Bare highway surface
slows race times

Craig Hill of Fairbanks claimed his third consecutive Alcan 200 title Saturday, but he had to sprint for it – literally.

Hill, who led the race at the halfway point, sped past a mandatory fuel stop near Million Dollar Falls on the return trip from Dezadeash, as a cone to mark the checkpoint was missing.

Under race rules, he was required to leave his machine, run back to the stop, lug a jerry can to his sled and return it to the checkpoint before continuing, more than 100 yards of sprinting.

For Hill, who is 5’9" and weighs 300 pounds, the fuel stop was the hardest part of his race. "You can see that I’m not a jogger. I thought I was going to have a heart attack."

Fortunately for Hill, the other leaders in the race – including second-place finisher George Juhlin of Fairbanks – made the same mistake. "Six of us were there, all at one time, sprinting back and forth."

Hill’s time of 1:19:31, an average 117 mph along the 155-mile highway course, was the slowest of his three victories and far off his record time last year of 1:17:27, an average of more than 120 mph.

A bare road surface with just a dusting of snow on it made for a slick racing surface and slower finish times overall, he said. An inch of ice is best for traction and speed, he said. "It was hard to get going. I spun a lot and was fishtailing a little the whole time."

A 37-year-old snowmachine dealer, Hill rode in the race’s large sled division aboard a souped-up 2001Yamaha SRX 700 with custom features for road racing. "It’s never done anything but run on this road. I think it has 611 miles on it."

Second-place finisher Juhlin, who finished third last year, almost paid for trying to beat the slick conditions. Trying to make up time after missing the fuel stop, he went too fast around a corner and off the road. "I stayed in it and put it back on the road," said Juhlin, a heavy-equipment mechanic from Fairbanks.

Winner Hill netted about $4,000 he said his family could use, as his wife – in the hospital at race time – had just given birth to twins. Craig Hill and brother Colby Hill have each won the Alcan 200 three times since 1997.

The number of race entrants climbed to 41 from 38 last year, and 23 machines finished the race. Tougher conditions may have contributed to a higher number of scratches. Eighteen failed to finish the race this year, compared to 13 last year.

The Calcutta Auction raised a total purse of about $29,000, compared to $17,500 last year. Organizer Karen Hess said the equal exchange rate this year meant higher Canadian bids. "The Canadian exchange rate makes a huge difference," she said.

Three couples – Jillian and Al Van Patten from North Pole, Lila and Ron Young from Fairbanks, and Louise and Dev Hurlburt from Whitehorse – finished the race, a first, according to Hess.

Prize money, in amounts that will determined after fundraising totals and expenses are calculated, will be awarded to the top three racers overall, as well as the top three in each machine class.

Lila Young of Fairbanks won a $700 prize for fastest woman competitor. She averaged 84.7 mph, beating Jillian Van Patten’s average 69.9 mph.

The only racer in the 441-550 class, Young won all of the prize money set aside for that class, as well as $287 in Calcutta money.

Louise Hurlburt was awarded the red lantern award and a gift basket for being the last racer across the finish line. When her machine blew a belt, a racer riding in the bus after his own machine broke down offered to change it for her, allowing Hurlburt to finish.

Jeff Peede’s 1974 Polaris was the oldest machine to finish, earning him a $500 prize; his second-pace finish in the 441 open class and average speed of 94.2 mph proved oldest isn’t necessarily slowest.

Jon Stenvik won the dubious "Poor Broke Down Dumb Bastard" trophy and a gift basket when his machine was "the first to become physically challenged," Hess said.

Eighteen other riders scratched, including Craig Hill’s brother Colby, who was racing a borrowed machine after his own developed major mechanical problems the previous day. Colby still took home $125 for the "First on the Bus" award, half a $250 prize he split with Randy Wood.

Lane Martin, one of two Haines competitors, also scratched. Chris Brooks of Haines finished 8th in the largest machine class with an average speed of 79.2 mph.

Gary Carr, a racer also signed up as a mechanic, had the race’s only wreck. Carr’s machine flipped several times when one of the skis caught a berm; he escaped with bruises. Carr won a mechanic’s trophy and a gift basket.

Top finishes: 0-440 Fan 1. Charlie Dawson, 2. Robert Workman, 3. Jillian Van Patten; 441 Open Fan 1. Greg Peede, 2. Jeff Peede, 3. Danny Stenvik; 0-440 Liquid 1. Randy Sandstrom; 441-550 Liquid 1. Lila Young; 551-650 Liquid 1. George Juhlin, 2. Mike Langer, 3. Ron Young; 651 Open Liquid 1. Craig Hill, 2. Peter Jacobs, 3. Richard Law.

