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Submitted By: jgalvin on 2008-09-18
About the video: Hi I'm Demae De Rocher, host of SnowGoer dot-com's video show IPS. And I'm Tim Erickson, Editor of SnowGoer Magazine.

John McCain running mate Sarah Palin introduced her husband Todd during her acceptance speech, and mentioned that he's a "World Champion Snow Machine Racer". Since then, we have received requests to educate America on what a Snow Machine is. David Letterman and guest Robin Williams didn't know what is was, and poked fun of the term on the Late Show. Well Robin, it's not a Zamboni machine used to smooth hockey rinks.

And David, Todd is not the champ of a sno-cone ice-making contest.

Tim, tell America what a snow machine is...

A snow machine is local language to Alaska. Snow machine is a snowmobile. when it was first invented it was referred to as a snow machine. Alaska was one of 1st trial grounds from modern day inventor Edgar Hetteen. So it makes sense that Alaskans continue to call it a snow machine.

Edgar Hetteen, Snowmobile Inventor

I had to get a dealer…first one, Alaska, 4000-miles away to get a dealer…because they needed them up there.

We got in their way when they were ice-fishing and to get rid of us they had to try it.

Now everyone knows that a snow machine is a snowmobile.

So then, what kind of a snowmobile racer is Todd Palin? (1:48)

A 4-time winner of a 2000 mile endurance race across Alaska in challenging terrain

Todd was at a recent event in MN signing autographs as part of Team Arctic Cat (1:58) We were there (2:00)

Todd wasn’t granting on-cam interviews, but we got to talk to Todd. So tell us all about that Tim.

He was part of AC factory display all weekend at Hay Days Grass Drags in Forest Lake, MN We were there as always and it was a special treat to get some face time with Todd

They were both thrilled to be a part of Hay Days and Todd had told us he had always wanted to be a part of or I should say always wanted to attend it. He’s been in the racing scene now since the ‘90’s and that’s one that’s alluded him and I guess the campaign exposure just provided him an opportunity to get there.

They weren’t granting formal media interviews but we were actually intercepted by one of the McCain campaign spokespeople right away. Called us off. But we did get a chance to talk about snowmobiling and particularly Iron Dog.

He was able to confirm that he is signed up for ’09

I saw him on the roster with his partner Scott Davis . We shouldn’t forget about him.

It is a partnership race. We had a chance to talk to both of them. (

But the question is, if he does race in this, how the heck are the secret servicemen going to keep up with him.

We joked about that, whether or not they find secret service guys who can ride snowmobiles fast enough…Black Hawk helicopters (DD- ‘the works’) The works. I’m sure there’ll be a pretty good federal presence if she is in office.

So, the Iron Dog race is the toughest snowmobile race in world…here’s guy with five kids, wife’s on Pres. Ticket w/John McCain, has his own job, how does he find time to train for this thing?

Well I know he’s got a lot to balance. But the important thing is that he does find time to train cuz as you said, this is the toughest snowmobile race in the world

Race 2000 miles over rivers, water, ice flows, ice heaves, thru dark, dangerous temperatures, basically no trails, rugged course, complexly out in backcountry wherethere is nothing in terms of civilization

It’s a miracle almost for these guys to finish the race. let alone win it

Impressive resume for Todd and partner Scott Davis

Todd’s won it four times – that’s a really big deal

Like I said, it’s a challenge to even finish

he’s won four-times, almost five times because they lost, not lost, but 2nd place by one second in the 2006 race I believe it was.

It’s strategy of spare parts, when you run, when you take your breaks, sprint vs. walk, there’s a lot to this race and they seem to have a good strategy for it. Training I’m sure is a big part of that.

And I read that Scott Davis whose won 7-times said that he really appreciates Todd as a partner because when you get dehydrated and all that, Todd keeps his head together. It can get pretty tough out there.

So now the whole world will probably hear more about Todd Palin’s Iron Dog Snow race in the midst of his wife Sarah Palin’s Pres. Race on the McCain ticket.

So with this Presidential race, with Sarah on the ticket, that puts the Palin family really in two races.

And now, David Letterman, Robin Williams and America, you know what a snow machine is.

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