Ural Rally Bathurst Autumn 2025
/Lee reports on their recent ride:
“Jon Taylor, original owner of Ural Australia, had run a few adventure rides in the early years and UA still continue to do so annually. It is a long run from the Southern states to Uralla to take part and this had Norm Orchard (SA) thinking we should do something similar down South or at least occasionally a little closer for us Mexicans.
Fifteen years later our Ural owners group ride (organised by a couple of dedicated and passionate Ural owners, independent of Ural Australia) was based in Bathurst this Autumn 2025 and we had an amazing roll call of seventeen Urals from five states attend our five days of touring. Geoff and Robyn were our local hosts, Geoff doing an incredible job of mapping the roads and checking the routes with Robyn in the preceding weeks. They even filled an enormous hole in a causeway with rocks. This holed causeway has provided considerable grief recently with broken wheels and bones for numerous solo riders and vehicles.
Following a few booking alterations everyone other than our hosts were accommodated at the caravan park in cabins, caravans and motor homes with most staying for seven or eight days. The weather held up beautifully for our five ride days and each day was a wonderful experience of Bathurst and surrounds with a great mix of sealed and unsealed roads and the odd “track” for a bit of adventure.
Of course we did the iconic Bridle Track to Hill End.
As well as a lap of that ‘other’ track, Mount Panorama. One lady (Dea) was beside herself with the lap of the mount and wanted to go back every day…… Probably unbeknown to most attendees, we also travelled the original Bathurst race track….The Vale Circuit……this was considered so wild ….it forced the move to Mount Panorama.
All being located together made the mandatory happy hour each day following the ride a huge success.. Our group of thirty five took control of the camp kitchen with much snacking, re-hydrating and some dinner cooking while the incessant chat, stories and laughter helped keep others away.
Morning teas and picnic lunches were mainly in the countryside, parks or by a pleasant stream…….you can’t get a quick coffee for thirty five in a cafe.
We had a book launch, a birthday celebration and a great time.
We were ably accompanied by two support vehicles (Norm, now retired from riding) and Stephen and Sue. Neither were required for any breakdowns but both became taxis, providing a rest on a few occasions for my Princess and others.”
Ural Australia HQ would like to thank Lee for putting together this summary of what we’ve heard was a fantastic week of Ural riding, adventures and comradery, and for his assistance in organising the ride, along with the hard work of Geoff and Robyn!
Thanks also to roaming photographer from Tasmania (Phil) who was riding his solo in preference to risking his life with wife Beffy (sorry Beff) our only female rider this time.
