DaBoom
Worlds fastest Amish
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2007
- Messages
- 2,019
- Location
- Kouvostoliitto, Finland
- Car(s)
- Various BMWs, a Swift cabrio, Benelli TreK
I'm having trouble finding some older pictures that I wanted to start the thread with. I'll add that in later, if discoveries are made..
Anyway, it's that time of year again..
Our usual place of the past few years in Pudasjärvi seems to be still suffering from ownership transfer issues. It seems every year that I contact them, there’s different people in charge, numbers and addresses have changed etc etc. So earlier, when dates were decided, I dropped them a message asking for reservations and frankly forgot the whole thing after that. Later, when I didn’t get any replies to either the original message or follow up questions, I called the guy who does the airfield maintenance. While he has nothing to do with reservations, he at least had calendars for the premises and told me the cabin was booked for the weekend.
At least I had a secondary plan ready, so after some calls, accommodations were booked at Joensuu. Somewhat appropriately as well, as this would be the same track where we started a decade ago, serving as surroundings for both first FG icetrack meet in 2013, as well as the first international meet in 2014.
While the place to stay was sorted, the track situation was quite uncertain even in December, as both tracks replied “possibly available, depending on weather”. And earlier in January the rally cross track let me know that they’ll have “our” Saturday for their own club, but fortunately we managed to get at least Friday on that track.
The drive to Joensuu was slightly shorter for most, compared to Pudasjärvi, but still a fair bit. So I made it to our accommodation with some Norwegian reinforcements late on Thursday afternoon.
Unfortunately the place seems to be a clubhouse for some “questionable” people. Which is a shame, as it was quite a nice place otherwise. It used to be an old village school, now with plenty of sleeping room and common spaces, with a small display of game consoles, beers and military history downstairs.
After unpacking the car, I went to the sauna. Because of course I would. Plenty of room to cool off, although that heating arrangement might've had a smoking problem..
Enough room in the sauna as well. Wood burning stove and no running water, so a nice cabin-like experience in an enlarged form. It took until 2AM for the last of days’ arrivals to make it. And obviously most headed for the sauna as soon as possible. And even the last of us were already in bed before 5AM.
Despite the late evening, I was up early, to deal with track payments, have some breakfast and kick late sleepers awake. And obviously almost an hour later than I said to the track staff, first cars were at the track! Weather was on our side as well.
Driving got exhausting straight away, which was a shame, as it was such a lovely day. Fortunately it was just one of the mounting rubbers coming off, but unfortunately all the shops in the town seemed to be out of those. I had some metal wire (because of course I do), so I used that to keep the exhaust somewhat in place. And clunking rather loudly against the chassis on an increasingly bumpy track, as the day went on. Unfortunately this also meant I didn’t dare to drive as much as I wanted, or let others drive it.
Lighting conditions were rather nice in the afternoon, could’ve done better with something else than a phone. Tobias in the Ford, with unstudded tyres.
523i doing the rounds.
Lars enjoying the Omega
Silly size comparisons, while getting some extra racing overalls, as the walk to the sauna on the other side of the yard very much warranted such attire.
We were offered pizza on the house, as in made to order downstairs. Nothing special of course, but very convenient in a fairly remote village setting. Also one can enjoy dinner in a racing suit, between sauna stints.
On Saturday while getting some fuel, I spotted some very wide tracks leading to the fuel station. And made some nice car spottings. I’m sure these two aren’t in any way related.
As far as Saturday track activities went, I managed to misread info of the other track we were supposed to go to. They were still in the midst of land usage battles, so the track wasn’t open yet. Fortunately Ylämylly was kind enough to house us for the second day, so people had plenty of time to cause more damage to vehicles.
Some exhaust hangers were kindly delivered to me from further south, so I was both able to drive more, as well as let others try the DX experience, with all its “things you need to know before you drive this” -quirks.
After the day at the track, it was time for some burgers. And while not Kauppuri levels of greatness, a perfectly acceptable late lunch / early dinner).
