Longtime Alaskan snowmobile racer Scott Davis moves into its prestigious ranks for the 2025 Snowmobile Hall of Fame class. This honor recognizes Davis’s extraordinary achievements and contributions to the sport, particularly his legendary performances in one of snowmobiling’s most grueling events, the Iron Dog race.
Davis carved his name into the annals of snowmobile racing history, winning the epic 2,000-mile Iron Dog race seven times over a 50-year racing career. His first of win was in 1985, and his remaining victories span 1989, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2007, each showcased his endurance and tactical acumen on the Alaskan outback trails. Moreover, Davis demonstrated remarkable consistency over his career, completing the Iron Dog race 25 out of 29 times he entered, with 20 podium finishes, including eight 2nd-place and five 3rd-place finishes.
“Scott Davis has not just raced; he has redefined what it means to be a champion in snowmobile racing,” said former Iron Dog President Jim Palin. “His dedication to the sport and the community has left an indelible mark on snowmobiling, both in Alaska and across North America.”
Davis said changes in technology are perhaps one of the biggest differences between his first win in 1985 and his last in 2007. “When we first went, I mean, you virtually had a compass in your pocket and you had topo maps in your bag. And if it was bad enough [and] you’re in a windstorm or ground storm, you’re trying to hang on to unfold the map and read it and take a compass heading. So, from that, and nowadays, the track is on a GPS, and you’re just following the magenta line on the GPS.”
Of his seven wins, Davis remembers the mid-90s victories fondly. “In those years, that was an Ironman effort. We were on the sleds for over 24 hours solid. We came in in the middle of the night falling asleep on the Susitna–the Big Su–just completely wrong out, you know, had to break trail through the Pass.”
The induction ceremony will take place at the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, Wisconsin, as part of the annual Ride with the Champs event, celebrating the legends of snowmobiling. Davis will attend the ceremony with his first two Irondog partners, Steve Deptula (1984) and Gary Eoff (1985), along with many friends and family of the sport.
Davis will then return to Alaska to watch his son, Cory Davis, compete in the 41st running of the Iron Dog race.
The 2025 Iron Dog race begins on Saturday, Feb. 15.
For more information about the Snowmobile Hall of Fame, the Induction Ceremony, or Scott’s career, please visit www.snowmobilehalloffame.com.