Ural owners rally in NSW

The rally, organised by Ural Australia, saw sidecars come from as far away as the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne. Of the 10 possible model and colour combinations for Ural, nine were represented and they revelled in the slightly damp and slippery conditions over the weekend.

A highlight of the event, held over the October long weekend in NSW, was the "Kentucky Derby Navigation Rally" and a strong field of 18 sidecars started the 200km course. All the bikes finished the rally which took in some scenic tar roads as well as steep and challenging dirt sections. Several of the teams were having their first venture off tar roads and were excited by the Ural sidecars gravel road capacity.

Russell Byron from the Sunshine Coast took out first place on his desert camouflage Ranger. The "Super Sidecar Driver" competition as won by Michael Taylor riding a forest camouflage Ranger model. That competition required some slalom events including a lap in reverse gear and a figure of eight to be completed with the sidecar "flying" all the way.

The Ural sidecar owners are enthusiastically planning some future events together and looking into a marathon ride for later this year. They hope to join some of the 'Japanese Ural Marathon Ride' from Townsville to Bendigo early in November.