Show Tails

Driving a ute is as country as a broad brimmed hat, elastic sided boots and a laconic drawl.  The ute (or utility) is a part of rural identity, particularly for young people.  A good ute makes a few clear statements. 

Troy Bussey: 1994 Holden Commodore VR

Firstly, the driver probably doesn’t have a spouse and kids, because there is no-where to put them (unless it is a four door ute version, which is not particularly cool).  Secondly, a ute is saying the driver is an outdoors type.  The driver needs somewhere to throw a sweaty saddle and saddle blanket, a swag, a trail bike, an 18 gallon beer keg.  If the ute is kitted out with a roo bar and spotlights, clearly the driver is someone who drives long distances, at night, where many feral animals hurl themselves at the front of the drivers pride and joy. So a ute says a lot about an individual.  Owning a ute is not a solitary activity.  The Deniliquin Ute Muster in the Riverina town of Deniliquin created a world record in 1999 when 2839 utes and drivers assembled for the annual Deni Ute Muster. 

Wayne Anthony: 2006 Ford XR8

Ever keen to keep up with contemporary rural Australia, ute judging is now part of the Sydney Royal Easter Show.  This year the judges had lots to look at.  Extreme bullbars that looked like they would sink a battle ship.  Amazing artworks spray painted on bonnets.  Classic 1960s Holden utes fully restored.  And fully themed utes where the stickers, paint job and even flags were homage to beer drinking.  Rightly or wrongly, celebrating drinking culture, whether it be beer or Bundaberg rum and coke, is part of ute culture.  So is the blue singlet and workboots.  It is popular to personalise utes through stickers on bumper bars, bullbars, and windows. 

Paul Duggan: 2006 Landcruiser

Homages to Bundaberg rum, R.M.Williams and an obscure country pub (the Conargo pub, in the middle of no-where on the western plains of the Riverina is popular) help tell a story about the ute and its driver.  You don’t get many save-the-rainforest or baby-on-board stickers.  Looking at utes, and judging them is great fun.  Nearly as much fun as circle work.  And the Queensland heats of The Australian National Circle Work Championships will be held at Marburg on Saturday, May 7, 2011 if you are interested.

Troy Bussey, from Dubbo entered a 1994 Holden Commodore VR into the Sydney Royal Best of the Best Ute Competition.  Troy spent three years ‘doing up’ his ute and it has provided him with hours of entertainment. Wayne Anthony from Campbelltown exhibited a 2003 Ford XR8.  Wayne spent $10,000 on the sound system for his ute that has a Wii installed under the back cover so he can play his favourite games wherever he pulls up. Wayne says if his ute could fit in his bedroom, his wife would be in the garage.  Check out Wayne’s ute in this Show wrap video. Paul Duggan from Penrith exhibited a 2006 Toyota Landcruiser featuring original airbrush designs on the bonnet and toolboxes. 

Ron Halliday: 1977 Holden HZ

Has been building utes for 16 years and feels he is finally receiving recognition for his work (and this machine). Ron Halliday from Inverell, rebuilt a classic 1977 Holden HZ ute with a timber tray.  It was a family project, built with his son and son-in-law.  The champion ute at the Sydney Royal gets a blue ribbon, a Blue Dog belt buckle and $1000 cash.  Almost pays for the petrol for the V8 to get there and back.

What does your ute mean to you ? Drop us a comment.