CERTIFICATION GUIDELINES

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Guidelines for our rides follow the same format as that of the Ironbutt Association (IBA) in the USA – reason for that is not only to give the IBA credit for an outstanding idea and years of support for long distance riders, but also to allow our members to apply for an IBA certification as well. We do ask that pins, stickers and badges that are earned for the same trip from both Lamgat and IBA are not displayed on the same bike/clothing.

Following are the guidelines for earning a Metal Badge, Cloth badge and a Certificate of Completion for a 1610 kilometres ride in 24 hours and 2500 kilometres in 36 hours. NEW! 3,500km in 48 hours. There are other rides as well (dusties, 4 corners of SA, quarterly specials) – all will follow the same principles as below in addition to their particular requirements.
It is possible to complete both the 1610K, 2500K and 3,000K on the same ride. You will have to ride 1,610 in the first 24 hours to qualify for the 1610 and you then continue on the second day and ride another 900 kilometres or more with 36 hours and 3,000 within 48 hours of original departure.

You may also complete the ride with a pillion (with one person doing the piloting the whole ride, the other being a passenger the entire distance). We will then issue one certificate with both rider and passenger’s name on it with no additional charge to the certification.

Since safety is our primary concern, no pre-registration of your ride is needed. Our goal is to give you added flexibility to decide on any given day whether the combination of weather, your motorcycle and most importantly, your attitude, are ready for a big ride.

STEP 1: Choose a SAFE route

Your ride needs to be completely documented (steps outlined below) and cover a minimum distance of 1610 in 24 hours or less, or 2500 kilometres in 36 hours or less.
WARNING: Unless your speedometer has been calibrated, do NOT depend on your own odometer readings for official readings! Some motorcycles register five to ten percent more kilometres than travelled. Over the course of a 24-hour period, this error can be quite severe – as much as 200 kilometres. IN ALL CASES, mileage will be verified with either paper or computer.
From a documentation standpoint, the best route is one where you take a straight-line ride from point A to point B (for example, start in Cape Town and travel north to Polokwane).
However, we realize that many riders cannot afford to devote this kind of time to their ride. With that in mind, you may choose any route you wish using the following guidelines:

If you choose a circular route, you will need to obtain a timed and dated receipt at each “corner” to show that you did not take a short- cut in addition to the Guidelines that follow. Take time and date stamped pictures of you, your bike and identifiable landmarks and/or name boards.
If you choose a route where you ride 800 kilometres and then turn around and come back, you must get a timed and dated receipt at the turn around point. Take time and date stamped pictures of you, your bike and identifiable landmarks and/or name boards.
We strongly discourage, and in some cases may reject, routes that are repetitive in nature. For example, we would not accept a claim that you rode five round-trips between Durban and Port Edward.
A safe ride should be your primary goal. If this is your first attempt at a 1600-kilometre day, we highly recommend that you study the Plan Your Ride Tips. With efficient time management, many riders leave early in the morning and are home in time for a late dinner. Other riders will split the 1600K and 2500K rides in two parts, riding through the day and continuing the ride after a long rest stop (obviously, with 36 hours available, the 2500K offers a little more rest time).
No pre-registration is needed for the 1610K or 2500K rides. We feel this removes the pressure to complete the ride should you become tired or otherwise feel unsafe. While group rides bring with them the safety of group travel, they can also increase your risk by encouraging you to press on when you might otherwise stop. Group rides can also encourage aggressive riding. Be sure riding styles of others in your group match your style. When planning a ride, keep in mind that group rides are only as fast as the slowest person in the group. This can extend your riding day many hours pushing you toward fatigue.
Motorcycling comes with risk and riding 1600 kilometres or more increases your risk substantially. It is imperative you understand the risk you are taking and minimize the possibility of an accident by practicing safe motorcycle habits. No one, not even the most experienced long-distance rider, can safely fight off fatigue. If you are tired, the only option is to stop and rest. Ignoring the symptoms of fatigue can be fatal. These rides enjoy a fantastic safety record but to continue this record requires you to do your part. If you are tired, having a bad day, or facing other hurtles that are impacting your riding skills, please stop and rest so that you may enjoy motorcycling another day!
Please remember we are dedicated to the sport of safe, long-distance motorcycle riding. It does not condone, nor will it tolerate unsafe activities such as excessive speed, reckless motorcycle operation, riding while fatigued or otherwise impaired, the use of stimulants to maintain alertness, or any other activity that results in riders exceeding their personal limits. Any rider found to have engaged in these or other unsafe activities while participating in an event shall be subject to disqualification not only from that event but from future events.

