Assistance/help needed, Davo's Iron Butt Rally

[Rick Hall]

David "Davo" Jones was selected to participate in the 2009 IBR, this is not a BBG or SS1000
Davo lives in Australia, rides a Concours-14 there.
Davo boxed his bike up, shipped it to Portland, OR (His bike should be here shortly)
Davo plans on arriving at LAX, the afternoon of 13-Aug.

Start of the IBR is in Spartanburg, SC. The start flag drops on 24-Aug.
First checkpoint is in St. Charles (St. Louis), MO (NW Chicago) on 26-Aug.
Second checkpoint is in Santa Anna, CA; 30-Aug
Finish is in Spokane, WA; 4-Sep.

Dave plans on doing a 50CC (coast to coast in < 50 hours) from Portland to the IBR start location. This will allow him time to get used to driving on the proper side of the road

Here's the requests:
Davo needs an oil and filter change near Spartanburg at the end of his 50CC ride. Tom Hess has volunteered (way to go Tom   )

Davo needs fresh tires put on at the second checkpoint in St. Charles. There are rules.... Dave is the only person allowed to ride the bike. Dave will be tired. Dave will need to do some paperwork in St. Charles. Dave will be tired.
In the past, I've seen all sorts of work done in checkpoint parking lots, all sorts. If someone has spoons and weights (Marc Parnes balancer is 'Da Bomb here), and some spare time... Or the name of a reputable dealer, that is CLOSE by. I'll see if Murph can provide tires, unless someone has other ideas.

Davo arrives in LAX, he needs to get to Portland. I suggested Southwest Airlines ($139 one way), it'd be REALLY cool of someone local could put him up for the night in the LAX area to get over jet-lag, then drop him back at LAX the next day for a flight to Portland.

Post replies here, am certain Davo will pop in on occasion to read messages. I know he's busy, the IBR is a massive commitment.

http://www.davojones.com/ibr09news.htm
http://www.davojones.com/
http://www.farriders.com/
http://www.gtr-aus.com/
http://www.ironbuttrally.com/

Rick

[Aussiedav]

Many thanks Rick for this and all the previous help you and your team have provided.

I am doing a 50CC Gold in fact which is Seaside OR to Charleston SC - 3000m give or take
I have had an offer of accom at Charleston the night I end that part of my adventure.

Checkpoint #1 of the IBR is as you say at St Charles IL
It is further correct that only I am allowed to ride the bike. The previously organized tyre change that you made for me at Check#2 was great and would have been perfect had I not altered my plans for tyres. This way I only need to do one set of tyres while in the US, keeps my costs down.

Anyone wanting to or planning to drive to Portland late the 13 or 14th would also be an option to share fuel costs with you or in fact PAY the fuel costs.Would be cheaper and far more pleasant to have someone to chat with.

[Rick Hall]

Thanks for the correction to St. Charles ILLINOIS. You can see why I'd never win one of these events 

This is chi-gpz1100's territory, he has a following. I'll drop him a note.

Rick

[chi-gpz1100]

My territory?  Who's following?  

The area is about 40-50 miles west of me, but I do know of a few decent dealership/shops not too far away (~10 miles).  I have no first hand experience with them, but have heard good things from reputable riders in the area.

The kawasaki dealership is BBK motorsports in Elgin, IL - http://www.bbkmotorsport.com/  .  I've been there once.   They're a smaller shop, but folks are pleased with them.

The other place is an independant shop - racer cafe, IN st. charles!  http://racercafe.com/

Personally I can't vouch for either as I have no first hand experience with them, but word of mouth from others is favorable.

Hope this helps some.

Personally, for my own tire needs, I go to http://www.powersportschicago.com/.  This place is a skip and a hop away from me, charges only $30 to mount tires when brought in off the bike ($60 on I believe) or $20/tire when the tires are bought from them ($40 on the bike).  However, given the distance, it may not be feasible to ride all the way down there unless its en route.

Good luck!

