My Iron Butt Association Rides


I started riding long distance back in the 1970's on a Kawasaki KZ 650 that I had added some accessories to make it a better long distance riding motorcycle. I rode a lot of LD rides back then long before I knew about the Iron Butt Association. I can remember many rides that where over well over a 1000 miles in a day.

My IBA rides list is at the bottom of this webpage. I try and keep it current but...

During the late 1970's I was in the Navy and stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago, IL. I bought a Kawasaki KZ 650 in 1977 and fitted it with a National Cycle windscreen, Sissy bar to bungee cord by duffel bag to and a tank bag with CB radio installed. From there I made trips out to the Grand Canyon, Miami, FL, and Bike Week in Daytona Beach over the years. The rides to Bike Week were in early March and it was still very cold outside in northern Illinois. I would have to use canned sterno under the oil pan to loosen up the oil so the motorcycle would start.

I learned about the Iron Butt Association in 2002 from a couple friends, Jack Dodds and Bill Boklan, as they were getting ready to ride the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum ( MTF ) 50CC / 100CCC ride in April of 2003. I wanted to do the ride also but I needed to complete an certified IBA ride first to be eligible. I always plan big so my first ride was a SaddleSore 2000 in June 2002. Man was that a hard ride as it rained like hell on the northern part of the route and the Interstates were flooded in some areas. I pushed on and finished the ride in 40 hours.

Scroll to the bottom of the webpage to see a list of most of my IBA rides.


I previously was the Associate Director of the MTF Long Distance Committee and helped plan and organize all of the LD rides from 2008 to 2012. In 2012 we have 2 big rides planned, a 48 plus and the UCC. The 48 plus is a ride that you must get a receipt in all 48 lower states and Alaska in 10 days or less. The UCC ( Ultimate Coast to Coast ) is a ride that starts in Key West, FL and finishes in Deadhorse, AK. Deadhorse is on the north slopes in the oil fields.

I have completed 30 IBA rides and have plans for 5 more in the next year. I have also completed over 18 BBG's since my first BBG in 2004. I have been fortunate that I have always been successful when attempting a certified IBA ride. I think one of the reasons is that I do a lot of up front planning and approach each of the rides with the same level of effort. I try and learn everything I can about my planned route including the possible weather and traffic conditions along the route. I review all of the states DOT highway websites for large scale construction and I plot those in my GPS with an audible alert that starts about 2 miles out so I know why if traffic slows down.


IBA Certificates

Below are some certificates from some of my harder IBA certified rides. I have over 35 Iron Butt Association ride certificates with most of them being the extreme type rides.


Mexico SS1000 ( SS1600 )


75th Bun Burner Gold

 


65th Bun Burner Gold

I completed my 65th BBG ( Bun Burner Gold ) ride on August 22, 2020. I rode 1,553 miles! With this BBG I went over 100,000 miles riding just BBG's.


60th Bun Burner Gold

I received my IBA certificate for my 60th BBG ( Bun Burner Gold ) ride I did on New Years Eve, December 31, 2019, to the Voodoo Museum in the French Quarter in New Orleans. It was a tough ride as the crowds in the Bourbon Street area were crazy!


Mexico SS1000

I rode a SS1000 in Mexico December 28, 2018 with my friend Dan Thaler. This was a hell of a ride and took 21 hours to complete. I did the ride on my 2018 Honda Gold Wing.


IBA Titanium Mile Eater


IBA Platinum Mile Eater

I received a Iron Butt Association Platinum Mile Eater certificate at the 2018 annual IBA party at Jacksonville. I have ridden over 130,000 miles of IBA certified rides.

50th BBG - IBA Record

Completed 50th BBG Saturday, July 28, 2018. 50 BBG's Is A IBA Record!

My 50th BBG was a great ride and it was fun to ride with Dan Thaler who was riding his 20th BBG. It had all the things you want and don't want in a long distance ride. It was hot ( 97 degrees ), it rained for 200 miles and the traffic was crazy in western Florida panhandle and Alabama. There was a long line to get into the USS Alabama Battleship park. Many of the gas stations we stopped at had lines to buy gas. That's the stuff you don't want. The good stuff is watching the miles go by and the freedom of the road. Being able to ride a motorcycle for 1500+ miles in a day is really cool to me.

Here are some photos Dan took during the ride.

 

42 & 43 Bun Burner Gold's ( BBG )

I completed a BBG3000 to Mexico and back August 4, 2017 and this was my 42 & 43 BBG's. This turned out to be my hardest IBA ride I have ever done do to all of the things that happened during the ride. Here is a link t the ride report.

