The Iron Dog is coming to Anchorage.

Courtesy of Alaska Dispatch:  

The Iron Dog is roaring into Anchorage. 

After months of speculation about a move to the big city, the Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday night approved a resolution in support of establishing a ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage beginning with this winter's race. After the Feb. 20 ceremonial start, the 2,031-mile snowmachine race will start for real the next day on Big Lake. 

In a press release issued Tuesday, Iron Dog executive director Kevin Kastner said the plan to bring the race to Anchorage has been in the works since 2010. 

“With the addition of Anchorage, I believe we are making a great contribution to a refreshed legacy of winter tourism and starting a new chapter for motorsports and snowmachining advocacy,” Kastner said.

Of course much like the Iditarod, which has its ceremonial start in Anchorage and then starts for real in Willow, this Iron Dog race start is just for the cameras. 

And you know what cameras mean.

Which I will assume means that police will be on high alert in case one of the Palins wants to start another drunken brawl, like they did during their last family trip to my hometown.

And of course having it here means I will have no good excuse not to drive downtown to see the start of the race so that I can report back to all of you concerning any drama that might take place.

I highly doubt I will have any Sarah Palin sightings however, as it is well known how she usually views the start of the race.

Buck up or stay in the truck, that's my motto.

For those who are wondering I really do not expect to see Levi entering this race this time around.

I have not heard anything officially, but when Levi first discussed the possibility back in March, he undoubtedly believed that his custody case would be over with by now. However such is not the case, and with attorney fees piling up Levi really does not have the kind of  money he needs to participate.

That's too bad really, because if both the Palins AND the Johnstons were to show up at the same race I would DEFINITELY make it a priority to be there.