Monday, August 20 — The 2007 Iron Butt Rally began in St. Louis, MO yesterday. Tomorrow, some of the participants will be coming through Portsmouth to earn bonus points by picking up a copy of the New Hampshire Gazette at Federal Cigar on Ladd St.
The Iron Butt Rally is an eleven day, 11,000 mile-plus endurance event for motorcyclists. The Iron Butt Association, the body which organizes the Rally, calls its members The World’s Toughest Motorcycle Riders. We are certainly not going to argue the point.
These riders are not the posturing, over-the-hill wannabes who think violating noise ordinances will make up for their lack of personality. These are people with an entirely different, and far more engaging, set of character defects.
The first Iron Butt was run in 1984. It has been held every other year since 1999. The New Hampshire Gazette has been involved with the Iron Butt since that year. Federal Cigar has been providing the location for the event since 2001. There are 97 riders this year. Not all will choose this bonus point stop, but in past years, a majority have done so.
The jagged line on this Google Earth image shows what 11,000 miles looks like.
Best of luck to all the riders.
I rode my first Iron Butt Rally and had planned the stop at the Federal Cigar store but logistics and rain caused me to miss the time window. Seeing this article and your reporting makes me wish I would have tried harder to get there.
Maybe next time,
best regards,
Thanks to the New Hampshire Gazette and Federal Cigar for being consistant supporters of the Iron Butt Rally. Although it was far too brief it was a pleasure being in Portsmouth for awhile seeing something other than the highway/interstate.
Jack — You’re very kind. Brief for sure.
Tom Austin, who bravely took up the role of official Scribe of the Iron Butt Rally after Bob Higdon retired to bask in well-deserved glory, has given us permission to quote briefly from his detailed reports, so we may be able to do a little bit of follow-up as the Rally proceeds.
Solipsistic bastards that we are, we’re particularly interested in following these riders, who stopped at Federal Cigar on Tuesday for a copy of the Gazette: Doug Bailey, #70; Richard Buber, #92; Jeff Earls, #3; Mike Hutsal, #38; Vicki Johnston, #41; Peter Leap, #10; Andy Mills, #12; Rob Nye, #51; Jim Owen, #6; Brian Roberts, #57; Alex Schmitt, #58; Mike Senty, #59; John Tomasovich, #64; and Bob and Silvie Torter, #22.
For the complete skinny, be sure to read Tom Austin’s accounts at http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2007.cfm.
Meanwhile, we must prepare labels so we can mail the latest screed.
Great report……we that yearn to be in the Rally and are relegated to cheering from the sidelines hunger and thirst for knowledge and you have provided a brief insight into what’s happening “out there”.
Dean — That must be why we love them so.
The Iron Butt participants are out of their minds! Keep up the good work! Dean
Dave – Thanks for that explanation. That looks like some very good stuff. And no doubt it’s worth the cost. But it is kind of a shock to realize that I bought my first bike, a used R-50, for just $53 more than the cost of a Roadcrafter One Piece.
“stitches” refers to riding suits made by Aerostich, in Duluth, MN.
http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/index.html
They make several models of suits and are acknowledged as some of the best made. They are weather resistant, abrasion resistant, and have ‘armor’ to protect portions of the body in case of accidents. (I have no connection.)
Most Long Distance Riders believe in ‘ATGATT’, which means All The Gear, All The Time.
Gail — “The ‘stitches”? ‘Splain for us, please … the reference escapes us.
Bring us your tired, your huddled masses yearning to be asleep…
What fun to watch the ‘stitches come to town!
It’s always a pleasure to have the Iron Butt Rally come through town, Don.
Thanks to You and Federal Cigar for the reporting and hosting of the Riders. It’s nice to see how they are doing en route.