks in all places, and I’m nonetheless carrying a Dickies shirt lined in oil.”
Because the casting name progressed, that they had him strive on jackets, pose, and earlier than he may say Yoshimura, he was forged. “That is now my 10th yr. That’s the way it began,” he mentioned. His first shoot was on a then brand-new Chief close to a rural airport.
He mentioned the enormity of the job didn’t set in till he was in an airport and noticed himself using an Indian on the quilt of “Fashionable Mechanics” journal. “That’s when every little thing modified,” he mentioned. Since then, he’s labored on campaigns for Crimson Wing Footwear and even Coors Gentle.
Nevertheless, he can’t resist going into an Indian dealership to see a poster along with his face on it. Typically sellers will acknowledge him, typically not.
“I get folks on a regular basis, ‘Is that this you?’ and it’s a billboard in Korea or Mexico,” he mentioned.
Ferguson, whose household is from Jamaica, is among the few African Individuals within the business.
“I wish to applaud Indian. I don’t wish to converse for Indian, however they wish to present the perfect. Indian has performed a terrific job of diversification,” Ferguson mentioned. “One time I used to be in a dealership, and a man got here as much as me and mentioned, ‘You’ve been my wallpaper for the final six years (on my laptop). Once I noticed you, I noticed myself.’ That was superb.”
“I by no means thought once I was a child I’d be inspiring folks. I’m a street racer, a dust biker, and I by no means thought I may affect that many individuals,” Ferguson mentioned. “Once I was a child, Eddie Lawson was my hero. Now, folks can take a look at me and say, ‘I can try this.’”
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