Utah 1088

[Rogue]

If anyone is interested who didn't get in, Steve over booked from 75 to 96 bikes so he decided to make it a round 100, Go to the pinned 1088 thread for contact info.

 

[Ignacio]

Or clicky here.

 

[Rogue]

We also neeed to bump the # of FJRs, Yamaha is tied with Honda at 20 bikes, there are 36 BMWs!

:bleh: :bleh:

 

[Ignacio]

Yeah, the BMW's can usually last 24 hours if they've been properly serviced just before. It's the 11 day events that kill them. Conversely, one or two FJR's get diagnosed as tickers in the parking lot before the event starts, they finish the event, and then do another 5,000 before being taken in.

The other downer with having more FJRs there....is there's more competition. Jim Owen, a BMW to FJR convert, is gonna be a force to be reckoned with....

 

[mehaffydr]

I sent in my entry, but this is my first rally so i dont know how well I will represent the FJR community. Hopefully I dont screw it up. I do promise to give The BMW's hell of a fight.

 

[Ignacio]

I sent in my entry, but this is my first rally so i dont know how well I will represent the FJR community. Hopefully I dont screw it up.

No worries my friend. Last year was my first rally and it was the Utah 1088. I guarantee you'll have a good time--even if it seems daunting at first. If you want to read up on my experience to see if it helps any--try this account. The Utah 1088 is open to newcomers and veterans alike and great first event.

Take the advice of Steve and others, and stick with the main route. The camaraderie will be great.

 

[vectervp1]

Take the advice of Steve and others, and stick with the main route. The camaraderie will be great.

And look out for deer at night! Those little buggers are everwhere!

 

[Ignacio]

And look out for deer at night! Those little buggers are everwhere!

Careful. You're going to scare off the poor lad with exagerations of those cornfed deer that look down at you as you sideswipe them. Next thing you'll do is show pictures of duct taped sidecases and cracked brake pedals.

 

[Rogue]

This is going to be my first too!

 

[Ignacio]

This is going to be my first too!

Oh...well.....you're different then. Anybody with 1500 posts won't get scared off by the likes of me, vecter....or maybe even Warchild.

We'll have to make a point of hazing you then :bleh:

The dear are bigger than elks and even the females average 4 point in Utah. The bulls have sharpened carbide tips for antlers and after they kill you they rummage through your wallet and go after your family. :dwarf:

Better wear your kevlar...

 

[SkooterG]

Oh...well.....you're different then. Anybody with 1500 posts won't get scared off by the likes of me, vecter....or maybe even Warchild.

Waddaboutme?

I've been told I am a scary M-Fer.

 

[Ignacio]

Waddaboutme?
I've been told I am a scary M-Fer.

You?

I have this feeling you'll be the most likely to be lectured by Chalmers for trying to top your most recent GPS max. speed stunt just getting to the BBQ. Some of the troopers have his cell phone on speed dial.

Then when you turn up at the end of the event with 2400+ miles on your odometer you'll have to explain that wormhole in the space time continuum right outside of Nephi. You'll mutter something about, "Everything shifted to the ultraviolet..." and Steve will smack you with the Rally Rock .

 

[odot]

I've got a rock.....it ain't no rally rock....but, it will do.....it's right in front of my house.....got an addy I can send it too?

 

[vectervp1]

Waddaboutme?
I've been told I am a scary M-Fer.

You?

I have this feeling you'll be the most likely to be lectured by Chalmers for trying to top your most recent GPS max. speed stunt just getting to the BBQ. Some of the troopers have his cell phone on speed dial.

Then when you turn up at the end of the event with 2400+ miles on your odometer you'll have to explain that wormhole in the space time continuum right outside of Nephi. You'll mutter something about, "Everything shifted to the ultraviolet..." and Steve will smack you with the Rally Rock .

Oh yeah, I can see skooterg getting the rock.... :haha:

 

[Warchild]

Oh yeah, I can see skooterg getting the rock.... :haha:

.... within the first 5 minutes.... :lol:

 

[SkooterG]

Hmmmm........

What is the "Rock" thing?

Sounds like quite an honor.

 

[Ignacio]

IIRC, George Z. was the first to receive the rock last year.

.....so if you think it's an honor Skoot.....you're going to fit right in with this event.

