2024 Tired Iron Update

Thanks for Stopping By!

Fairbanks Tired Iron proudly announces its sponsorship of the 19^th Annual “Johnny Martin Memorial” Tired Iron Snowmobile Weekend Extravaganza, to be hosted by Alaska Vintage Sleds.

We dedicate our 19^th season to John Martin, and have named it the “Johnny Martin Memorial Tired Iron Snowmobile Weekend Extravaganza”, in his honor. On January 17, 2024, we lost Johnny Martin, a snow machine icon in Fairbanks and a great Fairbanks Tired Iron supporter and volunteer. Johnny Martin, has raced snow machines from the 1960’s well into the 2000’s. His race career included World Class races like the “Midnight Sun 600”, a race described by Time Magazine as clearly the “Coldest and Crudest” snowmobile race in the world. In another race, described as one of the World’s Toughest Downhill Ski races, and an exciting Snowmobile Race, all in one, the “Arctic Man”, Johnny and his teammate posted two wins over the many years they participated. He was a “Master” snowmobile mechanic, with an exceptional talent for clutch tuning. He was the “Go To” man for track preparation and trail grooming, racking up countless hours of volunteer work over many, many years.

In 2023, Johnny was awarded the Tired Iron’s “Volunteer of the Decade” award, for his invaluable dedication to the Tired Iron, from its inception. Many, many, thanks to Johnny and his wife Pat (both members of the Fairbanks Tired Iron) for all of their support over the years! We’ll surely miss him at the Start Line with his enthusiastic waving of those Green and Checkered Flags!

This year’s events will be held on March 16th and 17th at 3671 Lakeview Drive, which is the location of the Fairbanks Snowmobile Fun Lions Clubhouse. For 2024, once again, we’ve teamed up with Alaska Vintage Sleds to host the 19th Annual Tired Iron. A GREAT BIG shout out to Richard, Kurt, and the Petersons, for stepping up and putting in the time it takes to make these events possible! Get ready to experience some real “Vintage Style” snow machine fun, which is our most basic commitment to the “Tired Iron” experience: Having FUN!! True, our official mission is to: “Educate the public, document and preserve the history of snow machining and snow machine racing”, so what better way to achieve that goal than to encourage people to restore those old sleds and bring them out to show them off!

Tired Iron will, once again, be awarding $CASH$ prizes for the various Show-N-Shine category winners. Whether its the Closed Course Race, the Drag Races, the Oval Racing, or the Show-N-Shine, we think you’re going to like what’s in store for 2024. Bottom line is… it should FUN, and a good time for all. Don’t Forget… Everyone should plan to enter at least one sled in our Vintage Sled Show-N-Shine. Bring your spiffed up sled(s) to our vintage outdoor showroom and you’ll have a chance to win some individual class $CASH$ AND the “Random Drawing” for all Show participants! AND, BEST OF ALL… IT’S TOTALLY FREE TO ENTER THE SHOW-N-SHINE!

Sign up your sled(s) by printing out the entry form below  and emailing it to [email protected] (one form for each sled you are entering please) or you can sign up on Sat March 16th, between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM, at the event location (3671 Lakeview Drive).  All sleds must be parked by 12:30 PM, so judging can begin.  Good Luck!

Click Here to Download 2024  Show-N-Shine Entry Form

For current information on this year’s events, and how to sign up, please use the link below, to go to the Alaska Vintage Sleds Facebook page: CLICK HERE

For your historical browsing enjoyment…

We are keeping previous year’s historical information on our website for browsing, but keep in mind, all information, beyond this page, on our site is for HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ONLY. For information related to the 2023 events, use the Alaska Vintage Sled Facebook Link above.