2011 Arctic Cat F6 Sno Pro Iron Dog Racers

This pair of snowmobiles were first raced by Eric Quam and Todd Palin in the famed Iron Dog race that traverses about 2000 miles of Alaskan backcountry...they earned a very respectable 2nd place in the 2011 running of the race. To prepare for the race a lot of preparation went into these snowmachines, led by Eric Quam. Some of the race modifications included: auxillary fuel tanks were built and seats were modified to fit them. Additional storage was added in seat backs and under hoods to allow for all of the equipment that needed to be carried, including tools and sleeping bags. Mounts were added for transponders and navigation devices. Direct wiring was added that would allow jump-starting the electric fuel pumps if it might be required for initial start-up in the extreme cold. Wiring was added that would power the Lead Dog helmet lighting. 2008 rear skid frames had 1" of additional travel...they were used and were fitted with Ohlins shock absorbers and also stronger Ice Age rails. Ohlins ski shocks were added but retained the stock skis. Flat race-style snowflaps replaced the stock flaps. Adapter plates were created that allowed the running of non-reverse ACT-drive gearboxes, for added simplicity during race conditions. For the 2012 running of the Iron Dog race these same two snowmobiles were raced by Darrick Johnson and Donald West. They were running hard when Darrick had a serious high-speed crash near Nulato that required hospitalization and immediately ended the race for those two competitors. We purchased the former Quam machine in 2015 after it had traveled out to New Hampshire with Chris Downs. We purchased the former Palin machine in 2016 from Darrick in Idaho. After being raced by two different teams and both sleds having some damage repaired that had been sustained in the 2012 race, neither sled has exactly the same appearance as they had while being raced by either team. The auxilliary lighting that is normal in this tough race has since been removed too. We still ride these sleds regularly and they are some of the few actual Iron Dog race sleds that have made it down here to the lower 48 and are still in mostly as-raced condition. Special thanks to Alaska's Harriet Hamilton Fenerty for providing us the images shown here from day 1 of the 2011 Iron Dog featuring Eric Quam and Todd Palin. Former Quam sled vin number: 4UF11SNW8BT110993, engine number J60 -702001. Former Palin sled vin number: 4UF11SNWXBT110994, engine number J60 -702000.