2013 Iron Butt Rally - The Inside View

[Ryan]

A three digit number is assigned after, and only, after you finish the rally. It begins with the first unassigned three digit number, and goes in sequential order of finish in the Iron Butt Rally.

For example, Chris Sakala and I were the highest place rookie finishers in 2005. The number 295 was assigned to the last place finishing rookie in 2003, so Chris was given 296 for his second place finish. My seventh place finish earned me 297.

Rookie DNFs do not get three digit numbers.

 

[karstenp]

It looks like there are two types of #'s in discussion. 1) Rider Number and 2) IBA 3 Digit number.

Rider #'s (normally only 2 digits as there are usually less than 100 riders) are assigned to all riders and the logic for assigning the numbers to each rider may differ each rally. A 3 digit IBA # is only assigned to finishers and in sequential order of finish. For example my Rider # this year was 36. My IBA # was assigned after my finish in 2011 and remains #411.

 

[huron52]

It looks like there are two types of #'s in discussion. 1) Rider Number and 2) IBA 3 Digit number.
Rider #'s (normally only 2 digits as there are usually less than 100 riders) are assigned to all riders and the logic for assigning the numbers to each rider may differ each rally. A 3 digit IBA # is only assigned to finishers and in sequential order of finish. For example my Rider # this year was 36. My IBA # was assigned after my finish in 2011 and remains #411.

Excellent Ride Perry..... oh by the way I have something of yours here.

 

[dcarver]

It looks like there are two types of #'s in discussion. 1) Rider Number and 2) IBA 3 Digit number.
Rider #'s (normally only 2 digits as there are usually less than 100 riders) are assigned to all riders and the logic for assigning the numbers to each rider may differ each rally. A 3 digit IBA # is only assigned to finishers and in sequential order of finish. For example my Rider # this year was 36. My IBA # was assigned after my finish in 2011 and remains #411.

Great number to have, 411..

 

[jwhite518]

Kirsten Talken Spalding is getting a bunch of nerd humor out of her 404.

 

[puppychow]

Kirsten Talken Spalding is getting a bunch of nerd humor out of her 404.

Umm. Sorry Jerry I couldn't find your referenced humor. Pardon my Error..

 

[Mike Aldea]

Congratulations to the participants and staff of the 2013 Iron Butt Rally for their achievement and for providing us with an enthralling event to vicariously participate in. My daily life seems kind of empty now that I don't have the rally to follow.

Friday night while everyone was at the IBR banquet I was at a reception for a new art show, Papa's Box, by 2009 IBR rider Bill Rauschenberg. Bill had a very severe crash on day 5 of the 2009 IBR near Bismarck, SD, which ended his motorcycle riding career as well as his rally. After a very long recovery Bill retired from his position as an Elementary Grade Level Art Specialist with the Nyack (NY) school system and is now starting a new chapter of his life.

..

 

[Jehos]

I think in 09 the lowest numbers went to the ones with the most multiple IBRs under their belt. Then I think the 2-ups went next. At some point they ran out of special categories and did the rookies in alphabetical order starting at M, then wrapping from Z to A, with poor Bob Lznkynzvic getting number 99.

It was probably intentional starting at M to punish him for making them triple-check his name every time they typed it.

 

[travel_man]

Congratulations to all of the FJR riders. This rally was truly yours!

 

[Hello Kitty]

Congratulations to the participants and staff of the 2013 Iron Butt Rally for their achievement and for providing us with an enthralling event to vicariously participate in. My daily life seems kind of empty now that I don't have the rally to follow.
Friday night while everyone was at the IBR banquet I was at a reception for a new art show, Papa's Box, by 2009 IBR rider Bill Rauschenberg. Bill had a very severe crash on day 5 of the 2009 IBR near Bismarck, SD, which ended his motorcycle riding career as well as his rally. After a very long recovery Bill retired from his position as an Elementary Grade Level Art Specialist with the Nyack (NY) school system and is now starting a new chapter of his life.

..

Thanks for sharing this, Mike. I don't recall meeting Bill, but I rode in 2009 as well, so he'll always have a special place in my prayers. Glad to hear he's making some lemonade and doing the best he can. Please pass along my best wishes.

(I used to live just down the Palisades Parkway in Piermont and Tappan, currently in Baltimore, MD)

 

[RayW]

I think I should take a minute here to offer a big apology to Iggy.

He was doing AMAZING......until I opened my big mouth and asked if there had ever been any FJR mechanical failures during the Iron Butt.

I am REALLY sorry for jinxing your shock, guy.

Next time I'll just stick to lurking and keep my mouth shut.

 

[Warchild]

Bob Higdon has published an Epilogue to the 2013 IBR

https://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2013/epilogue.pdf

 

[str8]

My thanks to the insiders (warchild and ms kitty). And congrats to the the riders. I still think they're all retarded, but on the other hand, I'm a huge fan.

Mr. Higdon's thoughts about the heat are dead on. Being from the Great White North and all, I find the heat extremely debilitating.

