13 comments on “2001 Iron Butt Rally Story

  1. Hey Paul, Mark here. We roomed together at the motel at the start of the rally. I ended up doing the filming for Dave at Speedvision for the rally start as he was called away.
    Great article on your epic Ural ride! Last summer we bought a 2019 GearUp and have been doing adventure touring with it here in Oregon.

    • Sorry for the typos, I’m not sure what happened. What I meant to say was, “What a great story, filled with suspense and humor!”

  2. I still miss our antics from back then. Like the obscene sidewalk chalk drawings at the start/finish line. Or when the Domino’s delivery guy’s roof top sign was relocated to the official IBR Rally car.

    But above all, i miss getting a case of the most obnoxious obsolete shoe polish in the mail sent from some strange sex shop in New Hampshire. Miss seeing you buddy.

    Cheers,
    Todd Witte
    Dork from York

  3. Good god, Paul. Every time I read or hear this story from you, I laugh my ass off. Hopeless class RULES. The IBR is just plain awesome when it sucks balls.

    Looking forward to our next path crossing.

    Alex Harper
    IBA 450
    The RE5 idiot

  4. It’s stories like yours that draw me to the IBR. It’s well below freezing here in Harpers Ferry, WV so I’ve been reading every book and article on the subject that I can find as a way of passing time until the roads are mostly free from ice. Your article was very entertaining to say the least. I seem to have the opposite problem you were faced with in 2001….I have a bike meant for eating the miles but my human vessel is a total wreck. You might say I have the body of an older Ural. I know I probably have more metal in total quantity and certainly more exotic metals in my spine than found on any Ural today. Just as you were determined to nurse that bike to the finish line, I too hope to nurse my body and bike to similar success. Thanks for the inspiration and congratulations on finisher status! I respect and admire what you were able to accomplish.

  5. I’m exhausted just reading of this adventure. Just remarkable! What an experience, but one I wish not to do. Job well done.

  6. I’m glad I came across this. I’m James(Jimmy) the son of Mike Mitchell at Mike’s Cycle in Waynesboro TN. I remember you coming through and I’m glad to read you finished the rally! Congratulations! And it apparently was an adventure you’ll never forget!

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