Formula Off Road
Icelandic Championship
Akureyri June 3. 2006
Formula Off Road in Akureyri had to be postponed because of bad weather and snow only a week ago. Now the weather is nice and sunny.
Akureyri is a quiet little town by the north coast of Iceland. This weekend that is all going to change...
...specially built 4x4 vehicles are hauled in by various means of transportation. Some in trailers and others in large trucks.
Gardar the dentist is in the Unlimited Class.
The competition is held in an abandoned rock mine just outside the town.
The day starts early with the teams getting the 4x4s in the pit area where they are registered an inspected for compliance with rules.
Gunnar is changing the tires on "The Clown" (Trúðurinn) and getting it ready for the competition. He is competing in the Unlimited Class.
Unlimited Class allows the use of paddle tires. The tires are built on used slicks with paddles welded on and are normally used for sand drag racing.
Daniel's Green Thunder is sporting a brand new set...
... and also has an impressive 383 Chevy engine. All competing vehicles have added nitro where it usually kicks in when the petal is floored.
Olafur on The Fox starts the first track and is not able to go far up the first slope. Some problem with the transmission. He continues in the race with similar results lacking power to climb.
Second up is The Green Thunder and Daniel is able to take it all the way to the finish line. Giving him the full house of points.
Gunnar's Willis is third up. He takes the truck right to the last slope but is not able to finish and seems to be having some engine trouble. This turns out to be the last we see of him.
Gardar on The Colgate Truck is next. He stops in the middle of the last slope with some mechanical problems. This local dentist is finished for the day.
Ragnar on the Pizza 67 Willys is able to crawl the whole track. He is competing in the Modified Street Class where the main difference is that the professional paddle tires are not allowed. These tires have much smaller treads.
Siggi in The Troll...
...comes flying through the finish line.
Gunnar in The Clown does the same.
Gudlaugur in Magic Yellow reaches the top with heavy doses of raw power.
Bjarki in The Animal is also in the Modified Street Class. After showing some good offensive driving he rolls the Land Rover about half way in through the first track.
Sturla in "Smagrofuleigan" also makes it through the finish line but needs a little help after the landing.
Sigurjon in The Punisher. I wonder why the coils are so clean!
Ragnar in the Pizza 67 Willys is doing well in almost all tracks except for some missed gates!
Siggi in The Troll in the Unlimited Class shows some striking moves and is obviously competing for the top position.
Similarly Gunni in The Clown is right up there. Here he is literally flying through the gate as you can see by the shadow.
Gudlaugur in Magic Yellow breaks an axle with the rear tire falling off. Some problems in front also and this is the last track he tries.
Not the typical stunts you see by your local farmers Land Rover. He is doing quite well.
Sturla in Smagrofuleigan has some engine problems and is soon out.
Sigurjon and The Punisher is still in but not among the top players.
Daniel shows some extraordinary efforts in the Green Thunder...
...some resulting in rollovers.
Ragnar continues to do well and drives with confidence.
Siggi is also doing well ...
...with only one minor rollover towards the end of this track.
Impressive jump by Gunni in The Clown.
Bjarki and The Animal give all they have...
...showing massive persistence.
Sigurjon and The Punisher crossing a 200 point gate.
4x4 Off Roads!
Green Thunder living up to its name.
The Clown is now leading by a few points with fearless and determined driving.
The Animal hanging in there.
Somehow the Green Thunder is constantly in a vertical position - hardly touching the ground at all.
Less efficient tires don't seem to bother the Pizza 67 Willys. Ragnar is able to finish the same tracks as Siggi and Gunni.
Herds of horses under the hood makes the Troll shovel gravel in all directions even at the finish line.
Looks familiar?
Ragnar flying in for landing in the 200 point gate.
Siggi on the move.
Flying high!
Last track is based on timed results. Quickest truck wins. Siggi on The Troll floors the truck.
Gunni has busted the transfer case and has to run on rear wheel drive only. The Clown landed badly in the previous track and with full throttle something had to give in.
Even though he starts with all the available power he get stuck as a consequence and is only able to go about a third of the track.
Before the last gate is this pool of water. Most are able to cross it with speed and nitro power. The Punisher is the only one to sink and kill the engine in the last meters.
The Green Thunder mysteriously rolls over like a tame dog during the last track.
Champions in the Unlimited Class. Siggi on the left and Gunni on the right.
Ragnar the champion in the Modified Street Class.
1. Sigurður Þór Jónsson The Troll 2170 2. Ragnar Róbertsson Pizza 67 Willys 1934 3. Gunnar Gunnarsson The Clown 1791 4. Bjarki Reynisson The Animal 1470 5. Daníel G. Ingimundarson Green Thunder 1388 6. Sigurjón Leifsson The Punisher 972 7. Ólafur Bragi Jónsson The Fox 601 8. Guðlaugur S. Helgason Magic Yellow 450 9. Sturla Jónsson Smágröfuleigan 340 10. Garðar Sigurðsson The Colgate Truck 150 11. Gunnar Guðmundsson Willis 180 12. Leó Viðar Björnsson Ironmaiden 0
1. Ragnar Róbertsson Pizza 67 Willys 1934 2. Bjarki Reynisson The Animal 1470 3. Gunnar Guðmundsson Willis 180
1. Sigurður Þór Jónsson The Troll 2170 2. Gunnar Gunnarsson The Clown 1791 3. Daníel G. Ingimundarson Green Thunder 1388 4. Sigurjón Leifsson The Punisher 972 5. Ólafur Bragi Jónsson The Fox 601 6. Guðlaugur S. Helgason Magic Yellow 450 7. Sturla Jónsson Smágröfuleigan 340 8. Garðar Sigurðsson The Colgate Truck 150 9. Leó Viðar Björnsson Ironmaiden 0
A video from a camera in Ragnar's Pizza 67 Willys
From the 7th track.
Thanks to all for making this happen on this fine day!
