FJRForum Official 2019 Iron Butt Rally Tracking/Analysis Thread

[eddiememphis]

Guys are on Lighthouse Road, Okracoke, SC. There are three showing, headed south of Tallahassee. There is a Lighthouse Road south of St. Marks, FL. Any other Lighthouse Roads around the country?

 

[neanderthaler]

I'm cheering for every single rider (and pillion) in this thing. That said, I'm happy to report that Team Florida is doing good and on plan at the moment. My buddy on Team Pennsylvania made the decision that he needed to make and I have nothing but respect for my man, KK3AN. Believe me, he will be back blowing minds before we know it! $#%^ing @#*&, watching the SPOT tracks makes me want to ride far

 

[Jim A.]

Guys are on Lighthouse Road, Okracoke, SC. There are three showing, headed south of Tallahassee. There is a Lighthouse Road south of St. Marks, FL. Any other Lighthouse Roads around the country?

Race Point Light, Provincetown, Cape Cod would make a great daylight-only bonus. 65 mi out, then back in heavy tourist season!

 

[ericboutin]

We went and watched them take off this morning, very cool! All of them out in just under 5 minutes! Loved how the pointer guy saluted the known military guys, also very cool!

Ok got an odd kinda question that my small brain thinks of...if it is in poor taste to ask you can yell at me...lol....but all these guys and gals are basically like privateer racers I'm assuming, ie. No real sponsorship I'm guessing? How much on average does it take to run this 11 day race? Not a very cheap vacation I wouldn't think? Lol. Thanks this is fun to watch.

 

[Ignacio]

Ok got an odd kinda question that my small brain thinks of...if it is in poor taste to ask you can yell at me...lol....but all these guys and gals are basically like privateer racers I'm assuming, ie. No real sponsorship I'm guessing? How much on average does it take to run this 11 day race? Not a very cheap vacation I wouldn't think? Lol. Thanks this is fun to watch.

Please remember it's rallying, not racing. Ralliers are extremely sensitive about that, but I get your point about "privateer".

That said, expenses are matter of debate largely if you also consider the underlying motorcycle and all the gear or focus on the specific expenses of a rally or things you might need to buy to rally at the IBR level. I go with the former and would still have the same motorcycle, most of the same accessories, and all of the same safety gear.

Entry fee to the IBR is about $2K. Expect to spend about $1K on fuel for the rally, get there, and back. Food, hotel, miscellaneous expense are harder to quantify depending on your taste in food, level of hotel, roomie, etc. Tires...expect 2 rear for an IBR and single front.

Only accessories I'd point out unique to rallying are an auxilliary fuel cell. That's in the $1K range. You don't have a laptop or GPS...you're probably going to have to buy those as well. Want to have a wheel ready to swap at a CP...extra rim cost, tire, and shipping to the CP adds obviously a bit.

I estimated an IBR was in the $5K range for basically a 2-3 week summer vacation.

And IBR isn't the typical insertion into the sport. Doing a shorter rally more regionally is much more common and MUCH cheaper. Think 3 days of expenses vs. 2-3 weeks.

 

[heynowref]

11 days. 11,000 miles. $11,000. Or so they say.

 

[Ignacio]

11 days. 11,000 miles. $11,000. Or so they say.

Only if you want to also include the cost of the motorcycle, gear, etc. as if you'd not have purchased anything if it weren't for the IBR....or you're doing custom everything and rich.

 

[BigOgre]

Ok got an odd kinda question that my small brain thinks of...if it is in poor taste to ask you can yell at me...lol....but all these guys and gals are basically like privateer racers I'm assuming, ie. No real sponsorship I'm guessing? How much on average does it take to run this 11 day race? Not a very cheap vacation I wouldn't think? Lol. Thanks this is fun to watch.

And IBR isn't the typical insertion into the sport. Doing a shorter rally more regionally is much more common and MUCH cheaper. Think 3 days of expenses vs. 2-3 weeks.

Are there any first-time ralliers in the IBR? I was under the impression that to qualify all must have some, if not quite a bit of previous rallying experience. If true the cost of just qualifying for the IBR must add up also.

 

[BkerChuck]

Everyone picked has some LD riding or rallying credentials. No one gets into the IBR as a rally virgin.

 

[eddiememphis]

What is in Flamingo, FL that is a worthy 24hr bonus?

 

[cdogbt1sw03033]

Michelin Man at the exit from the IBR parking lot: shameless marketing for the PR5?