 

 

 

Craig Hill of Fairbanks claimed his third consecutive Alcan 200 title Saturday, but he had to sprint for it – literally.

Hill, who led the race at the halfway point, sped past a mandatory fuel stop near Million Dollar Falls on the return trip from Dezadeash, as a cone to mark the checkpoint was missing.

Under race rules, he was required to leave his machine, run back to the stop, lug a jerry can to his sled and return it to the checkpoint before continuing, more than 100 yards of sprinting.

For Hill, who is 5’9" and weighs 300 pounds, the fuel stop was the hardest part of his race. "You can see that I’m not a jogger. I thought I was going to have a heart attack."

Fortunately for Hill, the other leaders in the race – including second-place finisher George Juhlin of Fairbanks – made the same mistake. "Six of us were there, all at one time, sprinting back and forth."

Hill’s time of 1:19:31, an average 117 mph along the 155-mile highway course, was the slowest of his three victories and far off his record time last year of 1:17:27, an average of more than 120 mph.

A bare road surface with just a dusting of snow on it made for a slick racing surface and slower finish times overall, he said. An inch of ice is best for traction and speed, he said. "It was hard to get going. I spun a lot and was fishtailing a little the whole time."

A 37-year-old snowmachine dealer, Hill rode in the race’s large sled division aboard a souped-up 2001Yamaha SRX 700 with custom features for road racing. "It’s never done anything but run on this road. I think it has 611 miles on it."

Second-place finisher Juhlin, who finished third last year, almost paid for trying to beat the slick conditions. Trying to make up time after missing the fuel stop, he went too fast around a corner and off the road. "I stayed in it and put it back on the road," said Juhlin, a heavy-equipment mechanic from Fairbanks.

Winner Hill netted about $4,000 he said his family could use, as his wife – in the hospital at race time – had just given birth to twins. Craig Hill and brother Colby Hill have each won the Alcan 200 three times since 1997.

The number of race entrants climbed to 41 from 38 last year, and 23 machines finished the race. Tougher conditions may have contributed to a higher number of scratches. Eighteen failed to finish the race this year, compared to 13 last year.

The Calcutta Auction raised a total purse of about $29,000, compared to $17,500 last year. Organizer Karen Hess said the equal exchange rate this year meant higher Canadian bids. "The Canadian exchange rate makes a huge difference," she said.

Three couples – Jillian and Al Van Patten from North Pole, Lila and Ron Young from Fairbanks, and Louise and Dev Hurlburt from Whitehorse – finished the race, a first, according to Hess.

Prize money, in amounts that will determined after fundraising totals and expenses are calculated, will be awarded to the top three racers overall, as well as the top three in each machine class.

Lila Young of Fairbanks won a $700 prize for fastest woman competitor. She averaged 84.7 mph, beating Jillian Van Patten’s average 69.9 mph.

The only racer in the 441-550 class, Young won all of the prize money set aside for that class, as well as $287 in Calcutta money.

Louise Hurlburt was awarded the red lantern award and a gift basket for being the last racer across the finish line. When her machine blew a belt, a racer riding in the bus after his own machine broke down offered to change it for her, allowing Hurlburt to finish.

Jeff Peede’s 1974 Polaris was the oldest machine to finish, earning him a $500 prize; his second-pace finish in the 441 open class and average speed of 94.2 mph proved oldest isn’t necessarily slowest.

Jon Stenvik won the dubious "Poor Broke Down Dumb Bastard" trophy and a gift basket when his machine was "the first to become physically challenged," Hess said.

Eighteen other riders scratched, including Craig Hill’s brother Colby, who was racing a borrowed machine after his own developed major mechanical problems the previous day. Colby still took home $125 for the "First on the Bus" award, half a $250 prize he split with Randy Wood.

Lane Martin, one of two Haines competitors, also scratched. Chris Brooks of Haines finished 8th in the largest machine class with an average speed of 79.2 mph.

Gary Carr, a racer also signed up as a mechanic, had the race’s only wreck. Carr’s machine flipped several times when one of the skis caught a berm; he escaped with bruises. Carr won a mechanic’s trophy and a gift basket.

