The RAT

 The 2006 MTF Founders Feast &
Ride Around Texas (RAT)

Texarkana, Texas
May 9-13, 2006 

The RAT will be certified by the Iron Butt Association.
The IBA and MTF have been getting requests about doing the ride prior to the scheduled MTF Event.
The IBA and MTF have agreed that this ride will NOT be certified until after the occurrence of the MTF event.
This means the the MTF RAT will serve as the inaugural RAT.
If you want in on a first, hook up with us for this ride.
After the MTF RAT, the ride will be available for riders that are unable to participate in the MTF Event.

Everyone knows everything is bigger in Texas, but have you ever wondered how big Texas really is? Here's your chance to find out. Come ride around 3400 miles of Texas with us and be among the first to ride one of the IBA's newest rides. The RAT is not for everyone, but if you like long distance riding, this will get you a big dose of what you need.

Doug Woodall came up with the original idea for the ride around Texas. The MTF asked Doug if he would allow them to take his idea and work with the Iron Butt Association to develop a new IBA ride. Doug agreed, so Jason Jonas, MTF's liaison with the IBA, began working Mike Kneebone, President of the IBA. Mike and Jason decided that this would be a demanding two level ride -- The RAT Insanity Gold and the RAT Insanity. Doug, Jason, and Alan worked out the details of the ride with the intent of being the first to do the ride and then offering it as the centerpiece of the MTF's Poker Run From Hell in October of 2005. Doug got a new job. Jason decided to work for awhile so that left Alan to do the initial ride to make sure that the route would work and to determine if the times were feasible. Alan did the initial ride in January, 2005. Doug, Jason, and Alan put on the finishing details and started promoting the RAT for the 2005 MTF PRFH. Hurricane Katrina had other plans and the event was cancelled. It was then decided that the inaugural ride would be held in May 2006 in conjunction with the MTF's Founders Feast.
 

This challenging ride is offered in two versions, The RAT Insanity and The RAT Insanity Gold. The rides differ only the amount of time allowed to complete them. All other aspects of the rides are exactly the same. Both rides are intended to be challenging and should be undertaken with the understanding that they require experience, planning, and maybe a little luck to complete. Almost all of this ride is on two lane roads. The idea is to hit the geographic corners of Texas, plus a few additional stops to keep the ride "interesting" and to prevent any temptation of taking a short cut.

On-site check-in will be available Monday, May 8, 2006 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

All riders must check in before leaving and must be out by 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 9, 2006 in order be counted as part of this ride

The mandatory check points are in the table, below, along with their approximate mileage and leg distances.

The following time limits have been established for this ride.

The RAT Insanity Gold level is designed so that a well prepared and experienced long distance rider should be able to successfully complete it. There is no margin for error in this ride. The RAT Insanity level is a somewhat more forgiving but is not a trivial challenge and will require adequate preparation and experience in riding long distances.

Both rides require that you keep your wheels turning. Time management is an extremely important aspect of these rides. These are not "canned" rides. All ride planning is left to the rider. We have made no suggestions as to rest stop locations, gas locations, or how you manage this ride. When planning this ride, it is extremely important that you take these stopping locations into account. Every rider is different and has different requirements for rest, gas, and riding distances. You will need to take these in to account as you plan your ride.

When riders register they will declare what ride they are intending to ride. This is so we can verify the prerequisite. It should be noted that any rider who doesn't meet the prerequisite for The RAT Insanity Gold, but finishes in Gold time will not be certified as a Gold finisher. This is our best attempt to curb inexperienced riders from making the attempt. Riders that sign up for The RAT Insanity Gold but do not meet the time requirements for that ride and do meet the time requirements for The RAT Insanity ride will be shown as finishers of The RAT Insanity. Note that The RAT ride times are measured from Texarkana to Texarkana. Riders are to use the same Gas Station at the beginning and end of the ride.

All riders must present a log with time/dated receipts from each of the mandatory locations, in the specified order, to be considered a finisher. If a receipt is unavailable at a location (we know this is extremely possible at some locations), please note the time, mileage, address and description of where you stopped. The mileage and time from your adjacent two documented stops will be used to validate stops where documentation is unavailable.

	The base route in Microsoft Streets and Trips (2004) can be downloaded here.
	The base route in Garmin Mapsource     Ver. 6.7 and North American City Navigator v.5 can be downloaded here.

Prerequisites

The following prerequisites must be met by the close of registration.

• RAT Insanity - IBA membership
• RAT Insanity Gold - Bun Burner Gold or any certified IBA ride of 2000 miles or more or a qualifying rally.

Rules

This ride will differ slightly from the IBA ride in the following areas.

1. All riders will start from and end in Texarkana.
2. All riders will ride clockwise.
3. All riders will check-in with the MTF upon their return. Check-in instruction will be provided at the riders meeting.
4. It may or may not be possible to get a receipt of any form in some of the locations you are asked to stop. We are fully aware of this and you don't need to bring it to our attention again. If you are unable to get a receipt please document the time, location, and your mileage at that point. We will not require photo's of these stops and they will not be considered as suitable documentation. We will use your mileage and the mileage of your previous and next documented stops to validate any stop where you can not obtain a receipt. It is possible that you may have successive stops where a receipt is not available. We don't think this is likely, but it is possible. The same procedures apply.
5. Any rider exhibiting unsafe practices will be disqualified. Excessive speed is considered unsafe.
6. All riders are required to check in with their emergency contacts or a member of the MTF team once every 24 hours. This allows us to have some clue about your location should you have any difficulties along the way. This is for your good as well as ours. Please comply with this simple request.

Frequently Asked Questions

A couple of other discussions you may find useful are: