UPDATED: Iron Dog, Duct Tape, and Commemorative Knives

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Betcha some of you folks didn't know that the Iron Dog starts this weekend.

It's no secret that we at C4P are pulling for the First Dude to win. It's also no secret that many of us had never heard of this race prior to August 29, 2008. But, hey, we get to experience it for the first time together.

And, dudes, this sounds like a killer race. These guys put duct tape on their faces to ward off the frost:

Many drivers ripped off strips of duct tape and stuck them to their faces, forming metallic-grey Zorro masks.

Richard Frerichs of Fairbanks, a rookie riding a Ski-Doo with partner Albert Vernon of Ruby, said the mask is like a protective layer of skin, covering any sliver of skin that might get exposed between goggles and facemask.

I wonder if that's why the Wasilla Wal-Mart is the "duct tape capital of the world". They sell more duct tape there than any other Wal-Mart in the country.

Gov. Palin waxed poetic on this distinction:

The (Mat-Su) Valley is a unique place, and not just because we are the duct tape capitol of the world, which we are proud of being in Wasilla. But we are hard working, very unpretentious, just good, salt of the earth people that live here and are working in this store.

People who put duct tape on their faces are what I call badass salt of the earth. These are my kind of ordinary barbarians.

And I bet Roger Comar of Marion, NC, thinks so too. Comar is a master craftsman who fashions custom hunting knives.

His hometown newspaper reports:

Now, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, will soon be the owners of Comar's creations. Scott Davis, Todd Palin's snowmobile racing teammate, will get one too. Comar will present three custommade knives to the Palins and Davis in Alaska this weekend, just in time for the start of the famous Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race.

One Sunday morning, Comar was thinking about Palin and her possible run for the White House while drinking his coffee. He got the idea of making some special knives for the Palins as a way of showing his support.

"To me, they are the perfect American family," he said.

The next morning, he started making some phone calls to find suitable materials for these special knives. He also called the mayor's office in Wasilla, Alaska to find out if there was a repair shop for Arctic Cats, the type of snowmobile used by Todd Palin. It turns out there was a repair shop in Wasilla that worked on these vehicles. Dan Berg, the shop's owner, said he would send Comar some parts from an F6 Arctic Cat snowmobile, similar to the one used by Todd Palin and Davis.

Three days later, a large cardboard box was delivered to Comar's home off of Randolph Road. The package from Wasilla, Alaska contained "the prettiest piece of chain I'd ever seen," says Comar.

[....]

The handles for the two of the blades were made out of a moose antler that Comar found when he was salmon fishing in Alaska many years ago. Those are the ones for the Palins. The knife for Davis has a handle made out of buckeye burl wood.

For Comar, the state often called "The Last Frontier" has become sort of a second home for him. He spent three years in Alaska while serving in the Army and it was where he really got his start in making knives.

Comar will present his knives to the Palins and Davis at the start of the race on Sunday. It's a good thing the Secret Service guys are gone. They probably would have gotten a little wiggy when he pulled his knives out to show the Guv.

At any rate, the race starts Sunday, and it looks like they have some GPS tracking thingy that allows us to follow the racers. We'll be following the First Dude. And I'm sure our friends at Hillbuzz will too.

UPDATE by Ramrocks:

A very worthy and motivated ordinary barbarian has written us with concern:

So I've been wearing my duct tape for about 3 hours now, and there are a few things I'd like you to clear up, if possible:

1) how long do I have to wear it before I qualify as a "badass salt of the earth ordinary barbarian"?
2) where's the best place to buy fresh duct tape supplies? Can't seem to find anything online under "Duct tape for the discerning" or "Designer Duct Tape"
3) is there duct tape available to suit any occasion? For example, what if I get invited to next year's Alfalfa Dinner, is there a black tie duct tape on the market?

You see the dilemma.

What are other ordinary barbarians hoping to upgrade to "badass" status doing about the problem you've set us all?

Yours,
Concerned C4P Ordinary Barbarian

ps. I'm not a snowmachine racer..... does it matter?

I commend you for your initiative. Now take off the duct tape very slowly. I hope you had a close shave before you put it on.

God, I love you people.

And I'm sure she does too...



UPDATE II by Ramrocks:

I told you people they're serious about the duct tape thing. The ADN has another article up on this:

It's a face saver for drivers who rocket down rugged trails at more than 80 mph in temperatures that can drop to 40 or 50 degrees below zero. To keep the frigid air at bay, they duct tape goggles to helmets and cover all exposed skin with the sticky silver tape.

UPDATE III by Ramrocks:

What'd I tell ya? The Hillbuzz boyz are totally cheering for the First Dude. We love Hillbuzz. They're our favorite Democrats, you know.