Top finishes: 0-440 Fan 1. Charlie Dawson, 2. Robert Workman, 3. Jillian Van Patten; 441 Open Fan 1. Greg Peede, 2. Jeff Peede, 3. Danny Stenvik; 0-440 Liquid 1. Randy Sandstrom; 441-550 Liquid 1. Lila Young; 551-650 Liquid 1. George Juhlin, 2. Mike Langer, 3. Ron Young; 651 Open Liquid 1. Craig Hill, 2. Peter Jacobs, 3. Richard Law.

 

 

Hill, who led the race at the halfway point, sped past a mandatory fuel stop near Million Dollar Falls on the return trip from Dezadeash, as a cone to mark the checkpoint was missing.

Under race rules, he was required to leave his machine, run back to the stop, lug a jerry can to his sled and return it to the checkpoint before continuing, more than 100 yards of sprinting.

For Hill, who is 5’9" and weighs 300 pounds, the fuel stop was the hardest part of his race. "You can see that I’m not a jogger. I thought I was going to have a heart attack."

Fortunately for Hill, the other leaders in the race – including second-place finisher George Juhlin of Fairbanks – made the same mistake. "Six of us were there, all at one time, sprinting back and forth."

Hill’s time of 1:19:31, an average 117 mph along the 155-mile highway course, was the slowest of his three victories and far off his record time last year of 1:17:27, an average of more than 120 mph.

A bare road surface with just a dusting of snow on it made for a slick racing surface and slower finish times overall, he said. An inch of ice is best for traction and speed, he said. "It was hard to get going. I spun a lot and was fishtailing a little the whole time."

A 37-year-old snowmachine dealer, Hill rode in the race’s large sled division aboard a souped-up 2001Yamaha SRX 700 with custom features for road racing. "It’s never done anything but run on this road. I think it has 611 miles on it."

Second-place finisher Juhlin, who finished third last year, almost paid for trying to beat the slick conditions. Trying to make up time after missing the fuel stop, he went too fast around a corner and off the road. "I stayed in it and put it back on the road," said Juhlin, a heavy-equipment mechanic from Fairbanks.

Winner Hill netted about $4,000 he said his family could use, as his wife – in the hospital at race time – had just given birth to twins. Craig Hill and brother Colby Hill have each won the Alcan 200 three times since 1997.

The number of race entrants climbed to 41 from 38 last year, and 23 machines finished the race. Tougher conditions may have contributed to a higher number of scratches. Eighteen failed to finish the race this year, compared to 13 last year.

The Calcutta Auction raised a total purse of about $29,000, compared to $17,500 last year. Organizer Karen Hess said the equal exchange rate this year meant higher Canadian bids. "The Canadian exchange rate makes a huge difference," she said.

Three couples – Jillian and Al Van Patten from North Pole, Lila and Ron Young from Fairbanks, and Louise and Dev Hurlburt from Whitehorse – finished the race, a first, according to Hess.

Prize money, in amounts that will determined after fundraising totals and expenses are calculated, will be awarded to the top three racers overall, as well as the top three in each machine class.

Lila Young of Fairbanks won a $700 prize for fastest woman competitor. She averaged 84.7 mph, beating Jillian Van Patten’s average 69.9 mph.

The only racer in the 441-550 class, Young won all of the prize money set aside for that class, as well as $287 in Calcutta money.

Louise Hurlburt was awarded the red lantern award and a gift basket for being the last racer across the finish line. When her machine blew a belt, a racer riding in the bus after his own machine broke down offered to change it for her, allowing Hurlburt to finish.

Jeff Peede’s 1974 Polaris was the oldest machine to finish, earning him a $500 prize; his second-pace finish in the 441 open class and average speed of 94.2 mph proved oldest isn’t necessarily slowest.

Jon Stenvik won the dubious "Poor Broke Down Dumb Bastard" trophy and a gift basket when his machine was "the first to become physically challenged," Hess said.

Eighteen other riders scratched, including Craig Hill’s brother Colby, who was racing a borrowed machine after his own developed major mechanical problems the previous day. Colby still took home $125 for the "First on the Bus" award, half a $250 prize he split with Randy Wood.

Lane Martin, one of two Haines competitors, also scratched. Chris Brooks of Haines finished 8th in the largest machine class with an average speed of 79.2 mph.

Gary Carr, a racer also signed up as a mechanic, had the race’s only wreck. Carr’s machine flipped several times when one of the skis caught a berm; he escaped with bruises. Carr won a mechanic’s trophy and a gift basket.

