FJRForum Official 2021 Iron Butt Rally Tracking/Analysis Thread

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I wasn't going to go to the start until I started seeing pictures of lots of friends that will be participating in the rally in one way or another... so I got onto the Southwest website and found a flight... life is short and there aren't that many chances to have that many people you want to hug in one place especially after such a long absence of them... so off I went. Got there mid-afternoon and riders' meetings were going on and then they went in to the final banquet to have a last meal with their brethren and then get the highly anticipated rally packet.

Staff passing the time before the festivities began that night... even "mature" people can do social media!

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Riders' banquet (I snuck in the back for a photo opp... shhhhhhh!)

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Mark Crane, one of the nicest guys you'll meet, was there on staff and Mike Brooke, he of the much ogled Hayabusa, showed off his best duck face...

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Jeff Earls presenting the theme and rally packet...

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The wheels start turning... in more one that one way!

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Because I was a latecomer, a ticket to the banquet was not available so I made due and had dinner with these two reprobates... ;)

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Even the elusive Reno John made a showing and let me know that I was Number One... :D

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As the riders were fully ensconced in the task of mapping out their rally, a few of the support crew gathered for an adult beverage (or two)... Mark didn't have his blender with him but he made due too...

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And with that, headed back to our hotel rooms excited to see our friends off the next day... ;)

 
The next morning came with bright sunshine and already warming temps... lots of activity going on as riders made their last preparations and got ready for Dale/warchild's "Finger of Go" to send them on their way...

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Last riders' meeting... "Go that way and don't **** up!"

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A few riders relaxed with their fellow competitors...

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Mario Winkelman of LD Comfort (middle) was there to support the riders with instructions on how to properly use his gear...

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Some of the bikes, electronics, riders and mascots...

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Kurt Worden's small displacement bike proving it ain't the size of the bike... ;)

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Mr. Happy has seen some things...

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Did anyone mention a Haybusa in the rally? :D

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Dan Simmonds' game face...

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Needs more lights...

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Pirate duck...

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Lots of interest to see how this one will do in this rally...

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And Mike Brooke was raring to go...

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Kenneth Andrews raring to go... many were hoping he would head west and bring rain with him (inside joke)...

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The pack had a police escort through the city streets to get them out and going...

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And then the countdown began... 10:00am on the dot the riders started to pull out to cheers, honking horns, high hopes, and the adventure of a lifetime... lots of folks rooting for all of them for a safe journey (first priority) and a great ride! I'm really glad I went... B)

 
I wasn't going to go to the start until I started seeing pictures of lots of friends that will be participating in the rally in one way or another... so I got onto the Southwest website and found a flight... life is short and there aren't that many chances to have that many people you want to hug in one place especially after such a long absence of them... so off I went. Got there mid-afternoon and riders' meetings were going on and then they went in to the final banquet to have a last meal with their brethren and then get the highly anticipated rally packet.

Staff passing the time before the festivities began that night... even "mature" people can do social media!



Riders' banquet (I snuck in the back for a photo opp... shhhhhhh!)



Mark Crane, one of the nicest guys you'll meet, was there on staff and Mike Brooke, he of the much ogled Hayabusa, showed off his best duck face...



Jeff Earls presenting the theme and rally packet...



The wheels start turning... in more one that one way!



Because I was a latecomer, a ticket to the banquet was not available so I made due and had dinner with these two reprobates... ;)



Even the elusive Reno John made a showing and let me know that I was Number One... :D
It was lovely to have dinner with you too Tyler. :)

Who knew we'd learn so much about Provo culture and the extensive siring of reprobates by our passed friend, Tom Melchild?

 
How fast is "Rally Nominal"?
Undetermined. It's different for each Rider. Me, for example, RN was typically less than +10mph when conditions were perfect. "Excessive speed" is grounds for DQ.

It's as much TiC joke as anything else.

Tyler: None of your photos display for me. What's up?

Couple riders haven't moved at motels in Sioux Falls and Brookings for over 6 hours, fatigue must be catching up with them...
There are rest bonuses in the IBR since some time back. Probable earning easy points.

 
Both riders were parked since around 11pm CDT, the one in Sioux Falls just started moving at 8am CDT but the rider in Brookings is still there. How many hours do they need to rest to get the rest bonus?

 
We've got a rider still in Oregon on Hwy 126. Rural and not the quickest road in the world. Strange. 
And now, 9 hours later, he/she is 200 miles down the road in Burns. Let's hope they got good rest. 

And BTW, the rider might be about to begin one of my favorite roads, Hwy 20 from Burns, OR to Vale. The half to the West is as fast as you'd like with the second half following the Malheur river chocked full of 45 mile per hour curves. She's a beauty.

 
Both riders were parked since around 11pm CDT, the one in Sioux Falls just started moving at 8am CDT but the rider in Brookings is still there. How many hours do they need to rest to get the rest bonus?
It varies. Some past rallies have required 8 hours off the bike during a specified time window.

 
Undetermined. It's different for each Rider. Me, for example, RN was typically less than +10mph when conditions were perfect. "Excessive speed" is grounds for DQ.

It's as much TiC joke as anything else.

Tyler: None of your photos display for me. What's up?

There are rest bonuses in the IBR since some time back. Probable earning easy points.
Try a different browser. Pics don't show up for me if using Firefox. Launched Edge and they're all there.

 
And now, 9 hours later, he/she is 200 miles down the road in Burns. Let's hope they got good rest. 

And BTW, the rider might be about to begin one of my favorite roads, Hwy 20 from Burns, OR to Vale. The half to the West is as fast as you'd like with the second half following the Malheur river chocked full of 45 mile per hour curves. She's a beauty.
And they don't seem to be moving...again. 2,000 miles from Burns to Carmel. 

 
And they don't seem to be moving...again. 2,000 miles from Burns to Carmel. 
Noticed that as well. Look to be bunkered down again. That’s a whole lot of ground to cover in not a whole lot of time. Especially not while trying to get any bonuses along the way. 

 
what years make up the remain?
I recall a red 2007 and a graphite 2015 as several of the non Gen 1s.  The first, eeksnake, rode a Tenere in 2019 until an unfortunate encounter with a truck in northern Cali and then had another forum member bring him his 2017 Top 5 for the final leg.

 
It varies. Some past rallies have required 8 hours off the bike during a specified time window.
Variable length rest bonuses (typically 4-8 hours) have been common since at least 2013.  It's very possible this actual rest bonus from the 2019 packet could be exactly the same in this year's packet (other than a 23 instead of a 19).  There are usually similar rest bonuses throughout the legs on days that aren't starts, checkpoints, or finishes.

And I can also testify from personal experience that except for one very unusual circumstance where I and a couple of other riders had outthought the RM's bonus packet in 2013 and were written about for that leg or a rider messes something up, taking all the points possible on the rest bonus is better than points you'd get bonus chasing.

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