Leslie Ortabasi

A Moment in the Sun

Leslie Ortabasi, Oktay Ortabasi

The inspiring and fascinating story of the development of a solar-powered tandem bicycle, designed and built at the University of Queensland in the 1980s. A Moment in the Sun is an entertaining documentary about local solar-power pioneer, Turkish nuclear physicist Dr Ugur Ortabasi.

Güneşte Bir An

Leslie Ortabasi, Oktay Ortabasi

Uğur Ortabaşı

In the early days of solar vehicle racing, one of the most unlikely competitors was a Turkish nuclear physicist living in Australia named Ugur Ortabasi. He designed a four-seated solar powered tandem bicycle only a mother could love but in true underdog fashion it would go on to win the 1986 World Championships of Solar Vehicles. The story behind this unlikely victory was anything but sunshine and smooth sailing.