IBA Participant Sighting

[Randy]

Typo in the title...should have said IBR, as in Iron Butt Rally.

I met Joel Rappaport this morning. Was on my way to an appt and saw an old tattered R60 with all kinds of gadgets and a 'LDRIDER' license plate, so, it was pretty safe to assume that he was a participant. I introduced myself and offered assistance. Said he was in good shape, but, could have used a clothes dryer early this a.m. He got his 3 hrs of sleep, was handing in his room key and was heading off for some local bonii in the Mechanicsburg/Carlisle area, then off to the Harley Davidson plant in York, then to Reading, PA, then up to Cooperstown.

Don't count him out.

From the IBR website

Although some would consider any motorcycle more than 30 years old to be in the Hopeless Class, Joel Rappoport would disagree. He will be riding the BMW R60/6 that he purchased new 31 years ago. It's the only motorcycle he has owned since then. When it crosses the starting line, it will have over 435,000 miles on it, but it's fresh from a rebuild of the engine, transmission, and rear end at 430,000 miles. Joel has also upgraded the bike from the original drum brakes to double disks up front. He has upgraded the charging system to 400 watts, which allows him to run extra lights and heated gear. The stock H-4 headlight bulb has been replaced with an HID low-beam. A long since discontinued Windjammer III fairing will keep him out of the wind. Two pair of HID auxiliary lights have also been added. He's not expecting to have any mechanical problems and he considers his bike "the most comfortable place on Earth." It's possible that the motorcycle is better prepared for the Rally than Joel, who has never before competed in an endurance rally.

 

[airboss]

Things that make you go, Hmmmmmmmmm, hope he finishes well.