Offering to visit with Randy Gravatt about the upcoming
Iron Dog Snowmobile Race in Alaska is like shaking up a two liter bottle of
pop. Once the lid comes off, there is no containing the enthusiasm. With the
race less than a month away, Randy is in overdrive prepping for the event.
The Iron Dog is a 2130 mile snowmobile race that begins
at Big Lake (Wasilla), goes to Nome and finishes in Fairbanks. The race is over
very rugged, isolated conditions and is completed in seven days. The Iron Dog
begins with a field of 37 to 40 two-person teams. The conditions are so tough
that only half the teams finish the race. Broken machines and bones are common.
Randy’s rookie race was two years ago and his team finished in 16th.
It is quite a feat for a beginner from the lower 48. He broke both his machine
and several ribs but muscled through to the finish line. He was an Iron Dog!
Team 22 is composed of Randy and Dieter Strobel of
Barrett, Minnesota. They are racing Artic Cat ZR 6000 that are being shipped
directly from the factory to Alaska. Each sled is equipped with a GPS tracker. Team
22 will have a bush plane following them with parts and provisions.
The participants stop along the way to eat and sleep in
homes or businesses. Floors and cots are a welcome reprieve from the arctic
air. The time that one arrives at each stop is precisely noted and the racers leave
at exactly the same time interval.
The first six place finishing teams win a cash prize.
The first place prize is $50,000.
Randy has been conditioning himself by riding his sled
to work at the Grizzly and Wolf Encounter Center in West Yellowstone. He is
working out at the health club in West Yellowstone and at Connie’s Gym.
The expenses to participate in this race are
substantial. Randy’s team will spend in excess of $35,000. Saturday January 31,
a fundraiser will be held at the TroutHunter from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. There will
be a spaghetti dinner, raffle and silent action.
West Yellowstone is also holding a raffle and silent
action on February 7th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Wild West Pizza.
Randy leaves on February 13th for Anchorage,
where there will be an official inspection. February 21st there is a
sled procession from Anchorage to Big Lake. February 22nd the race
begins. You can follow Team 22 on their journey by logging onto irondograce.org.
The site uses their GPS transmitters to show current locations.
Randy wanted to thank his love and partner, Reeca Marotz
for her patience and support. She hopes to see more of him when this is over!
He appreciates the support from the following sponsors:
Action Motor Sports (Idaho Falls)
Artic Cat
The Corner Cenex (West Yellowstone)
Klim (Rigby)
Lostutter, Linda and Dan
Performance Motor Sports (Ashton)
Pond’s Lodge
The Repair Shop
Rexburg Motor Sports
Starting Line Products (Idaho Falls)
Slominski, Dan
TroutHunter
Walter, Gerald
Finally, Randy wanted to say thank you to all of the
remaining businesses and community members of Island Park and West Yellowstone
for their support.
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