PS.  Currently in atlanta.  No idea which state i'll be in in august 

[MAN OF BLUES]

Oy Davo!
shoot me a note with an e-mail addy, and also info on tracking you...
I'm in Va., and likely on your first leg of the route, and if I know the bonuses, you'll be in my area more than once...
Parts and garage are here fer ya pal, hook up with me to get my number...
Did you ever hook up with my pal Roger? he seems to have dropped off the face of the earth...and I wanted to see if he needed anyhing also...
keep in the loop man....
welcome abroad...
 

[RenMannV]

Being out of work and with funds almost down to nadda I'm not sure what all I can do, but I'm a little over an hour east of LAX.  Spent 40 years near Santa Ana (grew just on the other side of the river and even spent a couple of years in that city).  Let me know if anything is needed in this area and I'll see what I can do.  If nobody steps forward with lodging upon arrival in L.A. let me know.  I'd have to OK it with the roomie, but may be able to provide a couch to crash on and possibly even travel to and from LAX.  I'm also quite familiar with the dealers around here having worked for a few, so if anything is needed in that regard I can help out.

John

[Aussiedav]

Thanks to all, email sent.

[tjhess74]

davo, what is the date you will be here in charleston?  are you staying just overnight or longer?  i didnt know the month this was ocurring in when i volunteered, but is dangerously close to my departure for yellowstone.  regardless, i will get you covered here!

[Aussiedav]

I have arranged a bed at Charleston via the MTF, I will arrive somewhere before 10pm on the 18th August. I will need witnesses.

I will overnight there as arranged then am free until check in at the rally hotel in Spartanburg on Thurs 20th August probably sometime mid afternoon or checkin time for the motel.

[tjhess74]

ok cool, i leave for yellowstone on friday aug 21st!!  whew, that was close...

whenever you get a chance, contact me through email or pm here, and ill give you my phone number.  i will meet you whereever you are when you arrive to take care of your paperwork and to arrange maintenance.  what is MTF? and where is it that they have you staying here in charleston?

i used to be a deputy sheriff for spartanburg county, so i know that area very well.  there is very little speed enforcement on interstate 26 (assuming thats the way you are going) between spartanburg, sc and asheville, nc.  after that the enforcement picks up somewhat.  there is some construction just before asheville and traffic can be sluggish in that area, fyi.

[Aussiedav]

Really grateful for this offer Tom.

My email is davo@farriders.com it's no secret so can you shoot an email there for me with contact numbers, street address etc. I need two end witnesses for the 50CC Gold as its an extreme level ride (one normally)

MTF is the Motorcycle Tourers Forum, its where I spend a bit of online time and many members here are also members there. http://www.mctourer.com/

[RenMannV]

Have you got your L.A./Santa Ana connection set-up yet?  Is there anything I can help with on this end?

I spoke with the roomie and she has OK'd picking you up at LAX, letting you crash on the couch (sorry, no extra beds), and taking you back to LAX on the 14th if you need it.

John

[Aussiedav]

Would be good John but its quite an imposition on you being an hour each way to and from LAX.

[RenMannV]

Not really.  Things are pretty spread out around here (SoCal tends to build out, not up), so a drive like that is really not uncommon.  Heck, I used to commute about that far each way for over a year.

[goatmar]

Hey Rick I live in St. Charles, he can get what he needs done at my place.  Just have what he needs shipped to my place.  I do the tires on my bike all the time.  He's welcome to crash there to if needed.  Just let me know.

[Rick Hall]

Hey Rick I live in St. Charles, he can get what he needs done at my place.  Just have what he needs shipped to my place.  I do the tires on my bike all the time.  He's welcome to crash there to if needed.  Just let me know.

He'll be riding a C-14, if that makes a huge difference. And the tires will probably need to be changed out at the check point hotel parking lot (you can't ride his bike). I think you can haul the rim(s) to your shop, just not ride the bike there. And I think he'll be staying at the hotel, checkpoint, paperwork, and all. Davo should be saying his preference in tires, maybe Murph or SWmoto can ship them there.

