Grand Prix racing, Alaska style

March 9, 11:47 AMAlaska Transportation ExaminerGeorge Angus

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When most car racing enthusiasts think of "drift", they imagine low slung Japanese cars, sideways slipping through turns.  When it comes to racing in Alaska, better think SNOW drift.  There was some drifting and a bit of snow at the annual Fur Rondy Grand Prix in Anchorage this weekend.

Sunday's Rondy Grand Prix races marked the end of this year's annual winter festival in Anchorage.  In an amazing feat of adventure, cooperation and enthusiasm, a 0.7 mile stretch of downtown Anchorage streets were transformed into a hilly, slick and wild rectangular race track for the Grand Prix racers.

The Rondy Grand Prix had been a staple of the Fur Rondy celebration for years.  Several years of financial troubles for the festival put a halt to the race but thanks to some great sponsors the wild racing event has roared back to town, much to the delight of racers and fans alike. 

The thirty racers in the event drive in four different classes including the Legend cars, GT-O (Over 2.0 Liter,) GT-U (Under  2.0 Liters), and IT, which are essentially street legals cars with mods.

This Sunday morning, a light, high overcast turns the track into a gray monotone, the only color to brighten the setting coming from the neon spray paint that adorns the snow walls that line the track.  It's about 18F but the slight breeze makes it feel like it's only 10.  Some of  the cars are already in the pit area and others are arriving on open trailers.

I headed over to Corner 4 which is where the racers enter the track.  During the race, drivers will squirrel their way up a hill where Corner 4 sits as a pinnacle.  As the racers round the corner, they immediately head down the straight stretch towards corner 1, hitting speeds close to 100mph.

This early in the morning, drivers are walking the track, and corner crews are doing a bit of track maintenance.  I head back towards the pit area and meet up with Faith Palmer, the driver of GTU car #32.  Faith has been racing for some 12 years and won both of her heats on Friday's race.

I asked Faith about some of the challenges to competing in these races.

"Well, there are a lot of factors to consider, not the least of which is the cost.  Tire prices have gone up a lot and the gas we use is running about $9.00 a gallon".

When asked if this race tended to be friendly, her response was a little surprising:

"It's a clean race.  We're all friends here.  In fact, my competitors built my car for me.  My previous car just fell apart under me.  I've had other racers spend countless hours installing a roll cage, running electrical - you name it."

Weather and road conditions cooperated to allow four heats for each class of racers on Sunday.  Faith did well, but broke a motor mount in the second heat.  On-site resources in the pit area helped to weld the mount in place to get Faith back in the running, exemplifying the "All for one" attitude of the racers and race organizers.

Track conditions necessitated plenty of maintenance as plenty of slick spots developed.  Corner crews worked tirelessly and the racers did what they do best.

The race was deemed a success by all, including the fans who stood for hours on snow berms, cheering on their favorites.

As the race drew to a close, you could sense the excitement and pride for a job well done.  The racers and organizers, the volunteers and sponsors all have this in their blood.  There was already talk about how great the race will be in 2010.