Mike Mathers Photo
The Tour of Fairbanks race seems to have been started by Mark Knowles in the mid-1990's. Before moving on to regions unknown, he was the president (and vice-president too, if we aren't mistaken) of the Fairbanks Cycle Club, promoted many races, turned wrenches at a legendary bike shop in town (now closed) called All Weather Sports, and proved to be a fast racer himself.
Prior to when Mark Knowles named it the Tour of Fairbanks, the race was called the August Stage Race. Marcia Burnside (who gave hundereds of her hours to the club) handled it's organization. This early version of the race was made up of a time-trial out on the Districts course (North Pole to Eielson and back), a road race (usually on the Steese Highway/Farmer's Loop/Old Steese Highway loop) and a hill- climb up Gilmore Trail.Anyway, when Mark Knowles left, there was a season or two in which the TOF wasn't held. Then Dan Harris took over in 2000 or 2001, and began building the race back up. Owing to communication problems, we don't have race results for a few years, so while the race was held, there isn't much written history to prove it.
In 2008 Fred Harbison took over as the race promoter when Dan left town. Fred brought enthusiasm and lofty goals for the race, and has (at least in this website guy's eyes) really delivered the goods. The race now uses chip timing, has several underwriters and flocks of volunteers, and draws more competitors every year.
Doug Burnside, another former Fairbanksan shares his early TOF memories:
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"There was a racer visiting from the East Coast, I think he just happened to be
in town, he didn't come up here for the race, and we had high expectations for
him. The first lap of the race was the first time he had ever seen the road,
and he was taken aback by that first, steep climb out of the campground. He
hung with us (the pace was easy, the experienced riders KNEW what five laps
would be like!) and when we got to that false summit about a mile up the hill he
was all enthused. "All right! Now let's get going" he said. Then we went
around the corner and he looked up, up, up that grade and promptly exited out
the back of the pack."