As many as seven Haines racers are expected in Saturday’s 46th Alcan 200 road race, a 155-mile snowmachine race from the Canada border to Dezadeash, Y.T., and back.
“I think there’s going to be a few more locals this year, which would be nice,” defending race champion Chris Brooks of Haines said Wednesday. Brooks said he hasn’t had time or money to invest in preparing for this year’s Alcan. He’ll be on the Yamaha 700 SX that won last year’s race.
“(Winning) would be pretty optimistic for where I’m at right now, but you always push a little harder come race day,” he said.
Chilkat Snowburners President Kathi Lapp said this year’s race features six classes of competition, including new ones aimed at attracting larger, four-stroke machines. Big machines have pushed the event to speeds averaging 120 mph.
Lapp said she expects racers from Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Y.T., but the number of entrants won’t be known until Friday’s Calcutta auction of racers.
Highly variable weather conditions in Chilkat Pass are the race’s perennial wild card, triggering last-minute modifications to sleds and tracks. Lapp said six inches of new snow fell at Blanchard station Tuesday, which should help conditions.
Ideal conditions include clear skies and a light snowpack that cools machines’ tracks, but the race has been held in rain and whiteouts. “It can be all different conditions (along the course). That’s part of the race,” Lapp said. Due partly to low snow on the U.S. side of the border, Sunday drag races have been scratched.
The Haines Highway north of Canada Customs will be closed to auto traffic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Alaska time, Lapp said.