Iron Butt Rally Next Week!

[Vance]

Just to remind everyone, the Iron Butt Rally starts on Monday. We will be following along our member John Harrison who is again this year competing in the event. Daily reports will be given and should be available on the Iron butt site.
Good luck John! The alabeemers wish you the best! Ride Safe...and we will be following along!!

[Norwood]

Just to remind everyone, the Iron Butt Rally starts on Monday. We will be following along our member John Harrison who is again this year competing in the event. Daily reports will be given and should be available on the Iron butt site.
Good luck John! The alabeemers wish you the best! Ride Safe...and we will be following along!!

http://www.ironbuttrally.com/ibr/2011/1.pdf

http://www.ironbuttrally.com/ibr/2011/2.pdf

[Vance]

And they are off! Good luck John...ride safe!!

http://spotwalla.com/locationViewer.php?id=67

[Norwood]

And they are off! Good luck John...ride safe!!

http://spotwalla.com/locationViewer.php?id=67

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riOnif8r95E

Yep, they are off....lots of BMWs and ST1300, Gold wings ....and lots and lots of lights....

Go safe folks....enjoy the ride....

They got to hit all 48 states to be a finisher....and visit state capitols for the points and added four corners for more points.....

[Norwood]

Watching with much interest....our MTF group has 12 in the big dance...
Got several facebook friends riding...
And best of all... five have visited our annual Eldridge Children's Home benefit and/or supported it annually....

Ride safe guys....

[BamaBiker]

Anybody have a key to the Spotwalla tags? Who's tag is which?

[Norwood]

Anybody have a key to the Spotwalla tags? Who's tag is which?

The IBA, by designed does not have a key to the tags for their reasons....each will not have a time stamp either.

Not all riders are located on the Spotwalla location page ....by choice of the riders....Some are using Spot and Spotwalla, but just not on the location page.

Riders could notify friends and family of their spot ID....but not public.

However most are using their initials or IBA last three digits...
some discussion and guessing on some forums tonight.

Tracking routes where only released to family and support friends by riders with instructions not to share the links, most are password protected ...more IBA rules.

I am glad to see so many using SPOT, I can understand the reasons for limited access to tracking.

[Vance]

John Harrison is the only one I know personally in the show. I wish I had his locator link but I don't. It would be cool to see where he is...interesting to look at the public link to see how they are progressing as a group...

I hope they all have a great ride...and a safe one! The weather in the upper Midwest looks kind of yucky right now....

[Norwood]

John Harrison is the only one I know personally in the show. I wish I had his locator link but I don't. It would be cool to see where he is...interesting to look at the public link to see how they are progressing as a group...

I hope they all have a great ride...and a safe one! The weather in the upper Midwest looks kind of yucky right now....

Not sure what John may have....the report says he is riding a ST1300..

Looking at spots with H in last letter.... I see several, but the one with DGH could be Darrin Hicks or Dave Hombroff....another could be Alex Harper..

I see 04H , could be Alex or John ....
Maybe we get a clue after the first leg...

Oh the strategy: one friend that I am tracking has chosen the four corners, he B lined for Blaine Washington off the start line....thus far has opted to ride past State Capitals and hit the states and spend his time for the four corners bonus.... while another friend, has opted for state capitals.... and not the four corners bonus.... another friend riding two up with wife has opted to hit only select state capitals with higher point values and opted out of four corners....his goal was to just be a finisher....so making all 48 states is a must...
The IBA report said that some state capitals along the route could have a point value of 25 while others could have 1000 points....

To me, hitting the Key West as part of Four Corners, would mean an additional 1500 miles and about two days, plus hitting the Maine corner would add another 1200 miles and extra day... so trying to hit the state capitals along the way is out.... Hitting all the states plus Four Corners is going to be tuff....I see 13,000 plus miles to win...without bike problems, weather delays (smoke delays in areas) ....

Oh well....easy to arm chair this ...sitting in front of computer in A/C on high. time for coffee break

[BMWWANDRR]

I agree, Don. It's so easy to watch and figure the best route. I haven't done a rally yet but am looking at rules and rallies recently. The challenge is getting the better of me. Love to have a reason or destination to make the ride a challenge to plan.

[Gail]

Even if you have absolutely no interest in ever doing an Ironbutt, you've just got to appreciate the awesomeness (is that even a word) of this event. I have been reading the rules, etc., and it is just mind boggling! I would still be in the parking lot of the motel trying to find the exit . This thing has always intrigued me and it would be interesting to see what you are really made of ( I think I know, and its mush), but I think those who finish this are super human. This ain't for no sissy. Gail

[jdubeemer]

I chose my vocation in life because I have the wanderlust and have been blessed to travel the world to over 200 cities in more than 50 countries. But my first love (in transportaion) has always been motorcycles and have been to 47 of the 50 states on a motorcycle. However, I can not fathom what would drive someone to want to do what these people are subjecting themselves to. What's more, some of them do it every year. Gail is right, it aint for sissies.

[BamaBiker]

Those who are keeping up -- John Harrison was in New Jersey last night, headed for Dover, DE. He's headed for Jacksonville, FL, and must be there by early evening. Bonus sheets for the 3rd/final leg will be handed out @ 10pm tonight.

Good luck, John. You're doing us proud!

[Vance]

That's right...and John was in 20th spot at the first check in. Not bad with 86 riders in total! go John....and go safely....we are proud of your efforts!

[Norwood]

John Harrison took a nice jump up in the score...had a great Leg 2

Riders are in our backyard now on Leg 3 .... Ride safe !