2011 Three Flags Classic Border to Border Rally

		
RALLY RESULTS

GOLD MEDAL:
Craig Brooks        29,746	
Carroll Walker      24,308
Tim Watts           23,329
Bryan Neagle        23,080
Nancy Lefcourt      20,830

BRONZE 
Rick Burris         11,177
Jan Peterson         7,405

Please check back after March 15, 2011 or send an e-mail to kneebone@ironbutt.com to get on the 2011 Three Flags Classic Border to Border Rally newslist.

Joe Mandeville, # Flags Classic Chairman letter:

Welcome to the Southern California Motorcycling Associations (SCMA) premier event, the "Three Flags Classic" for 2011, our 36th annual event.

This years event will offer a new twist. The SCMA has joined with the Iron Butt Association in offering a one time optional special event, which will be the ultimate border to border ride. We will start on the southern border of the United States, in San Ysidro, California and finish in Pentiction, BC, Canada.

Traditional 3 Flags Classic ride

Traditionally, the Three Flags Classic would provide a suggested route and require that you pass through required check points during a set time frame.

The Three Flags Classic will of course continue with our successful and rich traditional format. You won't notice anything different then and of our other 35 Three Flags Classic events.

Optional Iron Butt mini-rally

For those looking to pile on some extra miles or have a bit of a competitive streak and want an introduction to rallying, we have teamed up with the Iron Butt Association (IBA) to offer an optional add-on to your Three Flags ride. Using a provided Rally Flag (for an introduction of the Rally Flag, visit www.ironbutt.com/daytona/rallyflag101.html), a digital camera, and a GPS, you will document visits to some fun, interesting locations. Some will be right along the main route, others will involve side trips of hundreds of miles. Each will have a point value, the harder the place to visit, the more points you earn. The bonus locations will be released on August 15, 2011, so you will have approximately 3 weeks to plan interesting side trips.

Successful finishers will be ranked according to points earned in order to earn a Bronze, Silver or Gold metal finisher status.

HOW IT WORKS!

The 2011 3 Flags requires you make it to 4 checkpoints during timed windows (for more information on those windows, visit www.3flagsclassic.org/route.html) Each year, the 3 Flags Committee goes to great lenghts to set up a great route that is fun to ride. The main control are these key checkpoints. While there is a route - the fun one they set up - many riders choose to simply ride checkpoint to checkpoint. The map to the right shows what a simple checkpoint to checkpoint ride looks like:

On the first leg alone, taking tthe short route means skipping the western side of Death Valley (a wonderful ride!) as well as some other great roads called for on the ride chart.

The IBA rally is going to ratchet this up a bit. We are going to put bonuses along the 3 Flags route as well as hundreds of miles off the route for you to visit. For example, on the San Diego, California to Hawthorne, Nevada leg of the rally, you will receive a bonus sheet 30 days before the 3 Flags that looks like something like this:

#1 - Trona, California N35 37.220 W117 22.090 - 50 points

Take a picture of the Trona Pinnacles

Now don't worry, this location is 5 miles down a dirt road, we are not going to actually send you there, this is just a sample of how a bonus works!

The idea you want to walk away with, is that Trona is on the main Flags route, you are going to get 50 points for taking the picture (and between now and the rally, we will find a good paved placed to take the photo from!)

#2 - Death Valley, California N36 28.800 W116 52.400 - 800 points

Take a picture of the Twenty mule team monument in Death Valley National Park.

Now things get a lot more interesting! For a side trip way off the straight 3 Flags path, you get a lot more points. But don't forget you still have to reach the first 3 Flags Checkpoint no later then 9 pm on Friday night!

So why ride one mile off the main route? Simple, to be a finisher of the IBA mini-rally, you will have to earn a set number of points (which will be handed out to you one month before 3 Flags via email and this web site). For those that want to experiment with a rally, you may choose the more direct route and earn your finishers certificate. For those wanting a bit more of a challenging ride, you will stretch your legs a bit to see if you can earn a Silver or Gold metal finish - or maybe even collect the most points of all riders!

AND FOR THOSE doing the USA Four Corners Tour in conjunction with the 3 Flags - YES there will be a huge bonus in Blaine, Washington so you can grab the corner as part of the IBA mini-rally too!

So what do you need to ride?

1. Must be entered in the 3 Flags Classic (positions are reserved just for this mini-rally!). 2. a GPS - there won't be any instructions, just waypoints (as above) along with a basic description to check your entered the points correctly.

3. A digital camera or smart phone with camera

4. The desire to book some extra, and very fun, miles!

Sign up begind April 1st, check back here for the latest news!

Mike