The leading Tire Engineer from Michelin Headquarters did a Tire Seminar for riders on Friday. Leave it to Rob "Muckeraker" Nye to ask them about the wisdom of car tires on motorcycles.

The Lead Engineer simply spoke the truth - some of the CT guys wanted to try to argue with him. That didn't work out all that well.

The Tire Engineer had facts, repeatable data, reams of overwhelming historical information. etc etc. The CT guys had anecdotal stories/experiences.

I wasn't there, but I understand from those who were that it wasn't much of a debate.

BS! You gave me **** for riding a Run-Flat as a first on My Goldwhale in the '09 IBR, butt gave a thankful apology at ck pt 2 when you found out my DNF was due to the Front MOTORCYCLE TIRE! i still have that tire stem in my toolbox to remind me.

and i have been at the end of scrutiny by the BMW Engineers after Rob Outed when we were at a Q&A about our riding choices. Those Germans didnt believe JAck until they were riding behind me watching the tire going thru the backroads of upstate NY.

MY '05 Wing Still has Run-Flats and at 309k is still running well in the northeast.

MY 99 ST1100 65k miles still has MC tires butt doesn't get much use with them!

i prefer the big fatt on my healthy Pig!

 

[Ignacio]

Are there any first-time ralliers in the IBR? I was under the impression that to qualify all must have some, if not quite a bit of previous rallying experience.

Check the Day -1 report at the official website. It has a list of riders and denotes who’s rookie, veteran, or “UB” which is “Unfinished Business”. Fair number of rookies, yes.

 

[Warchild]

Are there any first-time ralliers in the IBR? I was under the impression that to qualify all must have some, if not quite a bit of previous rallying experience. If true the cost of just qualifying for the IBR must add up also.

Oh, more than a 1/3 of the field this year are rookies. But that doesn't mean they aren't experienced, seasoned riders who have demonstrated the proper mettle to handle this event.

Many many of our rookies are about as hard-core as they come.

Dan Simmonds was a 2019 rookie, for example. Pretty sure Dan has proper Endurance Riding credentials.

Still, he will again be an IBR rookie in 2021.

Nobody running in the modern Iron Butt Rally is a complete newbie to motorcycling itself. Oh, no.

 

[2DFlier]

With all the speculation on these eastern bonus locations, how does the BRP, Mt Mitchell, Chimney Rock, Outer Banks, etc fit a Road Less Travelled theme?

 

[powderhound5]

Everyone picked has some LD riding or rallying credentials. No one gets into the IBR as a rally virgin.

I finished in 05 and 07 the only two Rallies I ever rode.

Lots of overseas riders arrive without any Rally experience.

There are riders in this Rally who have no Rally experience

Rally Virgin # 310

 

[2DFlier]

Condolences, Dan. Bill's bike was well setup. I suspect that moving a few personal things and the contents of the panniers would have been all that was needed. But those Tens are tall.

Bottom line -- I couldn't bring myself to borrow another bike in this event.

Thankful you're at peace with the decision and hoping you can enjoy spectacle.

 

[GearHeadGrrrl]

What is in Flamingo, FL that is a worthy 24hr bonus?

Road through Everglades NP to the gulf, after dark now so they'll probably be dodging reptiles...

 

[BIODSL]

11 days. 11,000 miles. $11,000. Or so they say.

Only if you want to also include the cost of the motorcycle, gear, etc. as if you'd not have purchased anything if it weren't for the IBR....or you're doing custom everything and rich.

I never tracked the cost of the two IBRs I ran; I just didn't want to know. I do think it's closer to $11K than $5K. What's the entry fee these days? Two sets of tires is 5 or 6 hundred alone. I'm the type who just can't get good sleep in the Iron Butt Motel and usually took a room for at least a couple of hours unless riding all night. I bet I spent $1,500 on rooms, from and during. Fuel's probably $1,200. Medivac insurance? There's another 200. Park pass is $80. You see where this is going...It just adds up.

 

[eddiememphis]

Road through Everglades NP to the gulf, after dark now so they'll probably be dodging reptiles...

There are two at the marina, last I looked. What are they taking a picture of? Or, what task are they having to complete at 10:30pm? I remember reading something about needing hiking shoes.

 

[Tyler]

Just a few pics from this morning…

View from Wendy Crockett’s cockpit…



Riders getting ready…



Wife and daughter of one of the riders decided to make a showing of support in a very unique way... lol



Final rider meeting…



Whatever you do, you do NOT want to be on the other end of that finger other than leaving the parking lot…



And they’re gone…