This race was named the David Dial Memorial Race in 1958. A Memorial trophy sponsored
by the Alaska Air National Guard was awarded through the 1960s each January. 34 year old David Dial was an ASDRA Race Judge and musher who was killed in the crash of an Alaska Air National Guard flight in November of 1957.
Crash history
From 1970 through 1988 the names of various business sponsors titled the race weekend. Beginning in 1989 the race was run in memory of Orville Lake a long time dog driver, ASDRA Board member, and Fur Rondy Race radio and television expert commentator. Orville added a lot of his colorful personality the each endeavor. One example is his disqualification from the 1953 ASDRA Women’s World Championships that he entered as Veronica Lake. After crossing the finish line he threw two cantaloupes into the crowd to reveal he was indeed male. The Teamsters Local 959 sponsored the Orville Lake Memorial Race in memory of their member for a number of years.
Doris Lake passed in 1995 after retiring to Arizona. She was a musher and head timer. ASDRA is lucky to have all the race results she compiled over the years of timing races at ASDRA events. She documented the club history in many articles over the years.
