IBA Big As Texas Party -- Republic of Texas 1,000

I'm attending the Iron Butt Association's first, and maybe annual, Big As Texas Party in Irving TX.

This is billed as the fall event to gather together IBA members and those desiring to join the Association for some long distance camaraderie.   Held at the completion of the annual IBA Memorial Ride period, the BAT also is the host venue for the new Republic of Texas 1,000 Saddle Sore.  Open to all IBA members and those wishing to get immediate IBA certification, the 1,000 miles in 24 hours will start on Friday morning at 6am.  Riders will have mandatory check points along the 1,000 + mile course which ends back at the Marriott hotel in Irving.

"No job too small nor task too difficult."  I'm on the volunteer staff for the event and will be helping out the event organizers Cliff Wall and Dr. Howard Entman.  I'll post a bunch of pictures here on the blog and also provide a link to a Flickr gallery.  Below is the SpotWalla Bubbler GPS map and below that is the link to my regular Spot tracker.

Regular SPOT tracker SpotWalla Map

Saturday 11/2:  Riders started to arrive a little before midnight.   And, immediately began to assemble in the hotel lobby for all the after ride reports.  The bar closed at 2am but the party was still going strong as more riders arrived back at the hotel.  Many went retired to their rooms as 1,000 plus on a motorcycle in less than 24 hours is a grueling experience. 

At 0700 as day was breaking breakfast was being served in the scoring area.  Even though scoring wasn't officially open till 1000 the event staff started the process to keep things moving.  By the early afternoon most riders were scored and checked in.  The party will start at 1700 (5pm) till....whenever. 

Friday 11/1:  Riders are available to start the ROT 1,000 at 0545.  I was up at 0400 to report for rider flag distribution.  Of the 130 riders who signed up for the ride we distributed 98 flags.  Not a bad turn out.  After a full breakfast, at 0530, IBA President Mike Kneebone, Rally/Route Master Cliff Wall and event organizer Dr. Howard Entman conducted the pre ride briefing.  The Irving PD was providing departure cover to make the transition out of the hotel parking area safe.  Not much traffic at that time of the day but it was nice that they volunteered to help the IBA.  Rider departed right at 0545 in an orderly and safe manner. 

                           More Pictures of the BATp








Many of the riders are using SPOT or other personal locator/trackers.  The signed up to ROT 1,000 SpotWalla location page.  You can follow their progress as the do the ride by clicking the highlighted link. 

Thursday 10/31:   I'm meeting Carl Huss at I-35 Exit 202 for the ride up to the Dallas area.  Carl is the Riders Edge Program Manager at Javelina Harley-Davidson located in Boerne, TX.  He is participating in the Republic of Texas 1,000 to earn his Iron Butt certification.  We are going to swing by Lone Star BMW/Triumph on the way north.  I need an inspection sticker renewal and also want to do some final coordination while there.  The BMW motorcycle dealership is the first stop on the ROT 1,000.

Arrived at the hotel around 2pm.  Got changed and reported for sign in duties in the lobby.  Many riders were already at the hotel.  The parking lot was filling by the hour.  Sign went well.  Had dinner with friends in the hotel bistro.  I met up with Carl who was sharing the room with me.  He is getting excited about the ROT 1,000.  We went over some GPS tips.  Carl is new to using a GPS on a motorcycle for navigation.  This ROT 1,000 is a hybrid between a standard IBA SaddleSore 1,000 and a regular motorcycle rally.  Riders are required to ride to predetermined check points, or bonus location, take a picture of their rally flag and the location object.  If they arrive back at the hotel with all the required pictures and a dated business receipt showing the finish time/date then they are considered to have covered the required distance.  Makes it simple for the riders compared to the normal starting/ending witness sign off, required fuel log, and dated business receipts for each fuel stop.  The organizers idea was to make it fun while maintaining IBA standards.