BBG 3000 To Mexico And Back


40th Bun Burner Gold ( BBG )

I completed my 40th Bun Burner Gold ( BBG ) on February 25, 2017. This was a hard ride as I added in 6 "picture bonus" stops to help me practice for the up coming 2017 Iron Butt Rally. With completing my 40th BBG I have ridden over 60,000 miles in just BBG rides.

I am the first person in the IBA to ride more than 35 BBG's so completing my 40th BBG was a big event.

Below are some of the photos form the ride.


Click For Larger Version



30th Bun Burner Gold ( BBG )

This is my IBA certificate for my 30th BBG which I rode while attending the IBA's yearly party in Jacksonville, FL in March of 2015. This was one of my hardest BBG's as we had to make 7 "bonus" stops around the state of Florida. These stops included 4 county court houses, University of Florida basket ball coliseum and the Miami Heat stadium in downtown Miami. This was also an instate BBG as all of the route was within Florida's borders. I did the ride with Rob Wilensky.


IBA BBG TrifectaIn October 2011 I completed my second Iron Butt Association BBG Trifecta. A BBG Trifecta is three BBG's ( a BBG is 1500+ miles in less than 24 hours ) back to back to back. I rode 4559 miles in a little over 70 hours. I started the ride in Jacksonville, FL and I rode all the way to Ocotillo, CA were I turned around and rode back to Jacksonville, FL. It was a hell of a ride with many obstacles along the way including accidents, heavy traffic, heat, cold, wind and heavy rain. The temperatures ranged from 98 to 26 degrees. The wind and rain on the final BBG across Texas was relentless. I had an 18 wheeler go into the medium right in front of me and it threw a lot of mud on the road way which caused the wing to slide sideways for a few feet. It took me a few minutes to catch my breath and keep going.


In June of 2014 I attempted and completed a new IBA ride called BBG Quattro Gold. A BBG Quattro Gold is four BBG's back to back to back to back. A BBG is 1500+ miles in a 24 hour period. This was a damn hard ride and required a lot of up front planning, preparation and determination. I started this ride near my house and completed in Ely, NV. I rode 6200 miles in less than 96 hours ( 4 days ). I rode through all types of weather and temperatures ranging form 38 degrees to 107 degrees. This is my certificate from the Iron Butt Association for my Bun Burner Gold Quattro ride. I received this certificate on my birthday. It was a nice present to receive.


Here is a photo of many of my IBA certificates. I have a few more but can not find the certificates.


I try and document my rides so that it leaves no doubt that I did the ride and to make it easier on the IBA when they are verifying my ride. Here is a image of my ride log I turn in with my documentation package.

You can view my documentation that I submitted to the IBA to certify the BBG Gold Quattro ride by clicking here.

This is an example of my ride log that I submit along with my other documentation for a Iron Butt Association certified ride.


Check out some of my ride reports below and it will give you an idea how I approach a long distance endurance ride and why I am successful t completing the rides. If you have any questions send me an email.

I have a long pre-ride check list that I go over for all of my rides. This helps me be sure I do not forget anything. Having the items from the checklist on the motorcycle or I remembered to take care of tasks that needed to be done before the ride helps keep the stress level down. Lower stress levels reduce fatigue which helps when you are on a long ride. Here is a link to the check list.

Here is a list of most of the IBA certified rides I have completed. Click on the Ride Report links.

