Breakdown

BIG LAKE — With temperatures remaining unseasonably warm in the Mat-Su Valley, many racers in the 2010 Iron Dog snowmachine race may face heat-related mechanical issues.

Race director Laura Bedard said “there is definitely a lack of snow” in some areas.

It is this lack of snow that may prove the biggest obstacle for many riders, as they could be forced to ride on stretches of gravel, dirt and grass along the race’s 2,000-mile course.

“You know, they are called snowmachines for a reason,” said Danny Gueco of Gueco Racing in Wasilla. “You got to have some snow to run them on.”

Gueco went on to name a list of problems racers can encounter from not having enough to snow to run on, including added wear and tear on the suspension, rear track malfunction, front ski deterioration and control difficulties.

“Most importantly, it is hard on the cooling system,” he said. “You need snow to the cool the engine and to get the heat exchangers to cool, or else the engine overheats and the sled shuts down. Most heat exchangers are found underneath the sled, either in the front or back of the track, and are water-filled reservoirs. You have to keep those heat exchangers cool as they act like a radiator, sending cold water around the engine to help it stay cool.”

Without proper snow conditions the rider will have to compensate by running his sled smartly, he said. If racing, Gueco said that he would try to keep his sled over the snow as long as possible and turn his machine off before it overheated.

“That engine light comes on and it’s more of a warning than a malfunction, but I would stop and let it cool down before it shuts down,” he said.

Most sleds have a temperature point that is the maximum they will operate at before shutting down. This ensures the pistons do not overheat and potentially crack the engine block, Gueco said.

Thomas Hannam of Alaskan Toy Rental in Wasilla said that running a snowmachine on dirt and gravel could have more serious consequences than an engine overheating.

“In terms of handling, out there racing you want to have the back end sliding around on the snow in the turns. Without the snow you have the risk of flipping the machine,” Hannam said.

In fact, he said, the chances are a lot higher of a machine rolling if it is running on the dirt. The rear track could catch or hook onto rocks, roots or sticks and prevent the snowmachine from sliding, instead creating an unstable tipping situation.

But tipping is not the only potential obstacle facing the riders. Hannam said parts on his new 2010 rental sleds having been wearing out at an unprecedented rate due to riding on the ground.

“I usually expect to get around 1,500 to 2,500 miles on them and just with the warm weather, I have seen them wearing out at only 300 miles,” he said.

If Iron Dog riders experience similar mechanical issues, the race could turn into more of a grueling slow pace than a sprint to the finish.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Lanier Hutcheson at lanier.hutcheson@frontiersman.com.