Hi folks -

The 2005 Iron Butt Rally started a few days ago in Denver. This is a biannual event with approximately 100 motorcyclists (out of thousands who apply) traveling all around the country chasing bonus locations for 11 days, with some of them hitting well over 12,000 miles during that time period. Many of the folks that I've met in my meager Cal24 career (1.5 rallies :D ) are involved in this years Iron Butt, including the Cal24 organizer, Tom Melchild.

13 of the bikes have a Star-Traxx device on them, which beams their position up to a satellite network every hour. Here's a link to where they are as we speak:

Map of Iron Butt Riders (http://rally.star-traxx.com/rallyview.asp?Rally=30)

If you'd like info on who is leading, current news stories day-by-day, or general information on the rally, here are some links:

General Iron Butt Rally Info (http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/default.cfm)
Daily Reports (http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2005.cfm)
Actual Bonus Locations/Instructions from first leg (http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2005/BonusList/leg1.doc)
Rider Standings after Leg 1 (http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2005/RiderScorecards.cfm)

Pictures of the bikes and competitors at the 2nd checkpoint in Maine:

link to thread on ST.N (http://www.sport-touring.net/cgi-bin/msgboard/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=37088)

Direct link to photo album only (http://photobucket.com/albums/a340/turbopackmule/IBR%2005/)

This year's event has just started. Home base for the 2007 version is Chesterfield, Missouri; right outside St. Louis. The riders will be returning to Chesterfield for the end of leg 1, then returning yet again for the rally finish.

Here is a link to the main info page for the 2007 event: click here... (http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2007.cfm)

Here is a link to satellite tracking for 12 of the bikes: click here... (http://rally.star-traxx.com/rallyview.asp?Rally=98)

Here is a link to an unbelievably farkled R12RT set up for rally duty: click here... (http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/IBRB/)

This page includes a listing of all riders entered; there are quite a few folks who we know from the Cal24, including Tom Melchild: click here... (http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2007.cfm?DocID=31)

I love reading the day by day updates, and the satellite tracking adds a great twist to spectating from a distance...

he must have doubled the cost of that RT with all the extras. what a setup!

Great quote from an observer of the rally:

"Is this some sort of a senior citizens tour?"

The guy going for Goose Bay crashed less than 200 miles from it. :frown: Bike looks to be totalled, but he's mostly ok with a broken bone in his hand. I guess it was undoable.

Rob Nye's RT is pretty incredible, but what is unknown is how much help/support Max's BMW gave him in putting together the machine. Considering it's supposed to be impossible for a civilian to even purchase the RT-P version, the help must have been considerable.

i thought that was an RT-P, and the big antenna on the back must help part traffic.

another great quote:

"because this is an international competition, it's difficult to understand some of the riders because of the language barrier, especially those from Minnesota."

Final results all posted up on:

http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2007.cfm

Whole bunch of BMW final drive failures... But BMW's did finish #1, #2, #4, and #5.

So there's now a link from internet comedy to the iron butt.

Looks like Rob Nye must have tried to test drive some bikes at the LazyK. If you haven't heard of the LazyK, it's a hideously awful dealership in Ohio. There is someone affiliated with the dealership that writes a hilarious blog about the goings-on there. It is comical. If you have time, start from the beginning. Here's the link to the main page:

http://lazyk.blogspot.com/

And here's the link to the story that is almost definitely Rob:

http://lazyk.blogspot.com/2007/08/serious-rider.html