Ruby

(4:36 p.m.) The GPS tracker shows that Team 33 has made it to Unalakleet. They even have a little bit to rest before they head out. Even with their work time added in Koyuk, they're still in 11th place. They'll be less-rested than everyone else, but at least they won't be way behind everyone. Someone pointed out that the teams have 17 hours to travel (starting at 5) and 900-some miles to go, which means they'd have to average 55 MPH. I think they used the Norhtbound Unalakleet trail mileage to get that.

Ruby's Café 101 W. Benson Blvd. Suite 101 (inside Key Bank building) $4-$12 per plate Lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, dinner 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday 907-339-9805 http://rubysalaska.com/ Longtime Lunchbox readers will notice that I've been trying to find hidden gems in the Anchorage dining scene, especially those tucked away out of sight like the Taco-Loco deli. This week I had a similar location in mind, which I visited late in the lunch hour on an overcast Thursday.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race pushed through the halfway point with the top five teams making into Ruby on Friday morning. Mitch Seavey was the first to arrive at 6:00 a.m., but Aliy Zirkle checked in hours later at 8:55 a.m. and then hit the trails at 9:04 a.m. making her the early race leader on Friday morning. Dallas Seavey and John Baker remain in the top five checking into to Ruby before 9:00 a.m. Nome's Aaron Burmeister cracked the top five list by making it into Ruby at 9:05 a.m. Friday, and it's worth noting he still has his full roster of sixteen dogs where as the rest of the leaderboard has dropped one or two dogs.

Iron Dog snowmachine race leaders Marc McKenna and Dusty VanMeter held on to the lead they took en route to Nome Tuesday, becoming the first racers into Tanana Friday as the 2,000-mile race approaches a Saturday finish in Fairbanks. According to race officials, Team 17 drivers McKenna and VanMeter pulled into Tanana at 2:13 p.m., followed by Team 6 drivers Tyler Huntington and Tre West at 3:01 p.m. and Team 2's Ryan Sottosanti and Andrew Zwink at 3:08 p.m. Many teams are wrapping up mandatory 10-hour layovers after arriving in Ruby Friday morning, promising a competitive field during the night.

Race officials and media took a travel day on Friday after many were stuck in Nome because of a brutal winter storm that battered the coastline during much of the mandatory 36-hour layover there.  The Iron Dog racers continued to forge ahead under a yellow caution flag utnil they reached Unalakleet. At 5 p.m., the race was re-started, and according to GPS, the leaders were averaging speeds of up to 63 mph on their way out of that town.  Doesn't take much to see these guys just want to race.

by The Associated Press Friday, March 7, 2008 RUBY, Alaska -- Lance Mackey regained the lead in the Last Great Race earlier this morning. Mackey became first musher to reach the Yukon River and enjoyed a seven-course dinner and $5,000 award. The defending champion regained the lead late Thursday becoming the first musher to leave the race's halfway mark at the Cripple checkpoint. Also en route to Ruby were Hans Gatt of Whitehorse, Yukon; Jeff King of Denali Park; Rick Swenson of Two Rivers; Kjetil Backen of Norway; Aaron Burmeister of Nome; and Mitch Seavey of Seward.

by Kevin Wells Friday, March 7, 2008 RUBY, Alaska -- Leaders in the Last Great Race are headed down river. Defending Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Lance Mackey is moving down the Yukon River Friday night after having left the Ruby checkpoint in first earlier in the day. Last year, Mackey experienced what mushers call the "unspoken" -- that magic moment when coach and team become one. Mackey's run to Nome this...

  Carlile Transportation Systems is the real Ice Road Truckers that powers Iron Dog's over-the-road logistics. For more than 10 years they have been carrying supplies for the checkpoints, event setup and our raffle prizes (like the Toyota Tundra and Polaris RUSH pictured.) For 2013, you can win an actual Ice Road Truckers Ride-A-Long  thanks to Carlile and Era Alaska ! Logistics is often an unseen and under-promoted aspect of any event. The Iron Dog would like to express our appreciation for all our transportation partners…because, without them it would be impossible to conduct this great snowmobile race.

State troopers say power and phone service was knocked out for several hours this morning after a small plane crashed into a power pole in North Pole. According to troopers the experimental plane had engine problems and lost power. The plane went down near the Dennis and Holmes roads. Troopers say 45-year-old Ruby Shorey was piloting the plane and tried to make it to an airstrip but fell shy, clipping the power pole with her landing gear. The plane flipped over and landed on its tail.

Alaska State Troopers have identified a Soldotna man who died in a two-vehicle crash on the Sterling Highway Friday afternoon, which also injured three other people and temporarily closed the highway. AST spokesperson Beth Ipsen says 85-year-old Daniel Gonzales was killed in the collision, which happened at Mile 107 of the Sterling at 12:05 p.m. “Preliminary investigation revealed that Ruby Gonzales, 82, of Soldotna was driving a 2001 Jeep Cherokee northbound on the Sterling Highway when she lost control on a slight hill,” Ipsen wrote in a Friday email on the crash.