FJRForum Official 2015 Iron Butt Rally Tracking/Analysis thread

[HotRodZilla]

Ok, this may be a dumb question, but is it ONLY National Parks in 25 states, or is it the bonus areas that seem to include national monuments and other locations? One is more difficult than the others, especially if parks in multiple states can only be hit from one state.

I guess we'll see, but they're moving right along.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Not sure, as Yellowstone is only listed in the Bonus Book for Wyoming. Didn't check the others. Not sure how'd they score it.

EDIT: should have read thru all the posts first, as others noted this. sorry.

I made this post a few days ago, but got no responses. Not sure if no one saw it, or just didn't care (ouch) ...

When I look at the list of National Parks, in order to get 50 in 25 states ( excluding Alaska) you would have to do the following; 1) Hit Yellowstone in all 3 states that it lies in; Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. OR Smoky Mountains in both TN and NC along with Yellowstone OR Death Valley which is in both CA and NV. This is assuming IBR rules allow taking credit for a single park in multiple states. 2) Get Acadia up in Maine, which I assume would be perhaps on the East Coast leg 3) Get Isle Royal in Michigan, which is only accessible by Ferry. This one will take some considerable planning, to catch the ferry on the most efficient schedule during that leg. Yes, this will be very interesting on legs 2 and 3! Smarter folks on here than I can shoot holes in my theory, but me thinks Alaska might have to come into play on Leg 3???

 

[STL FJR]

So, if you still have to get 50 "National" parks in 25 states, sooner or later one has to go to Alaska, no?

Am I confused about what is considered a "National Park" vs a "National Monuments" or a "National historic site"? There are only 49 vehicle accessible National Parks in the Lower 48 states, according to the NPS. Yellowstone is a National Park. All these other Bonus listings are National Monuments or Historic sites and are for extra points and are not considered National Parks, correct?

In order to be a "finisher" it is stated you must obtain 50 in 25 states, then the other bonus locations are for those going for the podium to build their point totals. This is what I have been thinking all along.

Someone bring me back to reality and tell me I am wrong on all this.

 

[RJAMT]

Ok, this may be a dumb question, but is it ONLY National Parks in 25 states, or is it the bonus areas that seem to include national monuments and other locations? One is more difficult than the others, especially if parks in multiple states can only be hit from one state.I guess we'll see, but they're moving right along.

The definition of "parks" seems to be properties administered by the National Parks Service. That would include actual national parks but also national monuments, battlefields, cemeteries, seashores, etc. that would explain places like the Lincoln house in Illinois and Shiloh battlefield in Tennessee.

 

[RenoJohn]

Ok, this may be a dumb question, but is it ONLY National Parks in 25 states, or is it the bonus areas that seem to include national monuments and other locations? One is more difficult than the others, especially if parks in multiple states can only be hit from one state.I guess we'll see, but they're moving right along.

The definition of "parks" seems to be properties administered by the National Parks Service. That would include actual national parks but also national monuments, battlefields, cemeteries, seashores, etc. that would explain places like the Lincoln house in Illinois and Shiloh battlefield in Tennessee.

"Tom went on to describe that he, Bob Higdon and Dave McQueeney had meticulously narrowed the population of 407 possible locations to just 347 different US national parks, meeting the criteria of being accessible by motorcycle. In addition, all but 3 parks would be available on all 3 legs."

go HERE page 1

 

[Twigg]

No one will go to Alaska (my guess)

There are about 340 Bonus locations in the pack. All except one is Daylight Only, the one is Yellowstone which counts only for Wyoming.

Three of the bonuses are specific times only, and they are group photo bonuses.

All the other bonuses are Parks or Monuments managed by the National Parks Service. I do believe some are Monuments, some may also be Cemeteries, I didn't look that closely at the pack.

No stamps are required, only photographs. One Park per state is all that is needed to claim the state, but some states have many Parks, etc, and that might play into the hands of those who grab the states early ... it remains to be seen.

Each Bonus may be claimed on different legs, for varying points, but only once per leg (if that makes sense) It is likely that high points for each of the parks are only available on one of the legs.

 

[RJAMT]

Looks like the IBR freight train is headed into Dixie rather than taking the I44 corridor into the upper Midwest. Guess that means they won't come by me until after CP2 when they roll back west. That sucks since I'll probably be at work and will miss the parade.

 

[JohnF]

STL FJR, your mind is locked into only thinking about National Parks. As you've asked in your most recent quotes are other type sites under the direction of the National Park Service eligible, and the answer is (as pointed out earlier) a big YES.

And to further clarify...it is ONLY National Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historic sites, Wildlife Refuge areas, etc that are in the rally book. And the rally book has specific instructions of exactly where one is to go and exactly what one is to take a photo of, and exactly when one can take the required photo. Not a whole lot of freelancing going on.

What the keyboard crowd has not been able to see is the point values assigned to the bonus sites for each leg. In some of the photos shown of the Sunday night distribution of the rally book, you could see the riders holding a sheaf of 3 or 4 pages of data. I believe that is where they get the point values ( like in the 48 state ride in 2011). A rider just going for finish really doesn't even care much about that data, other than to maybe see if there is a high point site near where they plan to ride for 50 sites/25 states. And I am sure in most of those riders minds they will be going for 52 in 26 in case they screw up a photo. Or, likewise, try to get two sites from each state if a direct/base route makes that easy. Again, a back up incase one of your photos is wrong and you lose credit for that site and that state.

