Updated: 24th May 2009
Bike is ready, new tyres, serviced and heading to Sydney on Tuesday so it can start the long shipping to the US. Check on the new page.
Link to pictures of Roo ready for the rally.

Updated: 18th April 2009
Latest changes are new sponsors added to site (see link above), Ergo Seats, AMHP and DMME. Also my aux tank cover arrived yesterday so that gets that done and gives me a pocket on each side. One for the old style CB radio as used in the US and my Camelbak in the other side for my hydration system.

Updated: 11th April 2009
This years Rally has a number of firsts.

1. First year of digital pictures - previously Polaroid
2. First year for the way bonus locations are distributed - unable to publicly disclose as yet
3. First year (to my knowledge) that the two intermediate checkpoints will have an inbuilt rest period. This was done last year on one leg.

What this means is that by looking at the checkpoint time windows posted below you would be at the checkpoint ideally before it opens hence losing zero points for lateness. Lets use Checkpoint 1 as an example.

Checkpoint 1 - Wednesday, August 26, 9 - 11pm Scoring opens at 5 pm

The "ideal" time to arrive is 1 to 2 hours before 9pm to allow time to gather your documentation, however before 9pm as every minute after 9pm and to the final close of the checkpoint at 11pm you are losing 10 points (unknown number but this is what it was in 2007) per minute or part thereof. Fail to arrive before 11pm and your rally is over.

So you are checked in and all done by ideally 9pm, then mingle and sleep. Because the next leg bonus sheets are not handed out until 4am the following morning on checkpoint 1 & 2.

This is an inbuilt sleep/rest period and as I understand the first time this has been included. This is good although there are some obvious negatives related to less time actually riding. However riders who are capable will run harder (read longer) in the interim days between checkpoints knowing they have that inbuilt sleep period.

Updated: 11th April 2009
Schedule in short:

The Rally

1. Spartanburg, SC - Start - Monday, August 24, 10am
   bonus locations given out late 23rd
2. St. Charles, IL - Checkpoint 1 - Wednesday, August 26, 9 - 11pm Scoring opens at 5 pm
   bonus locations given out 4am 27th
3. Santa Ana, CA - Checkpoint 2 – Sunday, August 30, 9pm – 11pm Scoring opens at 5pm
   bonus locations given out 4am 31st
4. Spokane, WA - Finish – Friday, September 4, 7am-9am Scoring opens at 4am

Updated: 25th January 2009
As this is the major event for the IBA and is only held every second year.
The Iron Butt Rally 2009
Start location : Spartanburg, South Carolina
Start date : 24th August 2009

The 2009 Iron Butt Rally will take off on Monday, August 24, 2009 from the southeastern US. As in 2005 and 2007, there will be a minimum points requirement in order to be considered a finisher. We will finish near the West Coast on Friday, September 4, 2009.
There will be three stages.End point and stage locations unknown at this point.

Updated: 12th November 2008
My bike gets shipped over and will be available for pickup at Portland Oregon 14th July '09. I have been made an offer to house it till I get there. My plan at this stage is arrive over the weekend of the 15/16th and then leave on the Monday 17th for a tourist stroll across the country arriving on the 20th a few days or so before kickoff to get settled.

thanks, Davo