What about Hoogie? Steve Pronto? I haven't asked either of them.

Rick

[goatmar]

He'll be riding a C-14, if that makes a huge difference. And the tires will probably need to be changed out at the check point hotel parking lot (you can't ride his bike). I think you can haul the rim(s) to your shop, just not ride the bike there. And I think he'll be staying at the hotel, checkpoint, paperwork, and all. Davo should be saying his preference in tires, maybe Murph or SWmoto can ship them there.

What about Hoogie? Steve Pronto? I haven't asked either of them.

Rick

They don't make things easy do they?  I understand not riding the bike...... if the rims come off we have to support the bike somehow......  can you get more info Rick of what can and can't be done.  There is a Harley dealer in St. Charles that I'm sure could do the tires.......  That's the only dealer that's close.

Do you know what hotel he'll be at?

[Hoogie001]

Dave (and Rick),

I sent Davo an email yesterday.  I'll be there to help. The key, I think, is getting someone who has done C-14 tire changes already.  I have all I need at home because I do all my own stuff, but that won't help much.  If Dave in St Charles has a tire changer, we can get it done.  What we need is someone familiar with taking the wheels off.  Also, the automatic "sensors" on the rims (located on the valve stems) will need to be navigated (unlike the C-10) without messing them up.  I've read about them, but haven't seen them first hand.  Don't want to screw anything up for Davo on an adventure like this.  He needs to "know" that the people helping him "know" what they're doing.  I'll be there - that's firm, but I won't wrench what I don't know.  That said, I'm sure we can get a COG C-14 person there who knows how to do it all (take off wheels and put them on), and we can help. 

Hoogie

[Rick Hall]

Checkpoint #2, Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 East Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174
here's a link.

Scoring starts at 5:00 PM. I suspect Davo will arrive slightly before this. Given that (and from previous experience at checkpoints), any IBR team mechanics will probably start working on the bikes about 6:00PM, and continuing until Depends on the rider.

Fred Harmon may advise on the TPS, and how to avoid it with tar spoons. There's info on the forum too.

Electricity (for compressors, etc.) should be available, but you'll need some long extension cords. Milk crates are always handy, so are nitrile gloves (lots), rags, ... Umbrella(s) or rain gear, just in case. Cleaning solution for windscreens, assortment of lubes, zip ties, duct tape, ... If someone is handy with electrons, some wire, connectors, a crimper, assortment of bulbs... And a C-14 Service Manual if someone has one.

There will be an area roped off for the riders, don't park there. Once the riders have checked in, the rider might move his/her bike to where their team mechanics are.

If the rims will be changed at a dealer... It'll probably have to be one at a time, and probably quite late in the day. I'm a bit unclear on this (taking the rims elsewhere). Rules say Davo is the sole/only rider of the bike.

Rick

[goatmar]

Dave (and Rick),

I sent Davo an email yesterday.  I'll be there to help. The key, I think, is getting someone who has done C-14 tire changes already.  I have all I need at home because I do all my own stuff, but that won't help much.  If Dave in St Charles has a tire changer, we can get it done.  What we need is someone familiar with taking the wheels off.  Also, the automatic "sensors" on the rims (located on the valve stems) will need to be navigated (unlike the C-10) without messing them up.  I've read about them, but haven't seen them first hand.  Don't want to screw anything up for Davo on an adventure like this.  He needs to "know" that the people helping him "know" what they're doing.  I'll be there - that's firm, but I won't wrench what I don't know.  That said, I'm sure we can get a COG C-14 person there who knows how to do it all (take off wheels and put them on), and we can help.  

Hoogie

Hoogie I've only done my C10 tires, no tire changer, just bead breaker and irons........  I'll give any help I can, like you said a C14 person who be helpful.  Any C14 guy ever change there own tires?  I don't think the valve sensors will be a problem.

Rick, Pheasant Run is five minutes from my house, so any tools/items needed, assuming I have them will be easy, maybe we can get Pronto involved too.