This event was held Saturday, MARCH 8, 2008, as a fundraiser for the Hospitality House. Event results are posted below for download. Thank you to all of the volunteers, sponsors, and participants who made the 3rd Annual Tired Iron a great success, even with the crazy warm temperatures that week!

Click here to see Photos from the event!

Remember…This is not strictly a speed race. It’s a combination poker run & race. In other words, you have an equal chance of winning the big prize by a game of chance as anyone, providing you finish the race. Coming across the finish line first does win a great trophy, and most importantly, bar bragging rights for a year. You could even win both. This vintage event is about having fun and showing off some cool old iron. So drive smart, and don’t be a butthead.

ITEM #1: First of all, the following rules are subject to change by the rule committee. Yes, we hold the right to change the rules as we go along. We want to make it both fair and fun, so don’t make an issue out of any little details. Any suggestions you make between now and race day will be met with polite nods and possibly even be incorporated in the official rules. Just don’t count on it. The simpler.. the better as far as the unpaid, overworked race committee is concerned.

Jurassic Classic
Event Start Time: 11:00 a.m.
Driver Ready Time: 09:30 a.m.
Sleds: 10-25 mph range
Distance: 4 miles (Pike's to The Pumphouse and back four times)
Entry Fee: Under age 70 is $100; ages 70-80 is $50; older than 80 is free
Info: This event is for "Classic Alaskan veteran snowmachine drivers," and typically is for sleds in the 10-25 mph range. Departure schedule will be based on drivers' age and estimated top speed of the vehicle. 11 a.m. is the approximate time that the old guys on the oldest sleds will depart. Actual departure times will vary depending on the number of entrants, and specifically, the number of crusty old bastards that actually enter this thing. Drivers over age 90 pay no entry fee AND get a certificate for a FREE Pike's Sunday brunch for two, courtesy of Compeau’s and Pike's Landing.

Tired Iron Fun Run
Event Start Time: 1:00 p.m.
Driver Ready Time: 11:30 a.m.
Sleds: Under 50 mph
Distance: 32 miles (Pike's to mouth of Chena River and back four times)
Entry Fee: Under age 70 is $100; ages 70-80 is $50; older than 80 is free
Info: This event is for sleds generally under 50 mph. It will likely be the largest event in numbers of participants. If having fun is your main goal, this is your event!

Tired Iron Classic
Event Start Time: 3:00 p.m.
Driver Ready Time: 2:00 p.m.
Sleds: 50 mph or greater that were produced 1975 or earlier
Distance: 32 miles (Pike's to mouth of Chena River and back four times)
Entry Fee: Under age 70 is $100; ages 70-80 is $50; older than 80 is free
Info: This event is for snowmachines produced in 1975 or earlier in the 50+ mph category. Departure schedule will be based on drivers' age and estimated top speed of the vehicle. Actual departure times will vary depending on the number of entrants, and specifically, the number of crusty old bastards that actually enter this thing.

Event: Tired Iron Annual Vintage Snowmachine Race and River Rally

Host: Compeau's

Fundraiser: Proceeds will be donated to the Hospitality House, a great organization that serves children of the Northern Region of Alaska. Volunteers from the Hospitality House have offered to assist with this event.

Awards: Awards may include pats on the back, prizes, cash, or trophies.

Location: On the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska, with events starting at Pike's Landing

Race Marshall: Tim Jahola. Tim will be race marshal for this event, although he doesn’t know it yet. Depending on his physical condition, Tim may decide to enter the race, and be race marshal, and we’ve decided that’ll be just fine (see Item #1 near top).

Deadline for Entry: Deadline for local entry is 6 p.m. Thursday at Compeau's. Deadline for out of town entries is 6 p.m. Friday at Compeau's. Racers wishing to enter after that time may be subject to double the entry fee. We need at least a day to produce a printed departure schedule for race day. Entry forms are available at Compeau’s on Boat Street (479-2271) and online at www.compeaus.com.

2008 Entry Fees:

IMPORTANT: There is a mandatory drivers' meeting and insurance waiver sign up at Compeau’s on Friday night, March 7, at 7:30 p.m.