To share the details of the rock before the event would be like telling you what your Christmas present is. It just doesn't seem right.

You just better hope you don't have to carry it during the rally. You might have to take off your fuel cell to make room and your mileage will seriously suffer. Did you get the preload adjuster on your Wilber? Does it adjust for an extra 200 pounds?

 

[chickey191]

Perhaps to rain a bit on this parade - (but I'm not going to tell anyone about rocks or much else that is useful) - I do have a lot to say about the 1088.

First - Last year was the first time I entered the 1088 and didn't finish. I quit with 8 hours to go. Still pisses me off - especially when I could have just ridden straight to 80 to say a little past Wendover and turned around and come back and at least got a finisher's plaque - but I wimped out. Wont go into the details - but basically- the heavy duty rain and my poor night vision got to me. That - and screwing the pooch before I hit the first checkpoint.

----

that said -

The 1088 is my favorite rally. I've been in it a few times and regret not riding it this year. Steve does a great job and if you get the chance you should try to attend the BBQ prior to the rally- just for the hanging out aspect. Last year we even conned the hotel bus driver to take us over and pick us up - allowing us more beer drinking time and capacity.

Steve puts on a hell of a rally - and Utah is a showcase of wonderful roads. He does a super job of picking out new roads - just when you thought you had been on the all... he finds a couple more. There are some relatively traditional fixtures in the rally, but he manages to route you through new territory, somehow.

Great roads - typically great weather - too many deer and some pretty fierce competition - along with a base route that you probably wont win with, but will have a guaranteed good (and/or miserable) time.

I HIGHLY recommend this rally. It was my first 24 hour rally and the one that hooked me into riding the rally circuit.

-

If I might offer some suggestions to rookies:

1. PAY ATTENTION - Steve and his rally packet will give you good information and usually, lots of it. Listen to him when he talks - and perhaps save the really stupid questions for later. Your self esteem may depend on it. That said - there really ARE stupid questions - these are considered stupid because they are usually covered in the reading material - and had you carefully read the stuff.... you would (and should) know the answer. BUT - better to ask a stupid question that to ride stupid. READ THE RALLY PACKET AND COMMIT TO MEMORY

2. DO NOT PAY ATTENTION: - Specific questions to rally veterans are usually answered willingly and honestly. Questions about route selection or bonii will usually be met with lies, lies and more obfuscation.

3. RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE: have a clue. Have some idea of what you are doing and are capable of, and have a way out. If you have never ridden 1000 miles in a day - the 1088 is probably not the best place to do it. There will be lots of twisty roads and deer infested mountains. Figure out what you can do and gear your ride and route selection around that.

4. HYDRATE: Utah is dry. You may well visit Cathedral Gorge and Moab - and it could be HOT. You could also be in the mountains an hour or two before and after. Make sure you have a water/fluid source.

5. This isn't the forum for bonus/route selection tips - but be aware - If the points are huge... there is usually a reason. Only problem is that there are typically two or threee reasons. Reason are:

a. Steve WANTS you to go down that road because he thinks you'll like it

b. Steve WANTS you to go down that road because it is a sucker bonus

c. Steve WANTS you to go down that road because he is a mean and viscious rally bastard and he likes it like that.

The trick is to figure out which Steve wrote the bonus.

6. Be AWARE - Utah is not on Pacific Time. some bonuses will be and some wont be - take it into consideration.

7. HAVE FUN

8. BE CAREFUL - Other than being publicly humiliated by not finishing last year - there is NO REASON to ride beyond your capabilities or your safety zone. Stop and rest - blow off a checkpoint - or head for the barn - or just quit (but phone in) because There is no finishers plaque or award or trophy that is worth your not returning home safely.

9. Enjoy the roads - they are hand picked for your riding pleasure. One year a rider and I were riding together - actually I think we would have be in a top three finish.

We went down a road that was so good that we turned around and rode BACK up the road, so that we could go back down it again. As it turned out... we were pretty stupid (from a rally point of view) to do so - but WE HAD a great time. That is what the rally is about.

10. ALMOST FORGOT _ this is not so important as in prior years -- but if you are a 1088 newbie - it is a tradition to find a rally veteran and buy him or her a beer. Since I wont be there, you can save it for some other time.