Outdoors/Adventure

Led by Faeo and Quam, rested Iron Dog racers head toward Fairbanks finish

Led by the speedy Mat-Su duo of Scott Faeo and 2008 champ Eric Quam, rejuvenated Iron Dog drivers ended their Nome layovers and roared east at dawn Thursday.

By 9:17 a.m., Faeo and Quam had already made the 75-mile journey from Nome to White Mountain and were looking to put a gap between themselves and the other competitors.

"It's been a very challenging trail," Quam told KNOM radio in Nome. "I think being a veteran helps a little bit, picking the right speed out there, because you could override this equipment and tear it up.

"We've just been cruising along, trying to take care of the iron, keeping a good pace," Quam said.

Behind the leaders, six other teams were out of Nome by 10 a.m. Wily veteran Scott Davis of Soldotna and partner Aaron Bartel of Anchorage were on the trail at 8:12 a.m., followed at 8:57 a.m. by the father-son duo of Andy and Brad George.

Davis, a 55-year-old seven-time champion, arrived in Nome on Tuesday with a cracked windshield. He winced as he stepped off his sled.

"I had a little digger here, on the other side of White Mountain," Davis said, his snowmachine whirring in the background as he asked race officials for a quick exit out of the chute.

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"Are you hurt? Where are you hurt?" a reporter asked.

"Everywhere!" Davis said before giving a slight laugh. "I'll make it!" he said.

Race officials said the "little digger" was a sled landing on Davis outside of White Mountain, according to KNOM.

Willow youngbloods Cody Barber, 21, and Bret Lapham, 22, left at 9:04 a.m. -- still in the hunt despite their inexperience.

No longer in the hunt were 13 teams that have scratched after contending with the rugged, snow sparse trail that has left some machines banged up, some underwater and some barely moving across the tundra.

Even some of Iron Dog's most decorated drivers were stuggling. Defending champions Todd Minnick and Nick Olstad were buried in 19th place while two-time champion Chris Olds and partner Mike Morgan were just one spot ahead. The duo of Todd Palin, the husband of the former Alaska governor, and Tyler Huntington -- with six championships between them -- were mired in 10th.

In addition to the battle for a title, a scuffle between two snowmachine manufacturers was in bloom. Half of the top four racers were riding Polaris machines, with the other half aboard Ski-Doos. Prevailing in such challenging conditions during the world's longest snowmachine race could add up to a public-relations bonanza for the winning manufacturer.

The 2,000-mile race across Alaska is expected to end in Fairbanks at mid-day Saturday.

Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell was a longtime editor for Alaska Dispatch News, and before that, the Anchorage Daily News.

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