One of my newer passions is long-distance riding. The premier group that heads this up is the IRON BUTT ASSOCIATION which is a group of motorcyclists who ride some serious long distances.  In order to be a member you must earn it by doing one of the documented rides specified on their website.

I earned my Ironbutt membership in the fall of 2002 with a Saddle Sore 1000.  I rode my 2003 Road Glide 1186 miles in 24 hours.  I rode from St. Cloud, Minnesota out 94 to Belfield, North Dakota, north to Williston, east to Grand Forks, South to Fargo and home to St. Cloud.
Late summer in 2003 I did my second IBA ride, a Bun Burner Gold which is 1500 miles in 24 hours.  I did this on my way home from Las Vegas.  I received the documentation from the IRONBUTT association the day before I left on my 3rd IBA ride and now have both certificates proudly displayed on the wall right out side of my office at the store!

My third ride was late October 2003 in which I rode from Canada to Mexico in 24 hours..  I've competed in some 12-hour rallies in South Dakota, one called the BONZAI on Memorial weekend and the BUFFALO RUN on Labor Day weekend, in which Paul "Hootis" Noskowiak, our sales person, won the touring class one year.  These Events were put on by the Glacial Lakes Motorcycle Club which is inclusive of all riders and puts on events for on-road and off-road riders and does some community services also.  They are based out of Watertown, South Dakota.

I also competed in some 24-hour rallies, the TEAMSTRANGE Minnesota 1000 which which is THE premier 24 hour rally in the world..  I was very lucky to end up first in the touring class my first time out.  Team Strange is a great bunch of motorcycle enthusiasts that run a few long distance rides and rallies out of the Minnesota area.  They also contribute a bunch of riders to the IRON BUTT RALLY. They are among the who's who in the Long Distance motorcycle community.

Fall of 2007 My sweetie and I rode 2 up in the 12 hour Harvest rally out of Brainerd, this was her first rally, so I did not know what to expect, she has a hard time sitting for any length of time but she toughed it out as we rode north and west then to the Twin Cities and back to Brainerd! and her first rally didn't turn out so bad... We took first place overall!