Ride Applications and Verification of Australian rides.
The verification process for all rides completed in Australia is still conducted in the USA. The verification fees may be found at Iron Butt Association Verification Fees.
The ride applications.
We have three methods to submit rides;
1. Via the Australian IBA Electronic Ride Application Program
- The program starts here
- Ensure you read all the information on the web page and that you are able to comply exactly with the requirements contained there.
- Click on the link contained on that web page.
- Ensure, when you submit your application, that the appropriate fee has been paid via paypal to paypal@ironbutt.com and attach proof/confirmation to your application.
2. Via IBAapplication@gmail.com
- Ride forms are located here
- Ensure you read and enter all the required information on the forms.
- Once you have filled out all the required forms and completed any other requirements as found in the instructions, scan all your documentation and attach to an email addressed as per 2. above.
- Await payment request from IBA.
3. Via Australia Post.
- Ride forms may be found here
- Ensure you read and enter all the required information on the forms.
- Once you have filled out all the required forms and completed any other requirements as found in the instructions, send the package, along with a check for US funds (PLEASE DO NOT USE A STAPLE ON YOUR CHEQUE) to:
Iron Butt Association
P.O. Box 9450
Naperville, IL 60567-9450 USA - DO NOT send CASH! Please contact donna@ironbutt.com if you are from outside of North America and need alternate means of payment!
The preferred option is for riders to use dot point 1.
A few points to remember when submitting your ride application;
* Do not send in applications from two or more different email addresses;
o When the Verification Team try to search for certificates for applications of xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx, they can’t find all the emails. Some riders respond to inquiries from two or more email addresses, so the email strings are disjointed, and when reviewing what’s going on, there is total confusion. Please just use one email address.
The ozapplicaions email is for applications, not for general communications. If you have a question send it to Howard at hentmanmd@gmail.com
- when using the ozapplications email use the form provided as in 1. above – do not use personal forms as they slow down the process for the verifier.
* Do not send in ride applications that are incomplete;
o This requires the Verification Team to send the rider an email requesting the required information, which must then by linked to the original application, so instead of having one email for an application, they now have three emails and the process slows down.
o When using the Australian IBA Electronic Ride Application Program (as in dot point 1 above) ensure that you send the paypal confirmations with your paperwork. If it is missing then an email requesting the remittance, which must then by linked to the original application, so instead of having one email for an application, we now have three emails and the process slows down.
* On applications that involve nested rides, or multiple rides, detail EACH ride separately, with the start and finish times and locations and distances clearly stated. (When a ride is super-hard to figure out , the verifier often closes the file and goes on to other more simple applications, and then the complicated one might get lost in the shuffle.)
* Do not send the same application multiple times and/or to multiple IBA email addresses
* some riders are making general inquiries AND copying that inquiry to Mike Kneebone and/or Donna and/or Ira. When this happens, either the inquiry is answered multiple times, or isn’t answered at all, since each of the addressees thinks that the other is doing the answering.
* It would help a great deal if riders who want to make an inquiry would write to only one person — without cc’ing anybody else. Of course, if they don’t get a response or are not satisfied with the response, then by all means, write to somebody else. But give the original recipient a day or two to respond.
Verification
Once your ride documentation is received, 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 approximately 60% of the labour involved with producing these awards are performed by volunteers, it will usually take a minimum of 2 to 3 months before your certificates will be ready for signature and mailed to you.
We realise this is a long time to wait for your certification. However, our certification process is very thorough. In fact, the entire certification process is what gives your certificate value. It would be very easy for the Iron Butt Association to simply take money and print up a generic “you rode a 1,610 kilometres in a day” certificate, however, the value of the entire certification program is in the fact that not just anyone can get an Iron Butt Association ride certification. The downside is this process takes time… We can only offer that when you receive your certification you know that not only you earned it, but so did any other rider that you meet with the same certification.
Before we can issue your certification, you may be asked to clarify certain aspects of your ride and/or documentation by either e-mail, phone or letter. Additionally, certain aspects of your ride are subject to audit by yet another set of IBA volunteers charged with insuring only people that rode the kilometres get the award. Should your package get tagged for that audit, it too may delay the final determination of your claim for the award.
Keeping the above, regarding the verification process, in mind, please consider limiting general enquiries regarding the status of your application, unless is it outside the timelines mentioned.