Aleš really didn’t want to drive the Omega back south. And after we couldn’t even give it away on a short notice, the decision was made to just dump it at the nearest wrecker. And that was celebrated in the appropriate manner.
Timi having a go on the Omega as well
Anyway, it's that time of year again..
Our usual place of the past few years in Pudasjärvi seems to be still suffering from ownership transfer issues. It seems every year that I contact them, there’s different people in charge, numbers and addresses have changed etc etc. So earlier, when dates were decided, I dropped them a message asking for reservations and frankly forgot the whole thing after that. Later, when I didn’t get any replies to either the original message or follow up questions, I called the guy who does the airfield maintenance. While he has nothing to do with reservations, he at least had calendars for the premises and told me the cabin was booked for the weekend.
At least I had a secondary plan ready, so after some calls, accommodations were booked at Joensuu. Somewhat appropriately as well, as this would be the same track where we started a decade ago, serving as surroundings for both first FG icetrack meet in 2013, as well as the first international meet in 2014.
While the place to stay was sorted, the track situation was quite uncertain even in December, as both tracks replied “possibly available, depending on weather”. And earlier in January the rally cross track let me know that they’ll have “our” Saturday for their own club, but fortunately we managed to get at least Friday on that track.
The drive to Joensuu was slightly shorter for most, compared to Pudasjärvi, but still a fair bit. So I made it to our accommodation with some Norwegian reinforcements late on Thursday afternoon.
Unfortunately the place seems to be a clubhouse for some “questionable” people. Which is a shame, as it was quite a nice place otherwise. It used to be an old village school, now with plenty of sleeping room and common spaces, with a small display of game consoles, beers and military history downstairs.
After unpacking the car, I went to the sauna. Because of course I would. Plenty of room to cool off, although that heating arrangement might've had a smoking problem..
Enough room in the sauna as well. Wood burning stove and no running water, so a nice cabin-like experience in an enlarged form. It took until 2AM for the last of days’ arrivals to make it. And obviously most headed for the sauna as soon as possible. And even the last of us were already in bed before 5AM.
Despite the late evening, I was up early, to deal with track payments, have some breakfast and kick late sleepers awake. And obviously almost an hour later than I said to the track staff, first cars were at the track! Weather was on our side as well.
Driving got exhausting straight away, which was a shame, as it was such a lovely day. Fortunately it was just one of the mounting rubbers coming off, but unfortunately all the shops in the town seemed to be out of those. I had some metal wire (because of course I do), so I used that to keep the exhaust somewhat in place. And clunking rather loudly against the chassis on an increasingly bumpy track, as the day went on. Unfortunately this also meant I didn’t dare to drive as much as I wanted, or let others drive it.
Lighting conditions were rather nice in the afternoon, could’ve done better with something else than a phone. Tobias in the Ford, with unstudded tyres.
523i doing the rounds.
Lars enjoying the Omega
Silly size comparisons, while getting some extra racing overalls, as the walk to the sauna on the other side of the yard very much warranted such attire.
We were offered pizza on the house, as in made to order downstairs. Nothing special of course, but very convenient in a fairly remote village setting. Also one can enjoy dinner in a racing suit, between sauna stints.
On Saturday while getting some fuel, I spotted some very wide tracks leading to the fuel station. And made some nice car spottings. I’m sure these two aren’t in any way related.
As far as Saturday track activities went, I managed to misread info of the other track we were supposed to go to. They were still in the midst of land usage battles, so the track wasn’t open yet. Fortunately Ylämylly was kind enough to house us for the second day, so people had plenty of time to cause more damage to vehicles.
Some exhaust hangers were kindly delivered to me from further south, so I was both able to drive more, as well as let others try the DX experience, with all its “things you need to know before you drive this” -quirks.
After the day at the track, it was time for some burgers. And while not Kauppuri levels of greatness, a perfectly acceptable late lunch / early dinner).
Aleš really didn’t want to drive the Omega back south. And after we couldn’t even give it away on a short notice, the decision was made to just dump it at the nearest wrecker. And that was celebrated in the appropriate manner.
Timi having a go on the Omega as well
