Hard Miles III
- Thread starter LeMaitre
- Start date
The rally has evolved so much, and rider tech alone (navigation, safety gear, bikes) is on another level compared to Hard Miles II. A Hard Miles III could be a great way to document how the challenge has changed without losing that original spirit.
So, Dean, being the film-maker and rider he is, told a story in both Hard Miles documentaries about the "human element" of the rally. Additionally, the story also featured how that ties in to the technology (of the day) that made it possible for many to attempt one (or more) attempts.
What's the story today? Technology changes, demographic shifts (I mean, the story of Wendy and other women alone might be worth the effort), but....
Is a real film crew, as was done in the first two, worth it today? Could another method of capturing the story be worth considering?
A 67-year-old somebody watches a documentary and goes 'looks like fun.' A 27-year-old somebody watches a documentary and goes "Oh, hell, I can do that!"
Perhaps, the story this time doesn't need to be on 'the rally' itself, but perhaps it needs to be about what it takes to do other rallies and become good enough to do 'the rally'.
Random thoughts at this early hour of the morning...
What's the story today? Technology changes, demographic shifts (I mean, the story of Wendy and other women alone might be worth the effort), but....
Is a real film crew, as was done in the first two, worth it today? Could another method of capturing the story be worth considering?
A 67-year-old somebody watches a documentary and goes 'looks like fun.' A 27-year-old somebody watches a documentary and goes "Oh, hell, I can do that!"
Perhaps, the story this time doesn't need to be on 'the rally' itself, but perhaps it needs to be about what it takes to do other rallies and become good enough to do 'the rally'.
Random thoughts at this early hour of the morning...
LeMaitre
IBA Member
Ken,
You are correct that it would have to tell a story. A good editor is essential in telling the story.
With the advent of small video cameras, it is possible to setup cameras that a rider does not have to touch or worry about. Technicians would setup at start, retrieve at each check point and finish. Such a setup would create hundreds of hours of video to edit into the story.
-Mark
You are correct that it would have to tell a story. A good editor is essential in telling the story.
With the advent of small video cameras, it is possible to setup cameras that a rider does not have to touch or worry about. Technicians would setup at start, retrieve at each check point and finish. Such a setup would create hundreds of hours of video to edit into the story.
-Mark
While I understand the appeal to people, you need to understand how much work goes into the project. Just editing “hundreds of hours” of video from multiple sources alone would take a looooong time. Doing interviews with riders, developing the back story, travel to some of the bonus locations for additional video, etc.
It was a labor of love for Dean Tanji and I very much doubt the previous editions made a profit.
I also have mixed feelings about any effort to encourage others by that format. It’s a tough event for anyone. It shouldn’t be jumped into w/o a lot of prior rally experience. The Insurance issues currently present the potential for liability issues as well.
Endurance rallies are not a spectator sport. The world would be a far better place if no one had ever posted about endurance rallies to social media. But here we are. Just a snippet of video, altered by AI, public opinion is swayed, lawsuits are filed and a sport dies.
It was a labor of love for Dean Tanji and I very much doubt the previous editions made a profit.
I also have mixed feelings about any effort to encourage others by that format. It’s a tough event for anyone. It shouldn’t be jumped into w/o a lot of prior rally experience. The Insurance issues currently present the potential for liability issues as well.
Endurance rallies are not a spectator sport. The world would be a far better place if no one had ever posted about endurance rallies to social media. But here we are. Just a snippet of video, altered by AI, public opinion is swayed, lawsuits are filed and a sport dies.
As 'old guys', Nick, you and I might not consider "social media" content makers in a group like that, but perhaps it shouldn't be discounted.
Stole this from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documentary_film
Now, I recognize @EricV perspective on *not* advertising our sport to the masses, but we're all getting older.
Honestly, your last bullet point might be the most pervasive. Is there *really* anyone else (besides those of us who'd watch) really interested in having another chapter of this story be told?
lddave
Premier Member
Endurance rallies were being promoted in magazines long before social media came along. Motorcycle Consumer News, Rider and the short lived Twistgrip magazines all covered Iron Butt Rally plus the other 24 and 36 hour rallies. The Genie got out of the bottle decades ago . The sport is on its deathbed as we speak . Use to be half dozen rallies a year now its down to one or two. Glad I was able to participate in endurance rally heyday.
jim6540
Premier Member
I believe there is a "new" generation of riders and perhaps some who are late bloomers . My belief is that the Covid shutdown hurt this sport as much as anything else could have , I know I for one stopped my riding at that time. When I went to a fast food on a ride and their only form of delivery was drive through I just felt it was time for a break. As far as I know (I may be wrong) but the Hoka Hey rally continues.
@lddave- There are two rallies advertised on this forum as we type about it. There are more at Ride Master. Yes, some of the events that ran for 20+ years are done. LOE, Utah 1088, Cal24, MN1000 all had their run and ended. The Lobo Loco rallies offer a wide variety of options, Heart of TX and LDX by Paul Tong and crew are ongoing as well.
Do you mean "MeTube"?
ironbutt#0
Member
Dean and Lisa gave so many Hard Miles. Can he put together another epic ride?
Before the Internet became widely available magazines were the only way to learn about these events. I first learned of this sport from an article John Burns wrote in Motorcyclist about his ride in the 1991 IBR. I read about the Cal24 Rally in City Bike and Independent Biker which is how I got involved. Without that publicity I wouldn't have known such events existed.
I understand Eric's concerns, but without some publicity how will anyone new even learn about LD riding and rallies? Like it or not, social media is how people get information these days. If this whole thing just remains a secret to us old pharts who already know about it, then the sport dies with us.
Agreed.
Now, my initial thoughts weren't so much as a full-blown documentary, complete with all of the stuff needed to do that, but really, the story needs to be a concise overview of (our version) of a motorcycle scavenger hunt rally in general.
A video like this isn't for people that know about, and have ridden in all types of rallies - from little 8 hour events to The Rally.
Yet, *that* is the story. What is a rally, how do you get involved, how do you succeed, where to learn more about it.
Yes, several of these types exist on YouTube - any made by people who have really ridden them?
ironbutt#0
Member
Excuse me!!
The IronButt is not a rally. It is not a poker run. Talk to the finishers. Talk to the families of the three riders that died
It is The IronButt
The IronButt is not a rally. It is not a poker run. Talk to the finishers. Talk to the families of the three riders that died
It is The IronButt
