Jarrid Davy wins Alcan 200 Road Rally

For the second year in a row, Jarrid Davy of Whitehorse placed first overall at the Alcan 200 Road Rally, the longest snowmobile race in North America.

For the second year in a row, Jarrid Davy of Whitehorse placed first overall at the Alcan 200 Road Rally, the longest snowmobile race in North America.

The race stretches from the Alaskan border to Dezadeash point and back again.

Davy completed the distance in one hour and 18 minutes, traveling an average speed of 191 kilometres per hour, 30 km/h faster than last year’s winning time.

Improved road conditions made the race substantially faster then last year’s event.

“Last year it was bare asphalt and really strong winds, it made it a very touch race, this year we had a lot more snowpack,” said Davy, who was sponsored by Yukon Yamaha.

Davy competed in the Open Class, racing a 250-horsepower machine with several modifications.

One of which almost caused him some trouble.

Changes to the fuel tanks shrunk the capacity by three litres and Davy coasted across the finish line on an empty tank.

The second place finisher, Craig Hill of Fairbanks, was nearly three minutes behind Davy.

“I was able to get across but it died as we loaded it into the back of the truck,” he said.

Davy first became involved in the race in 1995 and said he has participated at least 10 times since.

“The first time it was just for experience and on a shoe-string budget,” he said.

Over the years Davy experimented with different machines and different classes and found his niche in the Open Class.

“Once we got into that class, we had a couple second and third place finishes,” he said.

“But we never won until last year on the Yamaha.”

Davy is hopeful that he will be able to continue his winning-ways next year.

“If Yukon Yahama will let me run their hot-rod again, I’ll definitely take a crack at it,” he said.

Whitehorse brothers, Justin and Nathan Peterson rode to second and third place finishes in their respective classes.

Justin competed in the 0-440 Liquid Class, finishing the race in one hour and 43 minutes on a 2003 440 Sno Pro Arctic Cat.

It was his second year competing in the event.

“It went pretty good this year,” he said.

“The weather was much better, it was about 35 below at the start line last year and the conditions were absolutely miserable.”

Justin said it was 15 below at the start line this year and 25 below at the turn-around point.

He also credited his improved performance in this year’s event to the lessons he learned on the trail last year.

“I ended up missing a fuel stop last year and this year went quite a bit better,” he said. “I learned lots last year and improved on those things this year.”

He became hooked on the sport after watching the event from the Dezadeash point two years ago.

“It’s very competitive, there’s lots to it,” he said.

“You don’t just get on and ride, there’s lots of tuning and adjusting, there’s a lot of planning.

“It s a lot of things rolled into one, it’s not something you can just get on and hold the throttle and away you go.”

Justin was hoping for a first-place finish but said he learned some valuable lessons in the race.

He said he wants to lower his machine and get more testing done on the clutch.

“I’ve got some practice and some tuning to do but going forward I should be able to make big improvements,” he said.

Justin said that being able to modify your machine was one of the elements that keep the race interesting.

“Engine size is all that matters in the classes,” he said.

“You can have unlimited modifications as long as you have two ski’s and a windshield.”

He said the modifications allow for variety in the field.

“You’ve got guys on brand new machines with $20,000 invested and you’ve got a guy beside you on a $500 dollar sled with a new motor.”

Justin was one of the few racers in his class that avoided winding up in the ditch at one point or another.

“That’s one of the tricks,” he said. “You can’t win if you don’t finish.”

His brother, Nathan, was competing in the race for his first time. He placed third overall in the 441-550 Liquid Class, finishing the race in one hour and 42 minutes.

Nathan said dealing with the wind was the hardest part of the race and he also experienced some mechanical troubles.

“The wind will blow you off the road if you’re not cautious,” he said.

“Hopefully I’ll get everything sorted for next year and run a better time.”

Other Whitehorse participants in the race included Mario Poulin, who placed first in the 0-440 Fan Class, and Trent Derkatch and Dale Panchyshyn, who finished first and third in the 0-440 Liquid Class.

Poulin was also recognized with the Oldest Sled award, competing on a 1980 Polaris TX 440 Fan.

Both Nathan and Justin plan on competing in the race again next year.

“There’s no thrill like it,” said Justin.