Race Start: To signify the start of the race, a shotgun blast will be fired from the north side of the Chena River over Senator Ralph Seekins' house (to avoid potential crowd injuries at Pike's Landing).

If a driver is unable to start the sled due to conditions like decreased lung capacity, arthritis, etc., he/she may have assistance starting the sled, but may possibly made fun of after the race.

Racers will draw their first poker chip at the drivers' meeting after paying the entry fee of $100, (or $200 worth of Spam - driver's choice). Additional volunteers wishing to assist will be greatly appreciated, acknowledged, and paid compliments in lieu of cash.

Race Course and Poker Run Chips: The race course departs Pike's Landing heading downriver, on the right side of the centerline of the river, between the downriver markers (approximately 30’ wide) along a nicely groomed trail (thank you Kenny broker and crew), to the mouth of the Chena River and around (Checkpoint A), then returning upriver on the right side of the centerline of the river, between race markers, back to Pike's landing. Slower machines are asked to stay to the right side of the lane so that faster sleds can safely pass by with plenty of room. The race is four laps, approximately 8 miles per lap, for a total of 32 miles. Drivers that complete the race will be given four additional numbered chips. Drivers that fail to complete the race will still have the opportunity to win the grand prize, but will only receive a numbered chip for each lap completed.

The highest number chip totals (verified by the race committee), will win the grand prize. In case of a numerical tie, the older driver will be the winner. If both drivers are the same age, the winner will be determined by driver with the higher blood pressure.

Departure Times: (Exact formula to be determined by race committee.)

The older the driver, and the older the sled, the earlier their specific departure time. Seems only fair. The Entry Form requires the entrant to estimate his sled's maximum speed. This information is based on the honor system to help determine a close finish for all participants. The race committee will review the entry form, which contains the estimated top speed of the sled, and adjust it accordingly if a “typo” appears. If the estimated top speed listed seems unusually low, the driver may be given a new departure slot... much closer to the end of the starting line. The Race Marshall will have the final say on all adjustments. There is no room for negotiating, so give 'er your best guess, and be honest. The information is used as a guide to establish the baseline departure time. Times are adjusted from there based on the other info above.

Prior to the race, the committee will also determine if the figure is likely accurate or intentionally low. If it appears the number is intentionally low, a penalty in that driver's departure time may be enforced.

For every year over 40 years old that the driver is on race day, a 15-second head start will be granted. For every year prior to 1975 that the driver's sled was produced, a 15-second head start will also be granted. The race committee may adjust departure times or the formula used to calculate departure times to facilitate a smoother start and depending on issues like safety, number of racers, or which way the wind is blowing.

We are holding all three events on the same day this year, and so, depending on the number of participants, we may adjust the departure times closer together to shorten the gap between takeoffs to facilitate fitting all events into a single day. We will attempt to record the elapsed times of all drivers so that you can compare your total time with those of your buddies that you wagered a case of beer on.

Remember, the most important thing is to complete all four laps, and collect a numbered poker chip for each lap completed to increase your odds of winning the grand prizes. In other words, if you are 10 years older than your buddy, and your sled is five years older, don’t be surprised if he passes you by the time you get to the Pump House! Just drive smart, finish the race, and think of them chips!

See example of formula below to determine departure:

Important Reminder to Participants of the Jurassic Classic:
There will be no Porta-Potties stationed between Pike's and the Pump House!

Other side notes:
We would like to encourage participants to sign up and pay as early as possible to facilitate us getting all the departure times dialed in. This is a fundraiser, and a fun event more than anything, so we are happy to announce that we will refund any entry fee 100% if the machine has a last minute mechanical problem and cannot make it to the starting line. Once your sled is in line… all bets are off (and thank you in advance for your non-refundable donation to a very worthy cause).

One of the reasons we are holding the race on a single day is in the event that Saturday is forecasted to be brutal cold, and it is suppose to be much warmer on Sunday, we may likely hold the race on Sunday. If we know by the Wednesday before the race that the weekend forecast is going to be too cold to have the race (approx -15 to -20F as a high) then we will bump the race to the following weekend. We apologize in advance to those coming up from out of state, but if you can do something about the weather, go for it.

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