Iron Dog 2000 under way

If hardcore snowmobiling can be defined by riding 2000 miles through the heart of Alaska, then 64 snowmobilers from around the state (and one from Minnesota) fit the hardcore label as they sped off from Big Lake Sunday in teams of two to begin the 19th-annual Iron Dog 2000.

The 2,000-mile race takes teams north to Nome, then on the Fairbanks with the first drivers scheduled to finish sometime this Sunday.

The 32 teams left Big Lake in one-minute intervals at 11 a.m. Sunday and will stop at 14 checkpoints on the way to Nome.

From Nome, the drivers will stop at 10 checkpoints on their way east to Fairbanks.

Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin was on hand to wave the green flag to start several of the teams in the race. After a hug for luck, Mayor Palin waved the green flag to start her husband Todd on his way to Fairbanks. Todd Palin and teammate Dusty Van Meter won the Iron Dog in 2000.

Wasilla driver Ken Harding is teamed with Ken Kleewein of Willow for the race. Harding hopes not to encounter the same trail problems he had in last year's race.

"Last year I hit a moose near Nikolai," Harding said. "It was dark, I came around a corner and saw it near the trail, I tried to get around but it moved and ran right into me."

Harding sustained no damage to himself or the machine and was able to continue.

Other than the safety gear that all drivers must carry, Harding and Kleewein also carry an assortment of spare parts for repairs along the way.

"The trail is rough on the front suspension, so we carry extra suspension parts," Harding said.

The first-place team purse for the Iron Dog is $25,000, but with most teams investing $20,000 to $30,000 for the race, no one races for the money.

Wasilla brothers James and Mark Nunley estimate an investment of $10,000 to $12,000 each in the race.

"I raced in 2000, but had to wait until this year to race again," James Nunley said. "This year I'm sponsored by Visa (credit card)!"

The race in 2000 was James Nunley's first time in the Iron Dog, with this year being Mark Nunley's first time in the race.

James Nunley noted that one of the biggest problems they will face the first day is dehydration and fatique. Both drivers have packed extra nutrition supplements for stops along the way.

Four teams of trail-class riders started after the 64 pro-class competitors hit the trail. The trail-class riders do not compete for prize money, only for sport. The trail-class riders will complete their trip in Nome.

Progress of the race can be tracked online by logging on to the Iron Dog Web site at www.irondog.org.