# Ride When Miles Ride Report
1  SaddleSore 2000 ( First IBA ride ) 06/26/2002 2,094 Certificate
2  50CC Quest 04/19/2004 JAX>SDO
3  BBG ( Frist BBG ) 12/16/2004 1,505 Ride Report
4  100CCC ( MTF ) 04/2005 JAX>SDO>JAX  
5  100CCC ( MTF ) 03/2006 JAX>SDO>JAX  
6  BBG 3000 ( IBA JAX Party ) 03/07/2007 3,012 Ride Report
7  50CC Quest GOLD THW ( MTF ) 09/13/2007 NYC>SFO Ride Report
8  BBG 11/23/2007 1,519 Ride Report
9  100CCC ( IBA Ride In To IBA JAX ) 03/2008 JAX>SDO>JAX Certificate
10  BBG ( FL-BBG ) 05/16/2008 1,520 Ride Report
11  BBG ( To IBA National ) 08/13/2008 1,521  
12  BBG ( From IBA National ) 08/17/2008 1,520
13  BBG ( To MTF B2B ) 08/28/2008 1,520
14  Border to Border Gold ( BBG ) 08/29/2008 1,650 Ride Report
15  BBG ( Practice For Trifecta ) 1/24/2009 1,525
16  BBG Trifecta ( 3 BBG's ) 03/05/2009 4,559 Ride Report
17  10 / 10th ( 2009 IBR ) 08/2009 10,079  
18  2009 Iron Butt Rally  8/24/2009 10,568  
19  BBG ( Ride To Rob's House ) 06/16/2010 1,531
20  SaddleSore 5000 ( IB 5000 Rally ) 08/2010 5,327  
21  BBG ( FL-BBG ) 1/29/2011 1,530 Ride Report
22  BBG ( Cape Fear Rally )  4/16/2011  1,535  
23  BBG 5/28/2011 1,520 Ride Report
24  BBG Trifecta ( 3 BBG's ) 10/07/2011 4,558 Coming Soon
25  SS 1000 ( Florida Keys 1000 ) 1/27/2012 1,058 Certificate
26  SS 1000 ( MLR SS1000 ) 4/12/2012 1,050  
27  BBG 9/20/2012 1,532  
28  BBG ( 2013 IBR ) 7/6/2013 1,525  
29  10 / 10th ( 2013 IBR ) 7/12/2013 10,600  
30  2013 Iron Butt Rally  71/2013 11,400  
31  BBG Gold Quattro ( 4 BBG's ) June 14, 2014 6,093 Ride Report
32  BBG ( Denver Gold Rush ) August 17, 2014 1,534  
33  BBG ( Denver to Charlotte ) August 22, 2014 1,545  
34  BBG ( Boy Hood Home ) October 5, 2014 1,523  
35  BBG February 8, 2015 1,521  
36  Full Court 1500 ( BBG ) March 11, 2015 1,581  
37  10 / 10th ( 2015 IBR ) July 6, 2015 12,278  
38  2015 Iron Butt Rally  June 29, 2015 12,260  
39  National Parks Tour ( NPT )  ( IBR ) July 9, 2015 69 Parks  
40  BBG ( Van Horn To Ocala ) November 24, 2015 1,532  
41  BBG ( USS Alabama ) April 16, 2016 1,520  
42  BBG 3000 September 12, 2016 3,081  
43  BBG January 15, 2017 1,530  
44  BBG ( 40th ) February 25, 2017 1,521  
45  BBG 41 ( To Start Of IBR )  June 22, 2017 1,525  
46  BBG 3000 - 42 & 43 August 4, 2017 3,040 Ride Report
47  2017 Iron Butt Rally  July 3, 2017 3,800  
48  BBG 44 ( Weird BBG )  October 4, 2017 1,571 Ride Report
49  Lake Okeechobee 1000  November 18, 2017 1,047 Ride Report
50  BBG 45 ( Honda Texas ) January 26, 2018 1,510 Ride Report
51  BBG 46 ( New Gold Wing ) March 3, 2018 1,521  
52  BBG 47 ( New Gold Wing ) June 3, 2018 1,509  
53  BBG 48 ( New Gold Wing ) June 6, 2018 1,514  
54  BBG 49 ( New Gold Wing ) July 11, 2018 1,550  
55  BBG 50 ( New Gold Wing ) July 28, 2018 1,540 Ride Report
56  BBG 51 ( BBG 1800 ) September 21, 2018 1,830  
57  BBG 52 ( BBG 1800 ) September 29, 2018 1,825 Ride Report
58  BBG 53 November 10, 2018 1,509 Certificate
59  BBG 54 December 25, 2018 1,531 Certificate
60  Mexico SS1000 ( All In Mexico! December 28, 2018 1,100 Certificate
61  BBG 55 February 21, 2019 1,535 Certificate
62  BBG 56 February 23, 2019 1,532 Certificate
63  BBG 57 May 12, 2019 1,510  
64  BBG 58 May 16, 2019 1,535  
65  10 / 10th ( 2019 IBR ) June 28, 2019 10,500  
66  2019 Iron Butt Rally  June 29, 2019 11,800  
67  BBG 59 ( New FJR ) November 29, 2019 1,545  
68  BBG 60 ( New FJR ) December 31, 2019 1,512 Ride Report
69  I-20 E2E June 6, 2020 I-20 E2E Certificate 
70  BBG 61  June 6, 2020  1,545  Certificate 
71  BBG 62 June 7, 2020 1,520 Certificate 
72  BBG 63  July 31, 2020 1,655 Certificate 
73  BBG 64  August 1, 2020 1,535 Certificate 
74  BBG 65  August 23, 2020 1,553 Certificate 
75  BBG 66 November 19, 2020 1,648 Certificate
76  BBG 67 June 4 2021 1,511 Certificate
77  BBG 68 August 3, 2021 1,631 Certificate
78  BBG 69 August 5, 2021 1,576 Certificate
79  48 State Ride August 6, 2021 7,466 Certificate
80  BB Silver  December 4, 2021 1,545 Certificate
81  BBG 70 December 27, 2021 1,521 Certificate
82  Mexico B2B April 14, 2022 1,320  
83  Panama Express Gold April 14, 2022 2,595 Certificate
84  BBG 71 July 15, 2022 1,652 Certificate
85  BBG 72 July 25, 2022 1,595 Certificate
86  BBG 73 November 27, 2022 1,519 Certificate
87  BBG 74  January 28, 2023 1,566 Certificate
88  BBG 75 March 6, 2023 1,528 Certificate
89  SS1000 April 16, 2023 1,170  
90  BBG 76 May 20, 2023 1,540 Certificate
91  BBG 77 September 8, 2023 1,505 Certificate
92  SS1000 September 16, 2023 1,153 Certificate
93  SS1000 September 17, 2023 1,388 Certificate
94  SS1000 - Turkey Trot November  23, 2023 1,030 Certificate
95  SS1000 November 25, 2023 1,150 Certificate
96  BBG 78  December 27, 2023 1,544 Certificate
97  Florida Key Lime 1000  January 5, 2024 1,022 Certificate
98  Lake Okeechobee 1000 January 27, 2024 1,044 Certificate
99  BBG 79 February 15, 2024 1,520 Certificate
100  SS1000 February 18, 2024 1,347 Certificate
101  SS1000 - Trade BMW RT April 19, 2024 1,236  
102  SS1000 - First Ride 2024 GSA  April 20, 2024 1,208  
103  BBG - Pickup Russell Seat  May 11, 2024 1,517  
104  SS1000 - Ride Around Georgia June 29, 2024 1,045 Certificate
105  In State Florida - Train Depot July 14, 2024 1,050 Certificate
106  Battleship BBG  August 2, 2024 1,510 Certificate
107  BBG To Laredo  August 29, 2024 1,45  
108  Mexico SS1000 ( SS1600 )  September 1, 2024 1,030 Certificate
         
