IRON BUTT SCORING APP
The Iron Butt Scoring App is the newest e-scoring method for long-distance rallies. Originally conceived prior to the 2021 Heart of Texas Rally, the app has been built and rebuilt many times to arrive at its current iteration. How does it work?
​
Each rider is assigned a RIDER CODE. That code is specific to that rider and allows the app to know what the rider's rider number is, their name, and their email address. Thus, when the bonus is submitted, the system knows who the submitter is.
​
The rally app does not collect user data. The rider's name and email address are provided by the rider during the rally registration process. The app user does not enter any personal data into the app.
​
The app also asked for several permissions and we'll explain what they are and why:
1. It will ask for your precise location. When the rider submits a bonus, the app will record the rider's exact location where they submitted the bonus. This helps the scorer know that the rider was in the correct location in case the photo itself is questionable. Also, for the purpose of making sure the rider does not go anywhere during a REST or MEAL bonus, the rider's location is recorded when they stop and start the clock.
2. The app will ask for permission to use your camera. You can use the camera in the app to take bonus pictures although we don't recommend it because it typically will not save the photo to your library. Instead, we recommend you take the picture with the phone's organic camera app which saves to your photo gallery.
3. The app will ask for permission to access your photo library. As in #2, it is best to take the photo of the bonus with the phone camera app and then use the 'select from file' option to import the photo. That way, if there is an app issue, you still have the photo.
4. The app will ask for permission to use your microphone. This is a newer part of the scoring app. If you remember the old 'call-in bonus' of yester-year, we've made an improvement upon the idea where you can record a message through the app and submit it without some messy answering system and questionable effectiveness.
​
Pretty much, anytime this scoring app asks for a permission, it is specific to the function of the scoring app and you need to select 'always' or 'only when using app'. If you select 'only once' or 'deny' the app will not work for you.
​
Any and all data is automatically deleted after the completion of the event. The location information the app records is only conducted when the user is using the app.
​
The scoring app has significantly reduced time at the scoring table for the rider from hours to a mere few minutes.
A long time ago, in a motorcycle dealership far, far away.....
​
Seriously though, the current motorcycle event we know as the Iron Butt Rally began in 1984 and started and ended in Montgomeryville, PA. It was an annual event until participation dwindled causing a gap in time before Michael Kneebone took over the event in 1991. Since then, the Iron Butt Rally has been held every other year. It is known as the World's Toughest Motorcycle Competition or World's Toughest Motorcycle Rally. It has been the blueprint for what we know now as the long-distance motorcycle rally.
For over 30 years, the Iron Butt Rally has weaved itself across North America, with starts in numerous locations across the lower 48 States. In 2024, the Iron Butt Rally welcomed a new Rallymaster and became part of the rally family which includes the LDX Rally, Heart of Texas Rally, and the Valkyrie Moto Rally.
​
The Heart of Texas Rally was originated through James Stovall in 2010 as more of a Ride To Eat. In 2011 he evolved it into more of the LD Rally most of us are familiar with. James hung his hat up as a rallymaster in 2016 but graciously handed the baton to Paul Tong who has taken the helm since 2017. The Heart of Texas Rally is currently planning its LAST event in 2025 as we continue to branch out and cover larger events. It might not be the last Heart of Texas Rally, but we can't promise anything yet.
​
The VMR is intended to be an event for women to learn about long-distance motorcycle rallies. There are no requirements to participate, other than doing the event on a motorcycle (trikes, spyders, etc welcome). Begun in 2023 as the brain-child of two motorcycle knuckle-draggers, they recruited Nancy Oswald to take the helm and be the Rallymaster. She has expanded the event and has the 3rd VMR planned for 2025.
The LDX Rally is an event that has been a long time in planning. When Wayne Boyter decided to hang his hat up in 2014 at the conclusion of the BigTexRally that year, there was a huge fall void left for rallies. Troy Martin created the NIITWIt Rally which led to Paul Tong taking over the Heart of Texas Rally from James Stovall in 2017 and then to Troy's Underdog Rally and eventually this multi-day event which is held on the summers opposite the Iron Butt Rally. There have been numerous other multi-day events : Butt Lite, MERA events, and more.
​
The LDX Rally currently holds the place traditionally held for the Butt Lite Rally, which is infamous in its own right. Lisa Erbes and crew decided they had fought the good fight and had provided numerous exciting events for LD riders across the globe but decided 2020 was going to be their last attempt. With Lisa's blessing, and a nod from the IBA's Mike Kneebone, the LDX Rally came to form.
The Long Distance X. It means a multi-day LD rally which could be anything from 5-8 days or who knows. The typical plan is an organized start location with one check-point and then back to the original start to finish. The LDX Rally will most likely always be themed, meaning that the bonuses will be associated with some common concept and the scoring method will follow suit.
​
The LDX Rally will also continue to seek new ground, new ideas with electronic scoring, scoring apps, and geofencing to name a few. Tradition is wonderful but creating new traditions, and more important, creating new riders and fans of LD rallies, is just as important.
​
2022 saw the first LDX Rally, themed "Founding Fathers". Beginning and ending in Cheyenne, WY, the rally covered statues all over the United States and Canada which represented pioneers of culture, government, and industry. The 7-day event, with a checkpoint in State College, PA, riders covered thousands of miles to be finishers, with several earning Saddlesore 7000 certificates. This inaugural event was won by Billy Connacher. You can find links to the ride reports and other news about this rally in the forum section.
​
2024 will be the second LDX Rally. This rally will be an amazing 9 days long. A little ambitious and maybe a little to much to take on, yet the theme we had in mind requires a longer event due to the territory covered. The 2024 LDX Rally will start on the morning of Wednesday June 19th in Iowa City, IA (actually the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Corralville, IA). There will be a checkpoint back at the host hotel on Saturday June 22 with riders departing the next morning for their second leg of the rally. The rally will finish on Friday June 28 back at the host hotel. There is a link at the top of this page that can take you to specific 2024 LDX Rally information and on that page is a link to purchase a banquet ticket for the finish should one want to attend.
​
​
Our Team
Paul Tong
Tara Tong
Nancy Oswald
Tara and Nancy are the people you always see, either helping you get out the gate, checked-in at the finish, and have all your stuff.
Jeff Konicek
Do you have any idea how ridiculously impossible it is to find a picture of Jeff? Here he is at his greatest.