For nearly 40 years, the Alcan 5000 Rally has been one of the longest and toughest time-speed-distance (TSD) rallies in North America. This 10-day, 5,000-mile endurance race challenges dozens of teams. Its route may span the entire length of Canada and/or Alaska and cross them in a bumpy fashion.
The Alcan 5000 Rally is held every other year (alternating summer and winter like the Olympics). It is a precision event where competitors drive on public roads at or below posted speed limits and follow specific route instructions given to them in a road book by the event’s rally master. The teams with the lowest scores win their class, with the best of the best winning the entire competition. TSD challenges usually happen in the morning and are followed by several hundred miles of transit to get to the next TSD event or overnight.
This year’s Alcan 5000 Rally took place from August 23rd to September 1st. Twenty-eight cars and 17 adventure bikes were confirmed for the event, although 24 and 14 of them respectively finished. The rally started in Washington state and made its way through the Canadian outback. The teams traveled through British Columbia, the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories and finished in Jasper, Alberta. Those competing for the Arctic Award completed additional driving challenges called Extreme Controls. These included a 140-kilometer gravel trek to Telegraph Creek, British Columbia (which ended up being more than 16 hours of driving a day), an additional four-hour trek to Skagway, Alaska, and back, and much more.
From classic Mini minivans and high-powered Ford Raptors to a lightly modified Subaru Outback Wilderness and camouflaged Dodge Power Wagon, the teams faced 1,500 miles of dirt and gravel, loads of wildlife (including moose, caribou, fox and lynx) and long hours of concentration. Despite flat tires and lost wheel bearings, rally participants united under the Northern Lights for 10 days of camaraderie, excitement and rallying challenges.
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