Waking up on Saturday at Gatebil jogs my memory of Christmas morning as a child.
However as an alternative of presents beneath the tree, it’s the motion, mayhem, and all the things else that these superb occasions throw at you that will get me excited each time.
Whereas it’s enjoyable to obtain rubber in your face trackside, I at all times prefer to spend a superb portion of Saturday morning away from the monitor. My first vacation spot? The Gatebil jungle.
It would solely be the second morning of the three-day Swedish occasion, however at this level, Mantorp Park’s tenting grounds have already seen higher days. Just like the drivers on monitor, Gatebil spectators go arduous.
Throughout the weekend, the occasion by no means stops. In every single place I went, individuals had been having the time of their lives.
There’s a aspect of the Scandinavian automotive tradition that I can’t even start to place into phrases. I’ll depart you with this image; you may make of it what you’ll…
I’ve been round Scandinavia’s stance and customized automotive scenes for some time, they usually’re larger than ever now. The Present Backyard by Arn Racing allowed attendees to rise up shut and private with a few of the area’s craziest and cleanest builds.
One of many highlights this yr was Stephanie Falk’s LS-swapped 944 with a Martini livery. It’s at all times nice to see this front-engined Porsche mannequin getting some love.
Not distant, the automotive limbo competitors was in full swing. This enjoyable occasion is rising in reputation at Gatebil yearly.
It might be as a result of this is without doubt one of the solely locations you’ll see a chair being pushed. Or maybe it’s as a result of individuals will do virtually something to make sure their automotive goes beneath the limbo tape.
There’s by no means a uninteresting second within the Mantorp Park paddock. This yr, you may even catch some DMEC (Drift Masters European Championship) video motion. What an ideal technique to get pumped up for the drifting classes.
Monster Power driver Dmitri Yillyuk was prepared and ready to take out one of many Gatebil taxis with a widely known passenger.
Sitting within the again seat was BTCC driver Nicolas Hamilton, who stopped by Mantorp Park after spending the day with WRC star Oliver Solberg.
Gatebil was fully new to Nicolas when he arrived. However after two rides – the opposite with Luke Woodham – I don’t suppose he might ever neglect it. One among my brothers-in-arms, Oscar Holm, caught Nicolas’s response whereas exiting Luke’s Monster Power S14. That smile says all of it.
The motion by no means stops at Gatebil, however one on-track facet of the occasion that doesn’t get as a lot love because it ought to is the Gatebil Excessive race class.
These time assault automobiles are constructed to go as quick as attainable with barely any restrictions.
The drivers are nuts, too. 71-year-old Börje Hansson, whose Audi I featured two years in the past, is a Gatebil common nonetheless pushing his automotive to the restrict.
The number of automobiles within the Gatebil Excessive class is large. You’ll see all the things from BMWs to Porsches to…. an insane Ford Anglia.
However I do get it; nothing beats the sensation of getting sprayed by sizzling rubber after a drift automotive comes at you at full pace, sideways. I adore it, and so does everybody else at Gatebil.
Surprisingly sufficient, I’ve but to expertise going sideways at Gatebil. Perhaps I’ll have an opportunity at Rudskogen Motorsenter this time subsequent week…
As soon as all of the mud and smoke had settled over Mantorp Park, Saturday’s on-track motion wrapped up with a parade, and stunt and Gymkhana exhibits.
It’s one of many few events you’ll be able to see a camel on a drift automotive. Why? As a result of Gatebil.
Do not forget that rain forecast I talked about in my Thursday and Friday protection? Nicely, it lastly got here.
Whereas the group didn’t appear bothered by it, there was concern for the protection of these about to launch themselves off the ramp and onto the touchdown pad. Each had been arrange on the Mantorp dragstrip, which turns into an ice skating rink when moist.
The slipperiness didn’t trouble these maniacs within the slightest, although. Nonetheless, the enjoyable ended when Monster athlete Marcus Ohlsson fell off his snowmobile throughout a touchdown. He was superb, however the organizers determined to err on the aspect of warning and name it a day, which was the precise name to make.
The Gymkhana was additionally cancelled, however the drivers did their finest to provide the group a present earlier than the nighttime festivities started.
Awards, flying beer and music – an ideal technique to finish a Saturday on the Gatebil Summer time Competition. However whereas some loved the spoils of victory on the Aftertrack Occasion…
… others stayed up all night time fixing their automobiles for the ultimate day.
Thursday to Sunday at Gatebil goes by within the blink of an eye fixed; earlier than you recognize it, tents are coming down within the campground, and drivers are lining as much as compete within the famed Breisladden (powerslide) competitors.
That is the final probability for drivers to push themselves and their automobiles to their absolute limits.
The identical goes for the Gatebil Excessive class. These guys drive arduous. At instances, manner too arduous.
Gatebil legend Vidar Jødahl was chasing mechanical gremlins all weekend, and it solely bought worse within the ultimate occasion when an oil leak sparked a fireplace in his BMW E30.
Oil on the monitor resulted in absolute chaos and the race being red-flagged.
One other win for Kai Roger Bakken and one other Gatebil occasion within the books.
It’s at all times a surreal feeling to pack your luggage and head residence from Gatebil Mantorp. However then I keep in mind – Gatebil Rudskogen is simply across the nook. I hope to see a few of you on the 2024 Gatebil Major Occasion subsequent weekend. When you can’t make it, keep tuned for my protection.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa
Further Images by Oscar Holm
Instagram: holmmedia.se
