George A. Wyman
Memorial Challenge Grand Tour

Version No. 2.0
Date last revised: January 25, 2023

© 2023, 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.

IBA WMC Coin

Background
George A. Wyman was the first to ride a motorcycle across America. He made his epic journey on a Roy C. Marks designed “California” motor bicycle starting in San Francisco, California on May 16th and ending 50 days later in New York City, New York on July 6th, 1903. Wyman rightly deserves recognition as America’s first long distance motorcyclist and “The World’s Toughest Motorcycle Rider”, circa 1903.

The George A. Wyman Memorial Project in partnership with the Iron Butt Association have developed challenging long-distance rides to memorialize Wyman's historic journey. The Wyman Memorial Challenge (WMC.) consists of the; Wyman SaddleSore 1000, Wyman Bun Burner 1500 GOLD, Wyman 50cc GOLD, and the Wyman Grand Tour

The Grand Tour is a self-paced ride from Lotta's Fountain, San Franciso to  1904 Broadway, New York City visiting Wyman's waypoints along the historic route 1903 route.  Like a motorcycle rally, select the Wyman waypoints you'd like to visit.  Record the date/time and odometer mileage on the Claimed Waypoint Visits log upon arrival, then ride to your next selected waypoint. 

Wyman Memorial Challenge - Grand Tour Documentation: 

    -- a selfie at Lotta's Fountain in San Francisco
    -- a selfie at 1904 Broadway in New York City
    -- a DBR in San Francisco and New York City (the DBR's must indicate dates between May 16 to July 6)
    -- Completed Claimed Waypoint Visits Log
    -- a Spotwalla map with user-selected location markers (eg - OK/Custom) at each waypoint visited; 
    OR...
    -- at least one additional DBR at a Wyman waypoint visit in California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and New York, in chronological order. These DBRs support the log entries along your route.

The following resources will help you plan and execute your Grand Tour.
RulesAll Wyman Memorial Challenge rides share the same two certification requirements.  
  1. Certification period is May 16 through July 6, just like George
  2. Certification direction is west to east only, just like George
Grand Tour certification requires documented visits to 516.1 Lotta's Fountain Start and 706.3 1904 Broadway Finish, just like George

Waypoint Sign Waypoint Sign

Four Levels of Grand Tour Certification 

     --- Grand Tour (Finisher)– Start at 516.1 Lotta’s Fountain Start location in San Francisco with at least one additional Wyman waypoint visit in California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, in chronological order.  Finish at  706.3 1904 Broadway location in New York City (706.3) .

     --- Grand Tour BRONZE -- Meet minimum requirements above, properly document and claim at least 80 of the 160 Wyman waypoints as published in the Grand Tour Rider’s Guide.

     --- Grand Tour SILVER – Meet minimum requirements above, properly document and claim at least 120 of the 160 Wyman waypoints as published in the Grand Tour Rider’s Guide.

     --- Grand Tour GOLD – Meet minimum requirements above, properly document and claim at least 140 of the 160 Wyman waypoints as published in the Grand Tour Rider’s Guide

  -- Two wildcard Wyman waypoints may be claimed during the same May 16 through July 6 Wyman Memorial period, either before, during or after your official start/finish DBR dates and times. Dated business receipts (DBR) from the museum is required to support your claim. Odo/DBR picture work well.

      --- 1959 – RIP George A. Wyman, final waypoint site at Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, CA (DBR)
      --- 2000 – Motorcycle Hall of Fame, AMA Museum (DBR), Pickerington, OH

  -- You can select any route between Wyman waypoints that you claim in chronological order. The suggested route is the one that closely matches Wyman’s original route, down the old roads and highways that are close to the railroad tracks. Following these roads you will see many circa 1903 buildings and homes. Many of the US and state “Lincoln” highways were built upon the older horse and buggy roads that Wyman took.

Fees:  See IBA fee page.

Journey Poster
WMC Swag Merchandise:
  • Journey Poster (Journey Poster graphic at right margin)
  • Waypoint Poster
  • Waypoint Sticker
  • Waypoint Patch
  • IBA/WMC Coin
  • IBA/WMC T-Shirt
See Wyman Project on the IBA eStore for listing.