Ah… Gatebil Rudskogen. There isn’t any different automotive occasion in Scandinavia that may fill my lungs with tire smoke and depart my physique damaged like this one can. That is the place it’s at, however in the event you missed it, I’m right here to assist.
Now that I can lastly breathe recent air once more, it’s time to share my expertise of summer season 2023’s largest Gatebil celebration.
Driving 5 hours from my dwelling in Linköping (roughly two hours from Sweden’s capital, Stockholm) to anyplace isn’t that a lot of a thrill, however when it’s a pageant with quick vehicles, loopy vehicles and much more vehicles, you’ll be able to’t assist however really feel excited the entire manner. That’s till you you attain your location – on this case Rudskogen Motorsenter in Norway, and the skies open up like a scene from The Day After Tomorrow.
From the circuit’s outdated race management constructing – now its media heart and our humble abode for the three-day occasion – we might see the primary vehicles rolling out onto the monitor. Some wasted completely no time sliding their manner into what could be an unbelievable weekend.
Given how moist it was out, I spent a very good chunk of Thursday afternoon watching the Tremendous 3 three-car workforce drift follow and qualifying classes by means of the media heart home windows.
Final yr’s Tremendous 3 winner, Group Datsun, regarded like they’d the whole lot below management; the moist circumstances actually appeared to favour the lower-powered vehicles. Excessive-powered trios like Group Toyota, nevertheless, wanted to be somewhat lighter on the throttle.
The rain stopped utterly as soon as the qualifying classes got here to an finish, so I took the chance to stroll round and preview what had turned up for the festivities.
Present attendees, drifters and time attackers all had their vehicles wanting high-quality, ready to strike come very first thing Friday.
And because the solar set issues bought quiet, and for a short second I felt at peace. However as I stood there admiring the view earlier than heading again to our makeshift accomodation to catch some shut-eye, a thought hit me like a freight practice: Sleep? What sleep? The subsequent time I’ll sleep shall be on Sunday night time, once I’m again in Linköping.
Solar’s Out, Weapons Out. It’s Friday!
It’s not like I might have slept in anyway, even when I wished to. The collective sound of a full area of Gatebil Time Assault Xtreme vehicles woke me up like an adrenaline shot. Then, at 8:00am sharp, the monitor went stay for Gatebil Rudskogen 2023.
Top-of-the-line issues about Gatebil occasions is that you may rock up and participate in no matter you drive. For those who simply wish to have a very good time on monitor, the Open Line classes are the right alternative to take action.
As soon as the Gatebil yellow cabs are out on monitor, you understand issues are about to get loopy.
White smoke shortly engulfed Rudskogen, and mixed with some insane warmth we had ourselves the equal of Burning Man. Minus the sandstorms, in fact.
With so many vehicles on monitor directly, accidents are going to occur. However with rescue and restoration workers round each nook, crashes and breakdowns have been shortly cleaned up so the shenanigans might resume.
A few Tremendous 3 groups used your complete day to follow for the finals, which have been held later within the night. As they’d initially practiced and certified within the moist on Thursday – however Friday was utterly dry and highly regarded with monitor temps within the excessive 40°Cs – a unique method was wanted. This was very noticeable as soon as the finals began, however extra on that quickly.
Monitor clear up occurred once in a while, which offered a chance to move right down to the paddocks. As I made my manner over on one event, I snapped this image which hit me greater than I’d wish to admit. This was precisely me 25+ years in the past once I started to understand that vehicles are life. Who is aware of, perhaps the child within the image will turn into a next-generation Speedhunter…
The paddocks have been all the time packed, which is an efficient factor. It positively felt like extra folks attended the occasion this yr than they did in 2022, and whereas I can’t personally touch upon an extended time interval, most Gatebil Rudskogen regulars I spoke to mentioned it positively appeared so much busier than years previous.
There isn’t any scarcity of the bizarre, wacky and downright insane in terms of Gatebil engine swaps, and I’ll be having a look at a few loopy builds in some upcoming posts. However simply to present you a sneak peek…
I’m fairly certain this was the largest turbo setup at Gatebil Rudskogen this yr.
A brand new addition to the venue is the AutoTech Sport workshop, the primary and solely one in every of its variety in Norway. Right here, you’ll be able to hire out a spot to service, repair up or modify your automobile utilizing the most recent tools.
Inside, the shiny new flooring was already getting aware of its new occupants, one in every of them a purple Ford GT40 duplicate.
By this time within the day the Tremendous 3 finals have been shut, so I began the lengthy trek to the photographers pit in the course of the T14 flip, nicknamed Storsvingen. This spot put me proper within the thick of the motion.
The gang have been hyped for the battles. Some wrestled for leisure whereas others introduced their stuffed animal alongside. The spectators by no means disappoint at Rudskogen, very similar to the Tremendous 3.
The principles for this competitors are easy: Every workforce of three drift as shut as doable to 1 one other whereas sustaining the very best drift line by means of the judged part. The primary nook is usually the trickiest and could be the decider for the rest of the run.
Those that get left behind within the first nook keep left behind. Pace is clearly one of many foremost elements of a very good line, and with the monitor being utterly dry the low-powered vehicles didn’t stand an opportunity.
Solely 12 groups out of 24 entered certified for a spot within the Tremendous 3 closing, so the drifting was of a excessive customary. FD driver Simen Olsen was in Group Rymax together with his A90 Toyota Supra, and as soon as this trio crossed the end line I believed for certain they’d take the crown. However that was till I noticed who else was again in motion.
Fredric Aasbø’s Group Toyota returned sooner and stronger than ever, and as they entered the ultimate part of the nook the group went nuts.
As soon as the mud settled and the smoke cleared, the drivers parked their battle machines in entrance of the group to attend for the Tremendous 3 successful workforce to be introduced.
In the end, Group Toyota took again the crown. Group Rymax positioned second and Group Fullfinans third.
As I made my manner again to the media room to seize some recent digital camera batteries, within the distance, the trumpets of victory echoed and Gatebil Rudskogen’s Friday afterparty was formally underway.
The stroll to the principle stage is all the time enjoyable. As I used to be sporting a ‘Gatebil Media’ vest, I used to be continually requested to take images. When this occurs you’re taking an image of a gaggle whether or not you wish to or not.
The Gatebil Zoo is the place the animals effectively and really let free. There was extra folks, extra flying beers and extra enjoyable than final yr’s Friday night time, so it was a good way to complete up the primary day of Gatebil Rudskogen 2023.
There’s tons extra to come back, so stick round…
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa
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