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Spring Equinox

Summer Solstice

Fall Equinox

Winter Solstice

Four Seasons Award

Version No. 2.2
Date last revised: December 24, 2019


© 2017, Iron Butt Association, Sheridan, Wyoming
Please respect our intellectual property rights.  Do not distribute this document or portions therein, without the written permission of the Iron Butt Association.

Background:

An equinox is an astronomical event in which the plane of Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun which occurs twice each year, around 20 March and 23 September.  The March equinox is known as the Vernal Equinox, or, in the northern hemisphere, as the Spring equinox.  The September equinox is known as the Autumnal equinox, or, in the northern hemisphere, as the Fall equinox.

A Solstice is an astronomical event that occurs twice each year (around June 21 and December 21) as the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere.

The exact time of the equinoxes and solstices  can be found here.  Please note:  The times in this link are Greenwich Mean Time.  You must adjust these times to your time zone.

The solstice and equinox rides commemorate these four astronomical events each year.

Read the rules for the iconic SaddleSore 1000 on the Ironbutt Association site.  The rules for this ride are similar and you will get valuable background information.

Definitions

DBR - Dated Business Receipt

A DBR is a machine generated receipt with the date, time and LOCATION on it.  Check it - do not assume it is correct.  A receipt with an incorrect time/date/location is worthless.  Check and re-check.

Fees:  See fee page



Rules for the equinox and solstice rides:


You may ride any certifiable ride.  Most riders choose to ride a SaddleSore, but some have ridden BBG's, and even a very few have ridden 50cc Quests on each of the four astronomical events to qualify for the Four Seasons 50cc Quest Award! 

You must be riding sometime during the date of the solstice or equinox.  Purists choose to be riding at the exact time of the solstice or equinox.

You  will receive a special certificate for this ride

Documentation:  See here

Rules for the Four Seasons Award:

You must earn the same type of certified ride for each of the four astronomical events. The four rides need not occur on consecutive astronomical events, and your qualifying rides may span more than one year.

Documentation for the Four Seasons Award: 

Send copies of your certificates for the rides on each of the astronomical events along with your ride application and fee payment.  If you have not yet received a certificate for one of your claimed rides, please note that in the application.

Spotwalla.com is strongly recommended but not required.

Merchandise:

There is no additional merchandise for this ride.