Tesoro Iron Dog

The Tesoro Iron Dog, originally known as the Iron Dog Gold Rush Classic is an off-road snowmachine race across Alaska. It is normally starts on a Sunday in mid-February. [cite book|last=Scoggins|first=Dow|title=Discovering Denali: A Complete Reference Guide to Denali National Park and Mount McKinley, Alaska|publisher=iUniverse|date=2004|pages=288|isbn=0595297374|accessdate=2008-09-02] At convert|1971|mi|km|sp=us, it is the longest snowmachine race in the world.cite web|url=http://www.wpix.com/pages/landing_election_news/?Todd-Palin-a-blue-collar-Alaskan-is-mult=1&blockID=45004&feedID=21|title=Todd Palin, a blue-collar Alaskan, is multiple winner of world's longest snowmobile race|first=Rachel|date=D'Oro|publisher=WPIX|accessdate=2008-09-02] The 2008 event featured a record forty teams competing for a $100,000 purse, with $25,000 awarded to the winners.

Course

The event began in 1984 as a convert|1000|mi|km|sp=us|adj=on race from Big Lake near Wasilla, Alaska to Nome, Alaska.cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/irondog/|title=Iron Dog multimedia|date=2008|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-09-02] It was extended by approximately convert|1000|mi|km|sp=us at the 10th annual race in 1994. The race route now follows parts of the Iditarod Trail, the route of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.cite book|last=Wohlforth|first=Charles P.|title=Frommer's Alaska 2005 |publisher=Frommer's|date=2004|pages=page 427|isbn=0764579622|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=fEvukF19kpQC&pg=PA427&dq=Tesoro+Iron+Dog&sig=ACfU3U2NIxRbzCPvV2s6KdVQFtSE2bZVPw|accessdate=2008-09-02] It starts at Big Lake and follows the main trail and its connecting trails until it hits to the Yukon River at Ruby. It follows the river to Kaltag before it heads to the Norton Sound on the Bering Sea at Unalakleet, Alaska and it follows the coast until Nome. Then it returns back along the same path in the reverse order to Ruby, where it diverges off its original path by following the Yukon River and its tributary the Tanana River until the competitors finish in Fairbanks.cite web|url=http://community.adn.com/mini_apps/assetDisplay/?ref=http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/02/11/02/333-IronDogRoute08Color.graphic_large.prod_affiliate.7.gif&summ=&sec=2749&width=731&height=507|title=2008 Iron Dog race route|date=2008|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-09-02]

afety

Races are typically run in temperatures well below freezing, and -20°F (-30°C) to -50°F (-45°C) air temperatures are common without taking windchill into effect. Some drivers apply duct tape to their faces to protect against frostbite.cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/irondog/story/311441.html|title=Iron Dog pack peels out|last=Wilmot|first=Rod|date=2008-02-11|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-09-02] The machines are equipped with tall windshields for protection from the cold.

The drivers compete in two-driver, two-sled teams for their safety since they travel through remote areas of Alaska.cite web|url=http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/021008/sta_245574955.shtml|date=2008-02-10|title=Snowmobile racers prepare for start of Tesoro Iron Dog|publisher=Juneau Empire|accessdate=2008-09-02] Teams are required to take three 6 hour breaks between Nome and Tanana.cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/irondog/story/315790.html|title=Minnick, Olstad overcome penalty, gain ground|last=Medred|first=Craig|date=2008-02-15|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-09-02] They also take a 42-hour break in Nome to recuperate before they start making their return. Sleds are impounded during the break, ensuring that they rest since they are not able to work on their sleds.cite web|url=http://www.adn.com/irondog/story/314786.html|title=Iron Dog racers hit the trail this morning|last=Medred|first=Craig|date=2008-02-14|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-09-02] 27 of the 40 teams entered in 2008 made it to Nome. The race never had a fatality in its first 25 years, although there have been close calls.

Winners

*2008 Marc McKenna / Eric Quamcite web|url=http://www.irondog.org/results/archives/historical.php|title=Irondog Historical Statistics|publisher=Tesoro Iron Dog|accessdate=2008-09-02]
*2007 Todd Palin / Scott Davis
*2006 Dwayne Drake / Andy George
*2005 Marc McKenna / Nick Olstad
*2004 Mark Carr / Dusty VanMeter
*2003 – (Race canceled because of lack of snow)
*2002 Todd Palin / Dusty VanMeter
*2001 Tracey Brassard / Ken Lee (Pro), Jack Bronner / Mike Lindeen (Masters)
*2000 Todd Palin / Dusty VanMeter (Pro), Steve Deptula / Pat Reilly (Masters)
*1999 Mark Carr / Scott Davis
*1998 Mark Carr / Scott Davis
*1997 Mark Carr / Scott Davis
*1996 John Faeo / Bob Gilman
*1995 Todd Palin / Dwayne Drake
*1994 Evan Booth / Dan Zipay
*1993 Scott Davis / Bill Long
*1992 Dan Zipay / Evan Booth
*1991 John Faeo / Bob Gilman
*1990 John Faeo / Bob Gilman
*1989 Scott Davis / Mark Torkelson
*1988 John Faeo / Dan Zipay
*1987 John Faeo / Dan Zipay
*1986 John Faeo / Dan Zipay
*1985 Scott Davis / Gary Eoff
*1984 John Faeo / Rod Frank

References

External links

* [http://www.irondog.org/ Official website]