2007 Griffith Park Sidecar Rally
Related Links: View Photo Gallery | View Slide show
 October 27th saw record breaking heat in Phoenix so my wife youngest daughter and myself were happy to fly to Southern California for the 36th annual Griffith Park Sidecar Rally. From the air you could see smoke curling up from the devastating fires in Southern California. After we got settled in our motel we went to the annual dinner that precedes the rally.
The dinner had outgrown it; previous digs and was moved to a larger venue this year. Our host Doug Bingham of Side Strider Sidecars and the Sidecar Industry Council was the host of this dinner. Doug is the founder and organizer of the rally. The dinner was delightful as was the camaraderie. Among the guests were three people who have been inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame including Doug himself, and the actor Perry King. Perry regaled us with a tale about buying a sidecar rig out from under Steve McQueen only to be told by Doug that it was a piece of junk and had to go! Interestingly enough Doug also films the LA Marathon and has received 7 Emmy awards for his work.
 
Sunday the 28th dawned a perfect sunny Southern California day. Perfect for this 36th annual rally. This is the largest gathering of sidecar rigs in North America and probably the entire Western hemisphere. I am not sure how many rigs were there, but if you look at the slide show we have set up or our pictures it will give you a feel for the scale of this event. It is very overwhelming to see for the first time. The variety of sidecars is absolutely wonderful, everything from clever homemade units to shiny factory units.
 Royal Enfield and Cozy were represented as were URAL motorcycles and the United Sidecar Association. (USCA) the publishers of the "Sidecarist" magazine, and the So Cal Sidecar Club. We were represented by our ever charming dealer from Reno Guy Coover and his lovely daughters. They has a beautiful Custom painted Red Royal Enfield with a Metallic Black Cozy unit. We also met other Cozy and Royal Enfield owners which was great.
If you ever get the chance to attend this rally I cannot recommend it highly enough. You will see more sidecars rigs than you have ever seen in your life. Among them are some of the most innovative and unique rigs I have ever laid my eyes on.
 
Once again Doug Bingham (one of our great Cozy sidecar dealers) has done a great job. Thanks Doug!
Kevin Mahoney |
