Griffith Park Sidecar Rally

Enlarge Image Image Gallery From BMWs to Harleys, more than 200 sidecar rigs were in attendance at the 2007 rally.

What is it about sidecars that makes people smile, point, give the "thumbs up" and sometimes stop the rider to ask giggly questions? We’re not sure, but we have the same reaction ourselves — except for the giggling, of course.

Doug Bingham knows all about the attention sidecars draw. In fact, a little more than 36 years ago, Doug and a few of his sidecar-driving buddies stopped for a break in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park while out for a ride one day. That impromptu stop grew into a tradition: the annual Griffith Park Sidecar Rally.

Even though the fall season brought wildfires throughout southern California, the 2007 event occurred as scheduled Oct. 28, drawing more than 300 sidecar rigs from all over the U.S. along with thousands of spectators. The event attracts all kinds of rigs, including modern and classic Harley-Davidsons, Urals, BMWs, Triumphs, BSAs, Moto Guzzis, Yamahas and more. While a few of the Harley, Ural and some of the older BMW motorcycles came from the factory with sidecars, most are highly customized modern and classic motorcycles with sidecars added by owners.

Ural love it

Ural always has a significant showing at the Griffith Park event, as this Russian marque is currently doing more to promote sidecars than just about any other manufacturer (visit www.imz-ural.com to learn more about Urals). Ural started production early in World War II, with a mandate by old Joe Stalin himself. The machines are basically copies of World War II-era airhead BMW boxers, and some of their sidecars have powered drive wheels. One of the Urals at the Griffith Park meet, a beautiful turquoise and cream rig, featured a transplanted 1,000cc BMW engine and is a daily driver. These machines are not trailer queens!