IBA Spring Party
Executive Summary - good times.
I hadn't done any specific IBA events until the National meet last year in Tulsa. I've been trying to make if out for the spring party in Florida for the past 3-4 years, even had tickets once or twice, but never made it out. After the fun we had in Tulsa, doing these kinds of things with this group of people moved up on my priority list, and I'm glad it did.
Most of my closer friends that I hung out with in Tulsa weren't able to make it to Florida this year, which is always good and bad. Hated not catching up with them, but also talked to more people that I probably would have otherwise ... some people I've rallied with a few times, or even just names I've recognized off a riding forum or mailing list somewhere. Got to talk with Jim Bain and Andy Kirby for a pretty good bit before dinner. Also had several good convos with Mike Langford both before and after dinner.
For me, the best story of the weekend was one about Mike Allen. I met Mike for the first time last year at the Void IV. Mike's done lots of rallies, but apparently never got around to doing an IBA certified ride (the number of rally riders who haven't still surprises me), so decided to do a BBG (1500 miles in 24 hours) into Jax to knock one out in style. Yeah, BBGs are ranked as extreme rides and aren't usually encouraged for new riders, but Mike isn't exactly new, and got approval to go for it. For me, the BBG is still the toughest ride I've done ... having certified one back in 2005, and done another undocumented BBG back from California last November. So Mike heads out to start his BBG, and about a hour in comes across a stranded BMW rider on I-95 who's run out of gas. Now Mike's never met Claye, don't know she's involved with the IBA or MTF, just sees her trying to push her bike up the shoulder to the next exit. Mike pulls over to find out what's going on, and hearing it's just that she's out of gas, proceeds to start removing his fuel cell from his bike in order to dump some fuel into Claye's. Goes so far as to start trying to get fuel to go out the vent line when they can't get the quick disconnect on the fuel line to open. Claye finally asks whether he's on the clock or not, and learns about the BBG. Mike get's her sorted, then gets back to his ride. If I remember hearing from Kneebone right, Mike finished his ride with twelve minutes to spare. 12! After checking in and getting sorted, Mike just happens to run into Claye in the hotel to realize who he helped on the side of the road.
The lawn care company with the trailer full of mowers ... and full of gas cans ... couldn't stop to help Claye out, but a guy who is on the clock riding one of the toughest rides I've done yet, stops and helps, knowing it might well mean he runs over time. Just outstanding.
On a downer note, while a group of Harley riders (4 total I think) where receiving their first SaddleSore 1000 certificates (1000 miles in 24 hours) from Kneebone, news that sounds like my friend Bo Griffin's final drive on his BMW failed him on his way out to Florida with the group. I haven't been able to confirm with Bo yet, but sounds like he got hooked up with roadside assist to take care of his stuff, and the rest of his group continued on to Jax.
I'm starting to feel so overwhelmed with stuff that still needs to get done before August, but at least it's apparent that whatever the outcome ... there will be good people there to share the experience with.
I hadn't done any specific IBA events until the National meet last year in Tulsa. I've been trying to make if out for the spring party in Florida for the past 3-4 years, even had tickets once or twice, but never made it out. After the fun we had in Tulsa, doing these kinds of things with this group of people moved up on my priority list, and I'm glad it did.
Most of my closer friends that I hung out with in Tulsa weren't able to make it to Florida this year, which is always good and bad. Hated not catching up with them, but also talked to more people that I probably would have otherwise ... some people I've rallied with a few times, or even just names I've recognized off a riding forum or mailing list somewhere. Got to talk with Jim Bain and Andy Kirby for a pretty good bit before dinner. Also had several good convos with Mike Langford both before and after dinner.
For me, the best story of the weekend was one about Mike Allen. I met Mike for the first time last year at the Void IV. Mike's done lots of rallies, but apparently never got around to doing an IBA certified ride (the number of rally riders who haven't still surprises me), so decided to do a BBG (1500 miles in 24 hours) into Jax to knock one out in style. Yeah, BBGs are ranked as extreme rides and aren't usually encouraged for new riders, but Mike isn't exactly new, and got approval to go for it. For me, the BBG is still the toughest ride I've done ... having certified one back in 2005, and done another undocumented BBG back from California last November. So Mike heads out to start his BBG, and about a hour in comes across a stranded BMW rider on I-95 who's run out of gas. Now Mike's never met Claye, don't know she's involved with the IBA or MTF, just sees her trying to push her bike up the shoulder to the next exit. Mike pulls over to find out what's going on, and hearing it's just that she's out of gas, proceeds to start removing his fuel cell from his bike in order to dump some fuel into Claye's. Goes so far as to start trying to get fuel to go out the vent line when they can't get the quick disconnect on the fuel line to open. Claye finally asks whether he's on the clock or not, and learns about the BBG. Mike get's her sorted, then gets back to his ride. If I remember hearing from Kneebone right, Mike finished his ride with twelve minutes to spare. 12! After checking in and getting sorted, Mike just happens to run into Claye in the hotel to realize who he helped on the side of the road.
The lawn care company with the trailer full of mowers ... and full of gas cans ... couldn't stop to help Claye out, but a guy who is on the clock riding one of the toughest rides I've done yet, stops and helps, knowing it might well mean he runs over time. Just outstanding.
On a downer note, while a group of Harley riders (4 total I think) where receiving their first SaddleSore 1000 certificates (1000 miles in 24 hours) from Kneebone, news that sounds like my friend Bo Griffin's final drive on his BMW failed him on his way out to Florida with the group. I haven't been able to confirm with Bo yet, but sounds like he got hooked up with roadside assist to take care of his stuff, and the rest of his group continued on to Jax.
I'm starting to feel so overwhelmed with stuff that still needs to get done before August, but at least it's apparent that whatever the outcome ... there will be good people there to share the experience with.
posted by Charlie at
10:22 PM
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