Competitors in the grueling Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race will not be out of sight at any time during their nearly 2,000-mile competition across the Alaskan wilderness, thanks to an Iridium-enabled tracking system developed by World Communication Center (WCC).
Billed as the “World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race,” the Tesoro Iron Dog competition covers 1,971 miles from Wasilla to Nome to Fairbanks over six days (map). Each of the 42 two-member teams will defy sub-zero cold, poor visibility and deep snow to push their snowmobiles and bodies to the limits to reach the finish line. This year’s annual event begins on February 10, 2008.
Through a partnership with Applied Satellite Engineering (ASE) and Ontec Technologies, WCC is outfitting each snowmobile team with Iridium short-burst data devices, which will permit officials and spectators to track the position of each racer throughout the competition.
WCC’s position reports via Google Earth will be viewable via the Tesoro Iron Dog Website showing the latest location of each team.
“Being in Alaska and sponsoring the Tesoro Iron Dog allows us to showcase our specialty products in action under the most extreme environmental conditions in the world,” said Sam Romey, WCC president and long-time Alaskan resident. “We’ve had a lot of success with the organization since 2006 and look forward to another sensational year.”
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