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By Michael Dapper
VRA Page Webmaster
Ah, yes, the always-impressive Iron Butt award for riding at least 1,000 miles in 24 hours.
Doesn’t seem so impressive anymore, does it?
Not after riders everywhere learned that there are NASA-quality adult diapers that can help a rider avoid bathroom stops. These diapers are reliable enough for astronauts to wear them during lift-off, re-entry and space walks. If they can handle zero gravity (ugh!), they should be able to handle a hard day’s ride.
If, say, a Kingpin gets about 35 miles per gallon, all a rider has to do is strap on a NASA-quality diaper, burn through 6.5 tanks of gas and start celebrating. Bingo! Iron Butt without ever setting foot inside a gas station. Pay at the pump, munch a granola bar and roll, baby.
Of course, I wouldn’t want to be around when that rider changes undergarments after the ride, but hey, he – or she – made it 1,000 miles in less than a day.
IMPRESSIVE RIDING
Actually, until they make it more appealing to wear an adult diaper during a 1,000-mile motorcycle ride in the heat of summer (i.e., never), you still have to tip your visor to those riders who have achieved Iron Butt status.
The group that oversees and certifies Iron Butt achievements is the Iron Butt Association (IBA), whose motto is “World’s Toughest Riders.” www.ironbutt.com
Visit their website and you’ll learn there it’s probably tougher to sift through the rules and get your ride certified than it is to make the actual ride.
The “standard” Iron Butt achievement, the one most-commonly completed, is the SaddleSore 1000 – at least 1,000 miles in under 24 hours. There are other awards, too, including:
• SaddleSore 2000 – at least 2,000 miles in under 48 hours
• Bun Burner 1500 Gold – at least 1,500 miles in under 24 hours (diapers anyone?)
• Ride Around Texas Insanity – Ride around the State of Texas in under 85 hours
• Great Lake GOLD – Circle the Great Lakes (2,435 miles) in under 50 hours
• CCC Gold – Coast to Coast to Coast in under 100 hours; think San Diego to Jacksonville, Florida, and back
And then there are the truly insane pursuits of riding 1,000 miles per day for several days in a row.
VICTORY RIDERS EARN HONORS
At least 75 Victory Riders have achieved Iron Butt status over the years. The number is likely increasing sharply as you read this because it can take quite a bit of time for each rider’s paperwork to be reviewed and certified. Several 2006 rides may not yet be approved.
Among the Victory Riders who have topped the 1,000-mile mark while earning Iron Butt honors are:
• Gregor Moe, then of Buffalo, New York, who on May 25, 2002, earned SaddleSore 2000 honors (2,000 miles in less than 48 hours). He rode his V92C 2,423 miles in the allotted time. He also earned Great Lakes GOLD status with this ride (circling the Great Lakes in less than 50 hours).
• Kit Chunhawong, Alexandria, Virginia, who in March 2006 completed a CCC Gold (Coast to Coast to Coast Gold in under 100 hours) riding his Victory from Jacksonville to San Diego and back.
• Kit Chunhawong, on April 4, 2005, achieved 50cc Quest honors (Coast to Coast in under 50 hours) by riding his Victory Vegas from Jacksonville to San Diego.
• Timothy L. Wagner, Lancaster, Texas, who in May 2006 completed the Ride Around Texas Insanity (around Texas in 85 hours), riding his Victory 3,115 miles.
• Jackie Pressley, Dawsonville, Georgia, who rode a Bun Burner 1500 Gold (1,500 miles in less than 24 hours) on April 8, 2005, when he rode his Victory 1,534 miles.
• Jerry Rogers, Chester, Virginia, who rode a Bun Burner 1500 Gold (1,500 miles in less than 24 hours) on July 1, 2002, riding his Victory 1,510 miles.
SaddleSore 1000
Here are the Victory Riders we are aware of who have earned Iron Butt SaddleSore 1000 honors for riding at least 1,000 miles in under 24 hours. The Victory model is not always specified in the IBA listings. If you know of other Victory Riders who have earned Iron Butt status, let us know: victorymailbag@polarisind.com )
2006
• Jim Gruenwald, High Springs, FL, April 7, 2006, Vegas Jackpot, 1,020 miles.
• Ray Posey, Rogersville, MO, March 25, 2006, 1,016 miles.
2005
• Peter M. Arp, Toms River, NJ, Oct. 23, 2005, 1,036 miles.
• Charles Norris IV, Hamilton, VA, Sept. 25, 2005, Victory Classic 1,040 miles.
• Earl Kinney, Hortonville, NY, Sept. 6, 2005, 1,035 miles in the NY-1000.
• Russell Fuller, Mendon, MI, Sept. 4, 2005, 1,046 miles in the LM-1000.
• Therese Fuller (passenger) , Sept. 4, 2005, 1,046 miles in the LM-1000.
• Anthony Tarantino, Thornton, CO, Aug. 20, 2005, 1,004 miles in the CO-1000.
• James F. Butt, New Freedom, PA, Aug. 7, 2005, Victory V92C 1,037 miles.
• M.E. Evans, Jr. , Canfield, OH, Aug. 6, 2005, Victory V92C, 1,082 miles.
• Michael LaPaugh, Cicero, IN, Aug. 5, 2005, 1,020 miles.
• Pete Caspers, Brainerd, MN, July 21, 2005, 1,118 miles.
• Paul E. Lytle, Jr. , Orlando, FL, June 25, 2005, Victory V92C, 1,006 miles.
