Benson Motorcycles Inc.
Special Event

Saddlesore 1000 Ride

1000 miles in 24 Hours - Muncie, IN to Memphis, TN and back

When: April 19, 2003; Start times are available between 6:00 a.m and 9:00 a.m.

Where: Benson's Motorcycles, Inc. 6410 West McGalliard, Muncie, Indiana 47304

21 Riders accepted the Challenge

Of the 21 riders that started 20 completed the ride successfully. Jeff Winchester had a flat tire 4 miles from the start and had to abort his ride.

Riders, feel free to download this picture.

Ride Details

The Iron Butt Association ©  (http://www.ironbutt.com) certifies long distance rides and sponsors endurance riding events. The Saddlesore 1000 is the IBA’s introductory ride and the minimum ride required for becoming an Iron Butt Association Member. A certified ride requires that the rider have a starting and ending witness and that the rider maintains a Stop Log supported by gas receipts showing the city, date, time, and gallons of gas. Benson's Motorcycles, Inc. has arranged for the proper witnesses and will provide log sheets for each rider.

While this is a group ride, it is not a group ride like you may be accustomed. It is unsafe to have a large number of riders traveling together for long distances. Riders will be released from Benson's parking lot at 6:00 a.m. in groups of two or three. You will travel to the service station in the Meijer parking lot to obtain a gas receipt. The time on the gas receipt is the beginning of your 24 hours. You must return to the same station in less than 24 hours to obtain a final receipt in order to be considered as having successfully completed the ride. The Iron Butt Association © promotes safe riding, so you are encourage to wear protective gear during the ride.

Cost: There is no cost to participate in this ride. However, if you want to become an Iron Butt Association Member, you must submit your documentation. The cost for certification is $32.00, which you will send directly to the Iron Butt Association. In 8-10 weeks you will receive a Certificate, a pin, and a license backing plate and will officially be consider one of the World’s Toughest Motorcycle Riders. You will be provided with a pre-addressed envelope and the witness at the conclusion of the ride will review your documentation, so all you have to do is add a check and postage. In fact if you want to write a check on the spot we will mail it for you.

Special Guest - Alan Leduc
Friday, April 18, 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m
Saturday, April 19, 6:00 a.m. till all riders have returned

Alan will be available at Benson's Friday, April 18, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. and during the event. Feel free to stop by and talk to Alan about Long Distance riding. Alan will also serve as official witness for the event.

Alan a New Castle, IN resident and a professor in the Manufacturing Engineering Technology program at Ball State University. Alan is also the host of the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTourer/  and has completed The Iron Butt Association’s Saddlesore 1000 (1000 miles in 24 hours); Bun Burner (1500 miles in 36 hours); Bun Burner Gold (1500 miles in 24 hours); Bun Burner 3000 Gold (3000 miles in 48 hours); 50CC (Jacksonville to San Diego in 50 hours); 100CCC (Jacksonville to San Diego to Jacksonville in 100 hours); the Great Lakes Gold (Circle all of the Great Lakes in 50 hours); and other endurance riding events. Alan has a website at http://www.bsu.edu/web/00amleduc/iba/ 

The Iron Butt Association’s premier event is the Iron Butt Rally, which will be held in August and will require rider to ride approximately 11,000 miles in 11 days. This year there were 2100+ applications for the rally from which 125+ riders were selected. Alan was one of the lucky ones and will be participating in this event.

Safety

The Iron Butt Association is dedicated to the sport of safe, long-distance motorcycle riding. It does not condone, nor will it tolerate, unsafe activities such as excessive speed, reckless motorcycle operation, riding while fatigued or otherwise impaired, the use of stimulants to maintain alertness, or any other activity that results in riders exceeding their personal limits. Any rider found to have engaged in these or other unsafe activities, as determined in the sole discretion of the Alan Leduc, while participating in this event, shall be subject to disqualification. Such disqualification may occur retroactively if the unsafe activity is revealed after the conclusion of the event. For these purposes, the Alan Leduc will consider as an admission of violating this policy any public statements made by the participant that describe participation in unsafe activities during the event.

Witness Forms and Documentation

  Click on the Logo to download Microsoft Word file

Route

     Click the Logo to download 2003 Microsoft Streets & Trips file.

SUMMARY
Driving distance: 1042.4 miles
Trip duration: 16 hours, 27 minutes