Unleashed

WASILLA — Veterans, rookies and residents showed up strong Saturday to kick off the pre-race safety inspection for the Tesoro Iron Dog.

More than 100 people gathered at the Wasilla Sports Complex to put the finishing touches on race sleds, undergo a quick safety inspection and wander through the high-performance snowmachines that will take a 2,000-mile journey over the frozen Alaska wilderness.

Known as the longest and toughest snowmachine race in the world, the Tesoro Iron Dog challenges riders’ stamina and skill throughout its many miles of varied terrain. This year riders will start their engines in Big Lake, reach the halfway point in Nome and then turn around and head toward Fairbanks.

In their rookie season, Will Burton, 29, and Jeremy Neeser, 37, will be the second pro-class team to leave the starting line on Big Lake.

Although winning the event might be every racer’s dream, Burton and Neeser have set their sights set on finishing first among this year’s rookie lineup. While that’s the overall goal, the team said preparing for the race has been a challenge in itself.

“I honestly feel that getting to the starting line all in one piece is an accomplishment,” Neeser said.

Many riders have different reasons for running the race, but Neeser said for him it all began in the late 1980s.

“It’s been a dream of mine for years,” Nesser said. “I’m the kind of guy that never wants to turn back. I just want to keep going.”

Not only is it an adventure of a lifetime, the Iron Dog is a chance to see portions of Alaska only a select few ever get to see.

For Burton the race is a resumé builder.

“I just wanted to add some more to my resumé,” Burton said. “I have a goal of racing the two longest races in the world — the Iron Dog and Baja.”

When Burton isn’t riding snowmachines, he jumps on his quad to race during the summer and winter months, he said. In fact, the rider has two ice racing championships under his belt.

Burton said if all goes well he hopes to reach his goal of racing snowmachines in the Iron Dog and a four-wheeler in the Baja 1,000 over the next five years.

Burton and Neeser said they originally met at work and began talking about forming a 2008 Iron Dog team. But for team Burton/Nesser, it’s more than a one-year adventure, as they hope to make this the beginning of a three-year run toward winning the 2,000-mile race.

The trail-class race is scheduled to start 9 a.m. Feb. 8. The pro-class start is scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 10, with race festivities beginning at 10 a.m. Both classes will begin the Iron Dog journey on Big Lake.

See Tuesday’s Outdoors page for more on this year’s Tesoro Iron Dog.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow-@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.