STEP 2: Collect and track receipts

Before the start, you will want to try fuel stations to find one that has a receipt with a good location, time and date on it to document the start of your ride.
Fill up your fuel tank and obtain a computer printed sales receipt with a legible date and time stamp.

* * * THE COMPUTER TIME STAMP WILL BE YOUR OFFICIAL STARTING TIME * * *

The following log entries are mandatory:

Log entries must be made at each fuel stop (sample attached).
A log entry includes the following information: DATE, TIME, LOCATION and ODOMETER reading.
A receipt must accompany each logbook entry (please note, that the receipts from these fuel stops, where possible should include a date stamp – we do NOT care about time stamps on these receipts, do not waste time worrying about time stamps, the only time stamps that are critical are the start and finish receipts!).
For the verification team to account for your time (important for the verification work they do), log entries must be made at each stop longer than 20 minutes (for example you decide to stop at a roadside rest stop for a nap during the ride).
Each entry for extended stops must include the approximate length of the stop or the start time and ending time.
WARNING: If your motorcycle is equipped with a large fuel-tank, please note that you must stop at least once every 300 kilometres for fuel (this is purely for documentation for your ride). Although we know it is possible to ride greater distances non-stop, we will not accept a claim of this type.
At the end of your ride, before the 24-hour time period is up, obtain a computer printed fuel sales receipt with a legible location, date and time stamp.

* * * THE COMPUTER TIME STAMP IS YOUR OFFICIAL ENDING TIME * * *

STEP 3: Get proof at fuel / turn points:

After you get the fuel sales receipt, find a way to proof and document your fuel stop / turning point. A selfie with an identifiable landmark / shop / street/town name will also do. Try and make it as easy as possible to verify that you were there, at that time – be creative! You do not want doubts at this point to prevent you from getting certified. Take as many time stamped pictures or videos as possible – this will serve as excellent collaboration of your trip.

Get a final fuel receipt (if impossible, buy something from a shop with a timed receipt) to finalise your trip.

* * * THE COMPUTER TIME STAMP IS YOUR OFFICIAL ENDING TIME * * *

STEP 4: Prepare, scan and submit your documentation

Send us a map and highlight the towns you stopped in (don’t forget the start and ending points) for fuel/food/etc. This map is to assist the person verifying the routes and is meant to give a good overall picture of your ride. You do not actually have to find the small towns you stopped in, just circle the approximate area.

Scan and send your receipts and number the copies to correspond to your trip log together with your log.

If needed, write a short note about any problems with your ride, for example, “The receipt from Calvinia does not have the correct date. I had the attendant write the correct date. The stations telephone number is …”

COMPLETE the CERTIFICATION form. Basically, this is information where to send the awards, what name and motorcycle you want on the certificate and the basic route you would like the award to note.

We offer several options. You can just get the paper Certificate for the ride or in combination with a Pin or Badge.

FINALLY, send it to:
cobusvz@lamgat.co.za

CERTIFICATION FORM

Please note that we do not make any money on this ride, the CERTIFICATION fee is our approximate cost of administrating the 1600K, 2500K and 3,000K program.
When we get your ride documentation, one of several people will start the verification process. Due to the extensive work involved (keying data into mileage spreadsheets, map verifications, witness contacts where needed and custom certificate preparations) and the fact that all of the labour involved with producing these awards are performed by volunteers, it will usually take a maximum of 1 month before your certificates will be e-mailed to you.