The Iron Dog 2013!

Iron Dog 2013 Website ^ | February 17th, 2013 | Iron Dog 2013

[KC_Lion]

FReepers!

The Iron Dog 2013 Race is on.

The first Iron Dog event started in 1984, in Big Lake following the Northern Route of the Historic Iditarod Trail to Nome. The event began as the “Iron Dog Iditarod”, but the name was quickly changed the next year to the “Gold Rush Classic”, in 1990 the race was recognized as the “Iron Dog Gold Rush Classic” for a decade until Tesoro Corporation became a title sponsor, thus recognizing the event as the “Tesoro Iron Dog”. Today, we simply refer to the race and ourselves as The Iron Dog. The event is sponsored by the Alaska National Guard which has allowed the Iron Dog to grow significantly since 2009.

Today’s Iron Dog course distance is over 2,000 miles, starting in Big Lake with a halfway stop in Nome and finishing in Fairbanks, making it the World’s longest snowmobile race. Participants cover some of Alaska’s the most remote and rugged terrain while confronting some the harshest winter conditions. Survival skills are essential, making it the World’s toughest snowmobile race. All teams in race classes are a team of two persons and two snowmobiles for safety.

The Iron Dog offers a non-competitive recreational class giving adventure seekers an opportunity to travel 1100 miles on the Northern Route of Historic Iditarod Trail to Nome. These teams of two or more travel the same race trail as the Pro Class Teams.

Iron Dog, Inc. brings a World Class Event across the State of Alaska each February impacting over twenty five Alaskan communities beginning with the “Iron Dog Safety EXPO” in Wasilla, AK. This EXPO provides a unique winter recreational trade show that brings in industry vendors, promotes snowmobile safety and education through seminars, and a face to face opportunity for the fans and media to meet with notable Iron Dog athletes.

Race Event Start includes fundraising activities, vendor booths and a patriotic celebration start. Nome marks the half way point for the racers and a finish for the trail class. The Nome Halfway Banquet brings the race participants and fans together with celebration awards, tales from the trail, slide show presentations, and prizes. Pro Class participant’s race into Fairbanks chasing one of the many contingency awards based on the fastest team between two check points crossing the finish line. Teams are held in the City of Tanana before Fairbanks in order to have the teams cross the Finish line in a two hour window for spectator viewing. A finishing reception celebration is held the evening of the Finish. The Awards presentation is held at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks.

Race participation typically averages (30) thirty Pro Class teams with an average of (20) twenty or more Trail Class riders for a total number of about 80-90 riders on the trail each year.

Iron Dog is a proud leader in the snowmobile sports community promoting snowmobile safety and outdoor education through trade shows, seminars and community events.

[CatherineofAragon]

Those kids are getting so big! The girl (PMS forgetfulness kicking in, can’t think of her name) is beautiful, and so grown up.

[onyx]

Wonderful photo, hattend!
You two are beautiful people!

[onyx]

Willow.

[CatherineofAragon]

Thanks, Onyx

[Jemian]

Are you sure that is Willow and not Piper? Make-up can make a girl look a little more mature than she is.

[KC_Lion]

Getting Ready for the Race :D

AND THEY'RE OFF!!!

[trisham]

Wonderful pics! Sarah and Todd are good people and good parents.

[CatherineofAragon]

Adorable!

[Eye of Unk]

Youtube will have some video up soon, I noticed many riders are using the Gopro video camera. And most are using Lightforce long range spotlights. Really unique styles of helmets, some with LED spotlights and of course two way comms, GPS very prevalent.

Four strokes are emerging as a contender, I have a 2005 Yamaha RS Rage 4 stroke at nearly 1000cc’s, its a heavy sled compared to the other one I ride an old 1990 Polaris SKS Indy 500 two stroke. The Indy is liquid cooled and slightly faster than the air cooled version.

I get a fair amount of requests to work and customize sleds at my shop, I’ll be installing an additional flatpack fuel tank on another sled tomorrow and adding some cargo carrying equipment to another after doing some suspension mods.

[onyx]

Trig Palin learning to read.

Please Support Free Republic.

[KC_Lion]

Sarah just posted this on her Facebook.

I can only assume it's Team 11's Snowmobile.

[Sarah Barracuda]

That is a beautiful photo..God bless Chris Kyle NEVER forgotten!!

[onyx]

Oh yeah!
Chris Kyle RIP.
God bless and hold him dear.

[onyx]

Bump!

[leapfrog0202]

Ping to the Todd list!

I wish he was living in the White House. What a difference that would be.
____________________

Hopefully someday soon Jemian!

[heshtesh]

I chuckle when you mention modifying the sleds,as it is i’ve done so many mod to my 2010 Arctic Cat CFR8 i’m not sure i can still call it a Cat,not much different for my 03 440 SnoPro that sports a F7 engine in the winter and a D&D F9 stroker for summer grass drags. PS I find it easier to get on it in the summer!!!!

[Eye of Unk]

Yeah I’m working on the Rage right now at work in nice warm shop in my tee shirt, its about 15f outside. Gotta get back to work.

[KC_Lion]

Iron Dog Update!

The racers are taking their layover in McGrath; top teams are over 280 miles into the race and within 40 minutes of each other. Our prayers are with the injured pilots in the Iron Dog plane crash.

P.S. My 4,001 Replay on Free Republic!

[onyx]

WOW! Thank you so much for the update! Close race!
Yes, indeed, prayers for the injured pilots.
Wonderful photo of Team 11!
Congratulations on your post #4,001!!

[KC_Lion]

So much has happened since F.R. crashed with the Iron Dog, I hope I don't miss anything.

This is From Sarah's Facebook on Tuesday:

Todd always says anything can happen in this race – especially during that second half. Guys have won or lost the race more than a few times by just mere minutes. Crashes, engine blow ups, avalanches, open water, animal and iceberg encounters, frostbite, broken bones, wrenching under pitch-black skies in unfathomable winds and frigid temperatures, etc. have been part of the racers’ and pre-race trail breakers’ challenges for the two decades Todd has raced the Iron Dog. (And this is his idea of fun!) These racers are tough competitors who love the great outdoors, and the volunteers who make the Iron Dog happen are also very tough individuals who thrive in these extreme conditions under the great North Star.

It’s an amazing race that takes great skill, mechanical ability, physical prowess and dogged determination necessitating a level of mental toughness that is so valuable and rare.

Thanks for following the race... only 1,000 more miles!

- Sarah Palin

So Pictures:

Those were from US4Palin.com

http://us4palin.com/chuck-heath-jr-posts-more-pictures-from-iron-dog-start/