On your mark, get set … GO

Like everything in life, there are always people who want to take things one step further. When it comes to snowmachining, we call those people Iron Doggers.

The Tesoro Iron Dog race is the world's longest -- and certainly most grueling -- snowmachine race. Each winter, teams of two snowmachiners grab the throttle and don't let off for nearly 2,000 miles, traveling at break-neck speeds through one of the most remote of areas in the world -- Bush Alaska.

In the past, the race has run from Wasilla to Nome to Fairbanks, but this year, the people in the Valley get a chance to see the race finish, instead of start. The race this year is scheduled to run from Fairbanks to Nome to Wasilla.

Covering 2,000 miles on the back of a snowmachine may not sound like fun to some, but for others, it is a dream realized. They spend months fine-tuning their sleds for the demanding run.

Not only is the race demanding both physically and mentally, it is just as tough on the wallet.

When the race started in Wasilla, the snowmachiners could make it all the way to McGrath during the first day. They arrived there hungry and beat up from more than 11 hours spent to on the trail, some of which is extremely bumpy and unforgiving. They can get to McGrath only if they are lucky -- those devastating bumps often take a toll on the machines, as equipment often breaks, forcing the riders to the side of the trail for fast repairs.

There are layovers along the trail, including one 24-hour layover in Nome, but all the rest in the world won't soothe the aches and pains that come from riding a snowmachine at near-100 mph speeds through darkness. Each year, there are injuries to riders, but it s a small price to pay for Iron Dog glory.

If competing in the Iron Dog is a dream, but you don't want to risk life and limb in the process, there is an option. The trail class is a recreational -- yet speedy -- ride along the same route. Teams of two or more can run the race at a somewhat more relaxed pace. It is an option more and more recreational snowmachiners are electing to take as the years go by.

The Iron Dog started out innocently enough, as a challenge. Bob Kowalke recruited a small group of racers to run from Big Lake to Nome in the fastest time. That was in 1984, and the rules were a bit different. Then, you could run any snowmachine you wanted, and you had to take all the parts to repair your snowmachine with you on the trail.

Now, there is a limit on the size of engines used in the Iron Dog, and you can stage your parts along the trail at the various villages and towns. The changes, organizers said, came because more racers means more finishers and more racing action from start to finish.

The 2003 race will begin in Fairbanks on Feb. 3, at 11 a.m. Predicting a finish time is almost impossible, because of the extreme weather conditions that can change at a moment's notice along the Norton Sound and Interior Alaska. Racers can be met with mild temperatures like the Valley is experiencing now, or they could be met with snow and windy conditions that make finding the trail nearly impossible.

While the race is for the participants, another group is just as important -- the spectators.

The start has always been a festive event. The racers used to do an Indy-style start on Wasilla Lake before traveling to Big Lake for the official start. Along the trail, you'll find makeshift "tailgate" parties with people rooting on the passing racers. In the villages, people welcome the racers with open arms -- and a hot meal, if they are lucky -- before the racers hit the trail again. Large crowds have gathered in Fairbanks for the finish each year, and this winter, even larger crowds in the Valley are expected.