         
  * Click the "Ride Report" or "Certificate" link for a ride report or the certificate.

 

Last updated February 2024

 

 


 

Miles Ridden

865,800

As Of: 10/11/2024


BBG Count

1500+ Miles In 24 Hours

90+


BBG Miles

124,800


IBR Miles

Iron Butt Rally

49,700


IBA Miles

237,550+


# IBA Rides

111


Next Rides


Mexico Again


Darien Gap Round Three


Tierra del Fuego


Just Completed

Blaze Of Glory


Panama


Just Completed

48 State


2019 Iron Butt Rally


Coast to Coast 29 Hours 23 minutes


50th BBG


BBG3000 Ride Report

2017 Iron Butt Rally

 

I completed my 40th BBG on February 25, 2017.

I just finished the 2015 Iron Butt Rally, my third IBR. Click her for the daily reports and the final standings.

Rob and I won the 2015 Cape Fear Rally starting in Florida

I attended the IBA National Meet in August in Denver and had a great time

I completed a BBG Quattro Gold on June 17, 2014. You can find out more info about the ride on Tim Masterson's blog, click here

I finished 9th in the 2013 Iron Butt Rally in July. Read my IBR ride report, click here

I rode in the 2013 Cape Fear Rally in April and finished 5th place

I just returned from a ride to Alaska. I rode from Key West, FL to Fairbanks, AK and back. See my photos on my photos webpage

I competed in the 2012 Cape Fear 1000 Rally and took first place for the Arcadia starters


Ride Reports

BBG3000 Ride Report

2013 Iron Butt Rally

BBG 3000 To Pinks

BBG Gold Quattro

BBG Trifecta

Memorial Weekend BBG

FL In State BBG II

FL In State BBG

Border To Border 2008

50CC The Hard Way

BBG3000 2007

First BBG 2004

 


Farkle Reports

2013 IBR Gold Wing Prep

Gold Wing Suspension Upgrade

Garmin 2797LMT GPS

Gold Wing AUX Tank Mount