 

[Ignacio]

Bob Higdon has published an Epilogue to the 2013 IBR

https://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2013/epilogue.pdf

A pretty fair assessment by Higdon IMO. He casts light through a fog that inevitably happens in these latter parts of a rally. While even I knew in the comfort of my a.m. after 7 hours of air-conditioned sleep the southern route generally had more point opportunities--I was still fairly wiped out after the 2nd leg and had limited gas in my internal reserve tank. I decided I couldn't survive a 3rd leg through he San Joaquin Valley, Death Valley, Arizona, Texas, and/or other humid places. Additionally, I REALLY thought I saw something in the Wallowa bonus that made me jump on it early.

As I planned the route I told myself, "Great! I know the shortcut to Wallowa from the south. I rode Wallowa to Oxbow Dam several years ago and there's this cool little paved forest service road few know about (700 miles from Sacramento). And both Streets and Trips & GPS try and route you the longer way through LaGrande (744 miles) or Lewiston (896 miles)."

It wasn't until I got a ways passed Oxbow that I then said, "Umm......I've never been here before....where's the paved road I though was here? Oh crap! I have to ride Hess Road to get to it. It looks really squiggly and ugly on the GPS."

I guess I'm not the World's Toughest Rider....just the 5th toughest rider this year.

This particular competition is world-class and I'm completely at peace with my finish!

P.S. I just uploaded a

 

[Ignacio]

I think I should take a minute here to offer a big apology to Iggy.
He was doing AMAZING......until I opened my big mouth and asked if there had ever been any FJR mechanical failures during the Iron Butt.

I am REALLY sorry for jinxing your shock, guy.

Next time I'll just stick to lurking and keep my mouth shut.

I don't think you jinxed me. I'm sure my little journey down Hess Road didn't do my suspension any favors.

Truth is that I also blew the shock just shortly before my very last bonus. It *may* have been possible to snag the last bonus if my shock wasn't blown (although I was totally pushing daylight even if it was in pristine condition) and *could* have snagged a few extra 200 point bonuses in the end. Even if...I *might* have finished 4th instead of 5th. No way I was moving any higher.

If anything I'm elated that in the face of adversity I gutted out the last 533 miles on a blown shock squatting on its rear haunches, was able to adjust the headlights to not blind people, doing a permanent pull up like I was Paul Jr. on a bad rigid chopper, and negotating one-lane traffic on I-80 in the wee hours of the morning infested with semi traffic and screwed up steering geometry. Rolling into the parking lot with a wounded FJR and STILL snagging 5th place was the single biggest physical feat of my life!

 

[Pete Bansen]

That's quite a distinction, Matt - one that only a handful of people ever have been or will be able to claim!

You rode a great rally in a field with some superb talent - you can be very proud and pleased with being 5th toughest!

Congratulations on riding well and finishing safely - that's what it's all about...

I guess I'm not the World's Toughest Rider....just the 5th toughest rider this year.

This particular competition is world-class and I'm completely at peace with my finish!

 

[101stpathfinder]

I think many riders were thrown off by the late start from CP #2. I saw a route that looked custom made for my riding:
Colorado/TX/Key West/NC
BUTT...
Didn't want to chance finisher status.
I asked Jim Owens at the finish what he thought,
He replied "Winning route- he would have done"
Josh almost took it. The instant gratification of some CA boni was a real draw though.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Kudos to all who rode...I am in awe of your mental toughness.

Just want to say that this was an awesome rally to try and follow... and it was fun following Bob Higdon's commentary.

Finally, way to go FJR IBR riders...you guys rocked the rally!

 

[Auburn]

Kudos to all who rode...I am in awe of your mental toughness.
Just want to say that this was an awesome rally to try and follow... and it was fun following Bob Higdon's commentary.

Finally, way to go FJR IBR riders...you guys rocked the rally!

Absolutely, it was great to follow all th eriders here. There were some epic rides and survivals described and detailed. Well done to all!

 

[karstenp]

Bob Higdon has published an Epilogue to the 2013 IBR

https://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2013/epilogue.pdf

A pretty fair assessment by Higdon IMO. He casts light through a fog that inevitably happens in these latter parts of a rally. While even I knew in the comfort of my a.m. after 7 hours of air-conditioned sleep the southern route generally had more point opportunities--I was still fairly wiped out after the 2nd leg and had limited gas in my internal reserve tank. I decided I couldn't survive a 3rd leg through he San Joaquin Valley, Death Valley, Arizona, Texas, and/or other humid places. Additionally, I REALLY thought I saw something in the Wallowa bonus that made me jump on it early.
As I planned the route I told myself, "Great! I know the shortcut to Wallowa from the south. I rode Wallowa to Oxbow Dam several years ago and there's this cool little paved forest service road few know about (700 miles from Sacramento). And both Streets and Trips & GPS try and route you the longer way through LaGrande (744 miles) or Lewiston (896 miles)."

It wasn't until I got a ways passed Oxbow that I then said, "Umm......I've never been here before....where's the paved road I though was here? Oh crap! I have to ride Hess Road to get to it. It looks really squiggly and ugly on the GPS."

I guess I'm not the World's Toughest Rider....just the 5th toughest rider this year.

This particular competition is world-class and I'm completely at peace with my finish!

P.S. I just uploaded a

Wow Matt. The Hess road is one gnarly stretch. I am pretty sure that I saw one of your teeth fillings drop out at one point. Well done my friend and an excellent finish!