• Duane C. Morrison, Albuquerque, NM, June 18, 2005, Victory Touring Cruiser, 1,126 miles.
• Mark Owens, Tucson, AZ, April 9, 2005, Victory Kingpin, 1,063 miles.
• Peggy Owens, Tucson, AZ, April 9, 2005, Victory Kingpin, 1,063 miles.
• Erik Sorensen, Tucson, AZ, April 9, 2005, 1,063 miles.
2004
• Mike Hannigan, Monett, MO, Sept. 25, 2004, 1,093 miles.
• Todd Hedtke, Norwood, MN, Sept. 4, 2004, 1,026 miles.
• Doug Gjerstad, Montgomery, MN, Sept. 4, 2004, 1,026 miles.
• Wayne Calhoun, Elbert, CO, Aug. 21, 2004, 1,041 miles on the CO-1000.
• Gerald Vajgert, Omaha, NE, Aug. 20, 2004, 1,017 miles.
• Jim Tom Stimpson, Centre, AL, Aug. 7, 2004, 1,065 miles.
• Tony Veirup, Richland, WA, July 26, 2004, 1,034 miles.
• Timothy Bitecofer, Doylestown, OH, July 17, 2004, 1,025 miles.
• Phil Leksan, Doylestown, OH, July 17, 2004, 1,025 miles.
• Bob Baker, Ogema, MN, July 17, 2004, 1,027 miles.
• Jack Bowser, White Lake, IN, July 17, 2004, 1,124 miles.
• Jackie Pressley, Dawsonville, GA, July 9, 2004, 1,070 miles.
• Harvey Carpenter, Little Hocking, OH, June 17, 2004, 1,118 miles.
• John A Rigg, Marietta, OH, June 17, 2004, 1,118 miles.
• James Allen, Santee, CA, June 5, 2004, 1,042 miles.
• Charles Smith, Loveland, CO, May 26, 2004, 1,052 miles.
• Robert Wilkinson, Ennis, TX, May 8, 2004, 1,092 miles.
• Timothy Wagner, Lancaster, TX, March 20, 2004, Victory Touring Cruiser 1,056 miles.
• Robert Wilkinson, Ennis, TX, March 20, 2004, 1,056 miles.
2003
• Robert B. Crawford, Fresno, TX. Sept. 16, 2003, 1,113 miles.
• Roger Suttles, Maryville, TN, Sept. 13, 2003, 1,169 miles.
• Carl Bullen, Pequot Lakes, MN, Sept. 6, 2003, 1,024 miles.
• Ross Thacker, Colorado Springs, CO, Sept. 6, 2003, Victory V92C 1,057 miles.
• Snowden Mathews, Littleton, CO, Sept. 6, 2003, Victory V92C 1,057 miles.
• Edward Majewicz, Mendota Heights, MN, Aug. 30, 2003, 1,038 miles.
• Ann Majewicz (passenger), Mendota Heights, MN , Aug. 30, 2003, 1,038 miles.
• Billy R. Wise, Bellingham, WA, June 28, 2003, Victory V92C 1,047 miles.
• Jim Hand, The Woodlands, TX, June 28, 2003, Victory V92C 1,043 miles.
• Aurelio A. Calero, The Woodlands, TX, June 28, 2003, Victory V92C 1,043 miles.
• Preston Jackson, Layton, UT, June 27, 2003, Victory Cruiser 1,032 miles.
• Scott P. Leeman, Appleton, WI, June 22, 2003, 1,012 miles.
• James E. Worrall, Hazel Green, AL, May 29, 2003, Victory V92TC 1,032 miles.
• Robert Bursley, Collins, OH, May 28, 2003, Victory V92C 1,018 miles.
• Jennifer Key (passenger), May 28, 2003, Victory V92C 1,018 miles.
• Russ Buckwald, Medina, OH, May 28, 2003, Victory Classic 1,018 miles.
• Scott Hopkins, Wellington, OH, May 28, 2003, Victory Deluxe 1,018 miles.
• Thomas A. Polley, Euclid, OH, May 28, 2003, Victory V92TC 1,018 miles.
• Jon Dworak, Denmark, WI, May 17, 2003, Victory V92TC 1,088 miles.
• Ray Befus, Lowell, MI, March 3, 2003, Victory Touring Cruiser, 1,119 miles.
2002
• John Ramirez, New Braunfels, TX, Oct. 19, 2002, Victory V92C, 1,100 miles.
• John Loughran, Broad Brook, CT, Aug. 12, 2002, 1,057 miles.
• Mike T. Fitzgerald, Bonners Ferry, ID, June 14, 2002, Victory V92C, 1,170 miles.
• Thomas K. Moore Jr. , Columbus, GA, Jan. 11, 2002, 1,073 miles.
2001
• Charles Szely, Breckenridge, CO, Sept. 17, 2001, 1,011 miles.
• Ronald L. Coombs, Chester, VA, July 14, 2001, Victory V92C, 1,135 miles.
• Edward Majewicz, Mendota Heights, MN, May 25, 2001, 1,094 miles.
• Maria Majewicz (passenger), May 25, 2001, 1,094 miles.
• Steven Strickstein, Troy, MI, April 28, 2001, Victory V92SC, 1,091 miles.
• Russ Downing, West Linn, OR, March 6, 2001, Victory V92C 1,035 miles.
victorymailbag@polarisind.com
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