Thousands of Harley-Davidson owners and admirers have descended on the Illawarra in a roaring celebration of motorcycle culture.
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The event, from Friday to Sunday, marked the first Australian Harley-Davidson rally open to non-HOG (Harley-Davidson Owners Group) members and the wider community.
A large number of children and area families visited Stuart Park to see the machines en masse and up close, and to take part in a family-friendly program of entertainment.
The brand has taken on Australian BMX champion Caroline Buchanan as an ambassador as part of its push towards a more “inclusive” culture.
Buchanan joined 1400 riders for Sunday’s Thunder Run through Wollongong, taking the seat of a customised Harley-Davidson Street 500 - a smaller, less powerful ride with her race number (68) on its front.
“It’s my career number,” Buchanan told the Mercury.
“When I was five years old and got on a bike my dad asked ‘what number do you want?’. We got electrical tape and had an ice cream lid as my number plate for my first race meeting.
“My brother was simple – he chose number 11 and my dad needed to cut [two pieces of] electrical tape.
“I was just being a little brat and decided a hard number with lots of curves. I’ve had it all through my career - two Olympic games and now it’s on my motorbike.”
HOG chapters from around Australia were well-represented in the crowd.
Marty Pluymers, a 31-year-old baker and a member of the Tasmanian chapter, rode his Harley-Davidson from Hobart.
“This being a national [rally], it’s probably on of the only times where guys from all of the chapters come together,” he said.
“There might be guys I haven’t seen for months from Adelaide, Melbourne and out this way.
“This is three or four days where we can be together and it doesn’t matter what you do outside of the HOG group.
“Whether you’re a doctor or you’re unemployed, everyone’s on the same page.
“We just come together for the love of motorbikes.”
Throughout the weekend, riders took part in guided rides through Kangaroo Valley, to Picton and across Seacliff Bridge, as well as a Ladies of Harley ride to Kiama Blowhole and Jamberoo led by Buchanan on Saturday.