Just my opinion on what is going on...but I believe once you eliminate the narrow parameter of only a true National Park, then you will see what is going on

JEF

other, but love the FJR

 

[airboss]

Ok, this may be a dumb question, but is it ONLY National Parks in 25 states, or is it the bonus areas that seem to include national monuments and other locations? One is more difficult than the others, especially if parks in multiple states can only be hit from one state.I guess we'll see, but they're moving right along.

The definition of "parks" seems to be properties administered by the National Parks Service. That would include actual national parks but also national monuments, battlefields, cemeteries, seashores, etc. that would explain places like the Lincoln house in Illinois and Shiloh battlefield in Tennessee.

Agree

If it was parks only, no one could claim Illinois as this state has zero (0) National Parks.

 

[Powershouse]

So has anyone spread sheeted the bonus locations from the rally book to allow them to be sorted by state or distance from checkpoints?

 

[Twigg]

There appear to be big points available in Big Bend NP.

At least two of the currently top 10 riders are heading that way and there may be more.

 

[RJAMT]

Ok, this may be a dumb question, but is it ONLY National Parks in 25 states, or is it the bonus areas that seem to include national monuments and other locations? One is more difficult than the others, especially if parks in multiple states can only be hit from one state.I guess we'll see, but they're moving right along.

The definition of "parks" seems to be properties administered by the National Parks Service. That would include actual national parks but also national monuments, battlefields, cemeteries, seashores, etc. that would explain places like the Lincoln house in Illinois and Shiloh battlefield in Tennessee.

AgreeIf it was parks only, no one could claim Illinois as this state has zero (0) National Parks.

No need to rub it in. I know how dull it is!

 

[Phil Tarman]

There may be fewer than 50 National Parks, but most of the National Monuments and apparently some other things like National Grasslands signs seem to be in the Bonus listings, too.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Alaska comes into play if only as a sucker bonus.

 

[snackbauer]

There appear to be big points available in Big Bend NP.
At least two of the currently top 10 riders are heading that way and there may be more.

At first, I thought that also, but then maybe they're just picking up a State, or a NP. That's what's difficult to determine from our perspective in this IBR, which makes it even more fun to watch!

 

[Ignacio]

Am I confused about what is considered a "National Park" vs a "National Monuments" or a "National historic site"?

We seem to keep going over this point. Don't get hung up on ONLY "national parks" from the Chris' report at this point. The bonus book (which is hugely important for people to review if they want to follow along) is generically titled, "National Parks Tour" includes national "parks", but also include monuments, historic sites, and other things that aren't even "national" actually. Since there are over 400 actual bonuses to choose from....nobody's going to have to go to Alaska to finish this rally.

Everybody should see and read through the list of bonuses in the Bonus Book. It is the rider's reference source for the entirety of the rally and even spirally bound for their convenicence.

 

[Uncle Hud]

The definition of "National Parks" for this rally are those locations listed in the Rally Book. Maybe they're parks, maybe they're monuments, maybe they're national cemeteries; but whatever they are, they're in the Book.

<edit> Ignacio's fingers are faster.

<edit 2> ... and the Book specifically says what to do, has GPS coordinates, and has an example photo.

<edit 3> To completely ensure my reputation as a buzz-kill, a PDF search of the Rally Book yields a few Alaskan bonii. Here's one:

WRST

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

10 mi S of Glennallen on Alaska Highway 4

Copper Center, AK

Coordinates: 62.0201 -145.3634

Daylight Hours Only

Take a picture of the sign at the entrance to the Visitor Center.

... and there's a photo of the sign on a slushy highway with 18-inch snowbanks on either side. If you submit a photo WITHOUT snow, you'll probably get zero points.

 

[Ignacio]

So has anyone spread sheeted the bonus locations from the rally book to allow them to be sorted by state or distance from checkpoints?

I certainly haven't--principally because it wouldn't really help anything because we don't know how many points each bonus is worth in each leg. That is a critical variable to then be able to analyze anything effectively.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Actually, four total Alaska sucker locations: in addition to Wrangell, there is Denali, Kenai Fjords, and Klondike Gold Rush.

 

[Uncle Hud]

So has anyone spread sheeted the bonus locations from the rally book to allow them to be sorted by state or distance from checkpoints?

I certainly haven't--principally because it wouldn't really help anything because we don't know how many points each bonus is worth in each leg. That is a critical variable to then be able to analyze anything effectively.

Looks like the Rally book is organized by state, in alphabetical order.

The locations are in an electronic data file, so your mapping software will give you miles to the checkpoint ... but you have to decide whether you're routing to that bonus on Leg 1, 2, or 3, and are you picking it up right at the start? On the way back to the checkpoint? In a swoop after you start southward, then turn back to the north?

While riding the bike is certainly important, it's the routing and the bonus values that are paramount. A herculean ride over several thousnad miles, through rain, tornadoes, and deer -- will all come to naught if you fail to get 50 bonus locations in 25 states.

<edit> Yeah, I got so caught up in my buzz-kill mood that I missed the other AK bonii on first search.

 

[eddiememphis]

CA 22 AZ 20 NY 19 VA 18 PA 15 MA 14 NM 13 TX 13 DC 12 MD 12

Top ten states with the most available locations. Six of them are in the east.