Top finishes: 0-440 Fan 1. Charlie Dawson, 2. Robert Workman, 3. Jillian Van Patten; 441 Open Fan 1. Greg Peede, 2. Jeff Peede, 3. Danny Stenvik; 0-440 Liquid 1. Randy Sandstrom; 441-550 Liquid 1. Lila Young; 551-650 Liquid 1. George Juhlin, 2. Mike Langer, 3. Ron Young; 651 Open Liquid 1. Craig Hill, 2. Peter Jacobs, 3. Richard Law.

 

 

 

 

 

	Serving Haines and Klukwan since 1966
	Volume XXXVIII    Number 18,   May 8, 2008

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New generation learns art of guitar building By Niki Ritzinger Local artist Rob Goldberg has been strumming a different tune of late. The professional painter and serigrapher rekindled his passion for building custom guitars. Goldberg began building guitars when he was 17. A player in need of a new instrument, and not having a lot of cash, he chose to build one instead of buying. He bought the guitar neck and electronic components from legendary jazz guitar builder Sam Koontz. Using the few tools he had at home in his parents’ basement and his high school woodshop, Goldberg completed his first guitar. "I had a feeling of amazement that I made something that I could play and it actually worked. It’s a magical moment when you put on the strings and play," said Goldberg. Goldberg’s interest in guitar building carried over into college. During his first year of school at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., he met Bill Cumpiano – a well-known guitar maker who had just opened up shop. Goldberg asked to work for him after showing off the guitar he had finished in high school. Cumpiano granted Goldberg an apprenticeship. After two years of learning from Cumpiano, Goldberg stretched out and opened his own business. Between 1974 and 1980, he completed about 35 guitars. He sold most of them to professional and semi-professional musicians. Just recently a studio musician in Nashville contacted Goldberg via email to express his satisfaction with the instrument. "A professional musician Googled ‘Rob Goldberg’ and emailed me that he had bought one of my guitars at a pawn shop. My name was on the label inside. I made that guitar in 1976," said Goldberg. But, in 1978 the lure of Alaska was strong and he began coming for the summers. He postponed making guitars in favor of a more financially viable career as an artist. "Guitar making is a very difficult way to make a living," said Goldberg. "It’s great to start getting back into it." The stacks of ebony, mahogany and East-Indian rosewood, enough to make about 60 guitars, had been sitting for 30 years and Goldberg knew it was time to put them to use. The renaissance came when Goldberg’s 15-year-old son, Aihan, wanted a new guitar. After taking lessons the younger Goldberg decided to upgrade from the instrument he was playing – one his dad made in 1978. "I thought that since my dad makes them that maybe I could make my own too," said Aihan. "I’m interested in teaching my kids skills that they can use for the rest of their life. If they can build a guitar, they can build a house or furniture," said Goldberg. The project began in the fall of 2006. The technical process takes about 120 hours to complete, depending on the complexity of the design and artistry of the inlays. Aihan’s mahogany and walnut electric guitar is in the finishing stages, with sanding and inserting the electronic components to be completed in the next couple of weeks. Father and son have put in about 80 hours of work thus far. "It’s fun working with the shop tools. I like it. I think this will make me a better player," said Aihan. In addition to helping his son build a guitar, Goldberg took on family friend Ben Feldman as apprentice. "I was going to build a guitar from a kit in woodshop class to increase my understanding of the instrument. When Rob said he’d teach me I didn’t want to turn down his offer," said Feldman. Feldman worked on his guitar during his last semester at Haines High School. Taking features from different types of guitars, he came up with his own design. The neck of the instrument is made from laminated curly maple and koa wood. The back was constructed using local birch. He also designed the diamond-shaped inlays, which are made of abalone. Working three to four days a week in class and up to six hours a day for the past several weeks, Feldman and Goldberg completed the guitar. "We finished it at two in the morning the night before I left town," said Feldman from Juneau. The experience has been a catalyst for shaping Feldman’s future. While currently on a road trip of the West Coast, Feldman plans to visit the Roberto Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix. He would like to attend the school and take another apprenticeship under a master lutherie. Enrolled in the program Feldman would build two more guitars and also learn about repair. "If it hadn’t been for this guitar project, I probably wouldn’t be going in the direction I am," said Feldman. Goldberg currently has two acoustic guitars commissioned. They range in price from $3,000 to $5,000. He would like to continue teaching the process and would take on other apprentices under the right circumstances. "It’s really important to me to pass the craft on," Goldberg said.

Chilkat Valley News       Main Street/ PO Box 630       Haines AK 99827         (907) 766-2688        cvn@chilkatvalleynews.com This site copyright (c) 2007    Chilkat Valley News Last modified: Thursday, 24-Jan-2008 11:20:10 PST