Thank You Sponsors!

 

Thank You Donlin Gold!

Thank You Donlin Gold!

The Ceremonial Start of the Iditarod is designed to give fans and sponsors a chance to see the Teams in a relaxing atmosphere. The Mardi-Gras atmosphere of the event gives everyone a chance to get to know each other.

Kaiser Racing is so thankful to have a stable of sponsors that truly support Pete’s racing spirit. Many stopped this morning to wish Pete and the Team well on the trip to Nome. Thanks for stopping everyone!

Share

Meet Allen Dobson – 2015 Iditarider

IMG_0595

This year we were pleased to have with us as our Iditarider, Allen Dobson, a Doctor from North Carolina. He had a great time and was pretty jazzed to get going. Poor fella got a bit wet, but his spirits were high. Thanks for coming along for the ride, Allen!

Here’s Allen’s Iditarider Bio:

Allen Dobson is from Mt. Pleasant, NC and his connection to the Iditarod and his IditaRider experience is through his wife, Martha, the 2011 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™. Having ridden twice as an IditaRider, Martha wanted him to have this experience as a thank you for his support for her Iditarod race involvement over the years. A lifelong North Carolinian, Allen is a family physician, graduating from North Carolina State University and Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. After completing a family medicine residency at East Carolina University, Allen and Martha moved to Mt. Pleasant where he assumed the small town practice of a retiring doctor. Because of his commitment to family medicine and the importance of serving patients, he founded Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency, served as the Medicaid Director for North Carolina, and currently is the President and CEO of Community Care of North Carolina, Inc. He was selected in 1992 as the North Carolina Family Physician of the Year. A trombonist, Allen earned spending money in college playing in his big band, The Ambassadors, and marched with NCSU’s band. Flying is another interest of his. This year, two of his three children and his granddaughter will witness his ride in the Ceremonial Start. While Allen prefers summer Alaska trips, and Martha enjoys her Iditarod experiences, Allen says, ” The race is all about the dedication of the mushers and their dogs, and I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to see it firsthand.”

We’ve always maintained a pretty strong relationship with our Iditariders and this year was no exception! Who did we find cheering on Team Kaiser at the Campbell Creek Airstrip?? Well Connor, last year’s Make-A-Wish rider! The whole family made a Go Team Kaiser sign and gave it to Pete after he got the Team tied up. Thanks Guys!

Share

The Clouds Cleared and We had a Start! And then they came back!

IMG_0650

I’ll have to tell you that when we awoke this morning to a literal deluge of rain, I wasn’t so motivated to put on the ‘ol Bunny Boots and head out to the Start Line! But after a bit, a bit of blue sky was to be had, and by 11:48am, when Team Kaiser left the 2015 Iditarod Ceremonial Start Line, it was a beautiful day!

This is Pete’s 6th Iditarod and the mood this morning was markedly more relaxed than previous Starts. We had coffee and Pete spent time chatting with fans and sponsors as they came by to offer support. It was just a real relaxing morning and I think everyone had a pretty good time!

There is no snow in Anchorage and trucks worked through the night to put down a layer of snow that turned into an icy soggy topping to the asphalt below 4th avenue. The surface wreaked havoc on the dog booties and most were shredded by the time Team Kaiser reached the line. It was all smiles as they left the chute with bib number 54 and those smiles were tempered a bit as they headed through Anchorage on the trip to Campbell Creek Airstrip.

As Team Kaiser and their Iditarider, Allen Dobson, traveled through town, the weather took a turn for the worse and it was a driving rain storm as they reached the Campbell Creek finish to the Ceremonial Start. Our poor Iditarider didn’t stay around long, but had a good time. I’m sure he wasn’t sure what to expect, but rain probably wasn’t what he was planning for! Thanks for riding Allen!

Here are the photos from today:

Share

Start Line Meet Up!

Calling all Team Kaiser Fans! Come on down and cheer Pete and the Team as they head out this morning from the 2015 Ceremonial Start! Pete and the Team would love to see you! Bring your Go Team Kaiser signs and I’ll get your photo as well! It’s going to be a grand time to send Team Kaiser off into the Wilds of Anchorage! Join Us!

Location- 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK
Time- First Team leaves at 10:00am.

Team Kaiser will be the 54th Musher to leave the chute. At 2 Minute Intervals, that is 11:48am. Join Us and We can ALL Cheer- Go Team Kaiser!

Screen Shot 2015-03-06 at 6.45.24 PM

 

Share

Paws, Paws, Paws! Starting 54th!

choose-2

What does it feel like to take the trail behind almost 3400 paws? Well Pete and the Team are going to find out!

Mushers, Fans, Supporters, and Sponsors of the 2015 Iditarod Trail Race to Nome met in Anchorage tonight to draw starting positions and have a meal together. The festivities began as Dee Dee Jonrowe led us all in a prayer and an U.S. Air Force Airman sang the National Anthem. As food was served, Hobo Jim gave a rendition of the Alaska Flag song and it was off to the Sponsors and finally the drawing.

This reporter almost ended up with a $9000 trip to Katmai after listening to Kaiser Racing Sponsor Lee Ryan talk about his wedding plans. I raised my hands in excitement about his plans as the auctioneer sang out, “$9000 to the gentlemen at that table,” pointing to me. I said “NO NO NO” and luckily was outbid! Whew- That would have taken some explaining to my wife!

Finally it was time for the drawing. Pete signed up on the first day, as many do, to increase his chances of a good starting position. He was the eighth musher to draw a position, but lady luck had other plans and  Team Kaiser will be leaving the Ceremonial Chute and the Restart in Fairbanks in 54th position.

Once a musher has drawn a starting position, it is off to the signing line, where mushers sign autographs for the fans and get their musher packet with ID Tags, Handler Armbands, and other goodies.

Here are tonight’s photos- Thanks to Donlin Gold for sponsoring the table and Ryan Air for joing us for dinner!

Share

Audio – What Happens During Race Week?

Eureka, Alaska Trails and Mountains have SNOW!!

Eureka, Alaska Trails and Mountains have SNOW!!

Pete and the Team have been getting a few miles in on trails in Eureka, about an hour and 4o minutes from his Host, Doug Dorland’s ranch in Palmer. I got in a quick call about what happens during race week from him before he set out for Eureka for some last training miles on Tuesday.

Listen in:

Share

Iditarod Week Begins

bloodwork

Just off the phone with Pete in Anchorage. With some help from his cousin Matthew, they are headed to town for the first event of the 2015 Iditarod– Blood Work and Vet Checks. We will get an interview with Pete tonight to tell us all about it.

Dog care and safety is the prime concern for any race, but the Iditarod goes above and beyond by having blood work and veterinary checks at the beginning of the race. Each of the more than 1000 dogs competing will also have a microchip check or implant as part of the check. Making sure that all of the Teams get back to their proper owners and that the health history is accurate is made far easier with the microchips.

Welcome to 2015 Iditarod! Go Team Kaiser!

Share