When you hear the word rally, it’s perhaps not entirely unlikely that the snow-covered forests of Warmthland come to mind, where more rally drivers seem to be bred than can be counted. Every year, the world’s rallying elite battle it out in these forests in the classic Swedish Rally. Rally is clearly a Swedish winter classic that will not go away anytime soon.
To say that rallying is something that only exists in the deep forests of Värmland is of course not an entirely accurate description of the whole thing. It also exists in the rest of our vast country – at least where you find some country and forest roads. But what is it that is so appealing about it?
For those involved in rallying as an active driver, mechanic or map reader, interest is the big motivator. Just as with any other hobby or sporting profession. But purely and simply; who doesn’t like to drive fast? And this regardless of the vehicle. Then there is the adrenaline rush and the concentration required to manoeuvre your car at high speed in terrain that for us ordinary licence holders it is not advisable to drive over the speed limit, or even at all!
For the mechanic, instead of standing in the local garage changing spark plugs on 370 Volvo V70s a week, it must be a dream job to be wrenching on big-engined race cars and making sure the car is tuned to bursting point. Who wouldn’t want that knowledge?
Then, in addition to the active drivers, there are the spectators, the ones who don their well-lined snowmobile overalls and head out into the woods in minus 20, snowy conditions and with the imminent risk of being run over by a speeding rally car that has skidded through an ice patch and is heading out of control into crowds.
Now this doesn’t happen very often, and despite the seemingly harsh conditions, there is a charm to being out in the woods with friends and acquaintances, grilling the occasional Denny’s sausage, and perhaps a coffee canister to wash it down with.