THE LEGACY OF DALE EARNHARDT Known as “The Intimidator” to sportswriters who loved his rowdy personality and “Ironhead” to opponents who loathed racing against him, Dale Earnhardt Sr. forever changed racing in both his life and tragic death on Feb. 18, 2001, during the final lap of the Daytona 500. Today, Earnhardt’s legacy lives on through the racing triumphs of his descendants, like Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the safety protocols his death inspired.
On April 30, 193 motorcycles in 15 states revved their engines and took off for the Southeast Iron Butt Tour (SIBT). The riders and their seven passengers were in it for the long haul. In less than 24 hours, they rode more than 1,000 miles to party it up at the finish line in Charleston, South Carolina. “We’ve got 19 cities and 15 states participating,” Lee Keller, who created the SIBT, told us before the ride. “As far as riders go, we have riders coming from 27 different states to do this. Last year, people from north of Chicago rode to Knoxville, Tennessee, to do this ride! They rode 450 miles just to ride over 1,000 more miles.” The SIBT inspires dedication because it isn’t just any motorcycle ride. First of all, participants receive great perks for their $150 sign-up fee, including ride T-shirts, poker chips, and embroidered patches printed by our team here at Lynnpro! But more importantly, the SIBT donates all its proceeds to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance, housing, and more for military families. Each rider’s money goes to military families in their own area. “I’m retired, but I’ve always felt that the value of a person is in what they do and what they’re giving back. This is just one way I like to give back to the community,” Keller says. 24 HOURS + 1,000 MILES = 1 MASSIVE PARTY FOR CHARITY! HOW THE SOUTHEAST IRON BUTT TOUR GIVES BACK CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT: Almost immediately, NASCAR made sweeping changes to the sport, including requiring drivers to wear a head and neck support (HANS) device along with their helmet to stabilize the body in an accident. It was a device that Earnhardt refused to wear due to its restraint and one that potentially could have saved his life had he been wearing it. Earnhardt was born into a racing family in 1951 and made his NASCAR debut in 1975. He went on to win 34 races at the sport’s most popular track in Daytona, Florida, and record 76 career wins. Earnhardt’s style of racing was unparalleled, and most fans will never forget the 2000 race at Talladega Superspeedway where he barreled from 18th into first place over the final six laps. On that fateful day in 2001, Earnhardt was racing toward the finish line on the final lap — a first-place finish in his sights — when he collided with three other vehicles, rammed into the concrete barrier, and slid to a stop in the infield. Earnhardt was pronounced dead at the hospital that evening, the result of a skull fracture that happened within 80 milliseconds of the initial impact.
The organization also instituted improved outer barriers and seat belts. (It was previously believed that a seat belt malfunction led to Earnhardt’s death.) Along with those improvements, NASCAR continues to update its safety measures. According to ESPN, the sport has also required drivers to wear full-face helmets, and vehicles are now outfitted with shock-absorbing foam to protect drivers’ bodies from the energy produced in an accident. The work NASCAR did to improve driver safety was on full display at the 2020 Daytona 500, when racer Ryan Newman’s vehicle hit the wall, flipped upside down, and was then propelled into the air before landing in the infield. The accident was horrific, and Newman had to seek treatment at a nearby hospital — but he lived.
“Those people,” Newman said to ESPN about those who made safety regulations a standard in the sport, “collectively saved my life.”
Last year, Keller and his team of volunteers worked hard to make the first annual SIBT happen despite COVID-19. In 2021, it was bigger and better than ever! The day after the ride, bikers blew off steam and raised even more money for Operation Homefront at a big, public party in Charleston. The is the second ride Lee has organized for SIBT. Back in 2012, he organized a ride for a different cause and relied on Lynnpro for T-shirts — and he still wears them almost 10 years later! “The print on them is still very, very good. It has faded a little because I’ve washed them 100 times, but I wear them all the time. They’re great shirts; I can’t knock the quality!” he says.
To learn more about the SIBT and put next year’s ride on your calendar, visit SoutheastIronButt.com. And to get long-lasting shirts for your event, call us!
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