Ironman challenge kicks off tonight

MANILA, Philippines –  At the strike of midnight today, the country’s much-celebrated motoring event – the 2011 BMW Owners Society of Safe Riders (BOSS) Ironman Motorcycle Challenge – will be flagged off at the Home Depot Balintawak, northbound lane of EDSA.

The Ironman Challenge, now on its sixth year, was originally designed exclusively for motorcycle riders with 400cc engine displacements and beyond to test their endurance over a grueling 1,200-km, 24-hour journey. But since last year, the event has included all types of four-wheel vehicles, ranging from rally to vintage cars, SUVs and pick-up trucks.

The Ironman Challenge began as an internal club affair way back in 2006 with barely 12 participants. The following year, the number doubled. In 2008, the riders reached 100 and once more doubled by 2009. The fifth Ironman saw 220 motorists kick off last year and for 2011, the number has ballooned to 300-plus participants.

This year, the event will be graced by celebrity-participants such as Gabby dela Merced, Dominic Ochoa, Ricky Montelibano and Arnel Ignacio along a number of international motor enthusiasts from Switzerland, France, USA, Korea, Japan, Canada and Malaysia.

Chaired by four-time Ironman individual champion Joey Almeda, the event is backed by Flying V, Castrol, ACC-BMW, Bosch, GNC, Air Guru, Destiny Air Cargo, Mycom Digiserv, Motoworld and DuPont.

Starting from Quezon City, each participant will need to cover 12 provinces. The eastern section of Luzon serves as the first leg, with Bulacan as the kickoff point. The pack then heads to San Jose, Nueva Ecija; Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya; Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya; Isabela; Tuguegarao and Cagayan.

The western end begins in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte passing through Laoag and wheezing by Vigan in Ilocos Sur. It heads to Bauang, La Union, Baguio via Naguilian, and Pugo, La Union. From the Flying-V gas station in Pugo, the endurance challenge is down to its last 146 kms to Clark, Pampanga. Pangasinan and Tarlac will be the last two provinces on the itinerary.