Ride Around Texas (RAT)

Childress, Texas
May 4-8, 2014 

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 3100+ miles of Texas with us and experience it for yourself.

The RAT is not for everyone, but if you like long distance riding, this will get you a big dose of what you need.

Ride Coordinator:  
     Tim Masterson
  Register for the RAT
  List of Participants
  RAT Route Details
  < Ride Guidelines & Rules
  Schedule
  Lodging
  MTF Refund Policy
  Ride Disclaimer & Waiver

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.

The following time limits & prerequisites have been established for this ride.

RAT Insanity Gold

70 hours

Prerequisite:
  • Bun Burner Gold, -or-
  • any certified IBA ride of 2000 miles or more
  • -or- a qualifying rally.
    		•

    RAT Insanity

    85 hours

    Prerequisite:
  • RAT Insanity - IBA membership
    		•



    RAT Schedule
    Date / Time Event / Location
    Saturday, May 3
    Sunday,   May 4
    		Gathering of the riders
    Monday, May 5
    5:00 a.m.     		RAT Ride Start
  • 5:00am - Start releasing Riders
  • 6:00am - All riders must be signed out
    • Thursday, May 8
    		~3:00-4:00am -- RAT Insanity Gold Ride Ends- 70 hrs after start receipt

    ~6:00-7:00pm -- RAT Insanity Ride Ends - 85 hrs after start receipt



    Mandatory locations & Route

    The mandatory locations where reciepts must be obtained are listed below. Riders must obtains receipts from these locations in the order they are shown.

    Mandatory Locations:

      1. Childress
      2. Follett
      3. Texline
      4. Kermit
      5. Guadalupe Mountains N.P.
      6. Anthony
      7. Presidio
      8. Lajitas
      9. Big Bend Panther Junction
      10. Del Rio
      11. South Padre Island
      12. Victoria
      13. Galveston
      14. Port Bolivar
      15. Port Arthur
      16. Texarkana
      17. Paris
      18. Childress


    Route Files and Witness & Log forms

    RAT route in Microsoft Streets and Trips (2013)

    Right Click here and "Save Target As"

    RAT route in Garmin GPX Format

    Right Click here and "Save Target As"

    Click here for the RAT route as a Webpage

    Witness Forms and Logs

     Right Click here and "Save Target As".

    Note: The witness form and log are Adobe PDF files



    Host Hotel

    Quality Inn

    2008 Avenue F NW
    Childress, TX, US, 79201
    Phone: (940) 937-3434
    Fax: (940) 937-2270
    Website: "http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-childress-texas-TX979

  • The MTF has a block of rooms reservered at $69 plus taxes per night.
    • Please call the hotel front desk (940-937-3434 & Option 2) to make your reserverations and ask for the MTF RAT group rate.
    • Make your reservations ASAP, The Hotel will be releasing unbooked rooms April 12th.



    • Guidelines & Rules


    In addition to the below rules and guidelines, the MTF's Standard Long Distance Event Rules Apply to this event.

    Click here to read the MTF's Standard Long Distance Events Rules :

    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 mandatory 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 Childress, TX to Childress, TX. 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.


    All Standard Iron Butt Association Ride Rules apply. The only exceptions are the slight differences noted below, which are specific to this MTF event:

    1. All riders will start from and end in Childress, TX at the host hotel.
    2. All riders will ride COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.
    3. All riders will check-in with the MTF upon their return. Check-in instruction will be provided at the begining of the ride.
    4. All riders will wear a helmet at all times while on a motorcycle during this event.
    5. 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. 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.
    6. Any rider exhibiting unsafe practices will be disqualified. Excessive speed is considered unsafe.
    7. All riders are required to check in with the MTF ride coordinator once every 24 hours unless you have provided your SPOT information as noted below. 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.
    8. If you use a SPOT or similar device, you will provide the link & any required password to the ride coordinator. This is simply for safety reasons, we want to be able to quickly locate you if something should happen. If you have a SPOT you don't need to check in as noted above.

    Frequently Asked Questions