How Iceland Built A Car Culture At The Edge Of The Arctic

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Iceland is nan second-largest land that's a portion of nan European Economic Area — and nan 18th-largest successful nan full world. The astir 40,000 square-mile state is much than 4 times nan size of nan Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. But while astir 8 cardinal group unrecorded successful that artifact of Texas, Iceland is location to conscionable astir 400,000.

The reply to why this onshore is 1 of nan smallest sovereign nations connected Earth is, among galore different humanities factors, a communicative of environment. Its upwind is unpredictable, hovering astatine aliases beneath zero degrees Celsius successful nan wintertime and spring. The scenery is covered successful astatine slightest 30 progressive volcanoes alongside ancient glaciers and jagged mountains, making overmuch of nan state astir uninhabitable. So what makes it specified an appealing spot to live? And how, among each nan factors of Mother Nature's wrath, has this mini organization curated 1 of nan astir absorbing and lively car cultures we've ever seen?

Well, to reply nan first question, Iceland is nan third-happiest state connected Earth (according to nan World Happiness Report) and nan literal astir serene federation successful nan world. Thus, nan truth that its organization manages to scope six digits isn't excessively surprising. As for nan 2nd question, nan reply is simply a spot much involved.

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It wasn't until astir 1894 that Iceland's governing bodies, namely nan Iceland Road and Coastal Administration (IRCA), committed to processing a roadworthy strategy passim nan livable areas of nan country. The IRCA was first tasked pinch building gravel pathways for carriages hauling goods, people, and immoderate nan organization needed astatine nan time. A fewer years later, purpose-built bridges were constructed, and successful 1904, a pivotal infinitesimal would occur. A car primitively from Germany, nan 1901 Cudell, would get connected Iceland's shore.

This revolutionary portion of instrumentality was nan first to rotation its tires connected nan island, and eventually, different motor-powered cars would guideline nan state into nan era of nan automobile. The IRCA soon upped its roadworthy development, paving 612 kilometers of roadways and 712 kilometers of carriage roads passim nan state by nan mid-1920s.

World War II and nan presence of American and British militaries brought on a boost to nan island's system — arsenic good arsenic nan Jeep. Iceland's rugged scenery was nan cleanable fresh for this small, tin machine, and inferior vehicles for illustration it would permeate nan country's car organization into nan future. By nan 1970s, nan state began large-scale paving projects astir nan nation. This led to nan creation of Iceland's iconic Ring road, which circles astir nan full perimeter of Iceland. From 1904 to 2018, nan car organization had grown from conscionable 1 to complete 300,000. And yet, nan preservation of its insanely beautiful landscapes tin still make a road travel done Iceland 1 of nan champion you've ever taken. 

In nan 1960s (and still to this day), Iceland's unpaid rescue and support teams that assistance successful earthy disasters aliases home accidents request specialty four-wheel-drive vehicles tin of handling the  treacherous terrain of nan nation. But because these were chiefly volunteers, they had to fundraise successful bid to support their efforts. So, they put connected a spectacle, holding small, friends off-road competitions to spot which vehicles were nan best, each successful position for nan nationalist to bask and financially lend to.

The first general title was put connected by a group called Reykjavik Car Club successful 1965, successful which a man named Egill Gunnar Ingólfsson was crowned arsenic nan winner. It was these early years that birthed nan Formula Offroad title, and arsenic nan decades rolled by, it only grew to much spectacular scales. In modern times, nan conveyance classes are reasonably straightforward. There's a Street Legal Class that requires nan trucks to walk nan regular postulation inspections, a Modified Class wherever competing vehicles person to lucifer nan accumulation vehicles they are based on, and past nan Unlimited Class successful which each bets are off, allowing drivers to usage paddle tires for illustration nan benignant you spot successful ungraded resistance racing.

Today, buggies and trucks powered by 1,000 horsepower V8s are commonplace, competing connected various tracks that see near-vertical elevation climbs, mud bogs, stone mines, and stream crossings wherever these machines tin virtually skate crossed nan aboveground of nan water. In immoderate fixed event, drivers whitethorn brushwood six different tracks, receiving 350 points for finishing each one, and gaining other prize points for finishing quicker than their opponents.

In nan early 1970s, an Icelandic man named Steindór Geir Steindórsson (also known arsenic Dini) was worried for his peers. They enjoyed accelerated cars, racing, and everything that could get them successful problem successful their superior metropolis of Reykjavik; he needed a place that could let them to bask cars successful a safer manner. Dini decided connected Akureyri, a municipality successful bluish Iceland that had an airdrome he envisioned arsenic a early spot for car civilization to travel together. In nan end, nan Akureyri Car Club he would recovered successful 1974 would supply Iceland pinch intermezo that could rival the best automotive events ever organized.

Over nan people of galore years, Dini and different volunteers reached retired to section news for coverage, held car shows, hosted off-road accumulation races, and begged anyone successful nan area pinch an absorbing car to show up. Eventually, nan Akureyri Car Club was afloat established and began hosting yearly one-day car shows that brought folks from each astir nan country.

Today, nan aforesaid nine is bigger than ever, and that aforesaid arena (held each June) lasts 5 days alternatively of one. Dubbed The Motorsports Festival (or Bíladagar), this arena houses Formula Off-Road events, mud-bogging, sand-based and accepted resistance racing, drifting, auto-cross racing, and — of people — a car show. Not only is nan Akureyri Car Club's show 1 of nan oldest successful nan country, but it's easy 1 of nan astir important and influential automotive events to ever touch Iceland. Just watch retired for nan town's heart-shaped extremity lights if you want to driblet by. 

Though circumstantial records of nan origins of Iceland's ain rally racing bid are sparse, nan Iceland Rally Championship has been going connected for years, featuring immoderate of nan astir insane roads successful nan country. One of nan much celebrated stops successful Iceland's rally almanac is nan Rally Reykjavik, named aft nan nation's superior city. This three-day conflict covers astir 330 kilometers successful nan southwestern portion of nan country. 

One of nan astir absorbing parts of nan Reykjavik rally is nan deficiency of nan World Rally Championship's involvement. Of course, it still follows FIA-sanctioned rules, but astir of nan teams progressive aren't utilizing state-of-the-art all-terrain machines. Rather, they use production-based rally cars from generations removed.

In nan astir caller moving of nan Reykjavik Rally (2025), nan database of competitors looks for illustration a blast from nan past. Some of nan machinery utilized consisted of Mitsubishi Lancer Evos and Subaru Impreza WRXs for illustration nan GC8. There are moreover immoderate much obscure models for illustration nan Ford Fiesta Proto and BMW E36 Compact.

If Formula Offroad and accepted rally racing are excessively polarizing for your tastes, possibly you'd bask nan Iceland Hill Rally. It combines immoderate of nan modified and production-based off-road vehicles from Formula Offroad, putting them successful a much modular long-distance rally. Still, this is nary run-of-the-mill event. At 66 degrees North latitude, it is nan northern-most baja-style rally connected nan planet.

It all begins pinch nan crown jewel of nan Iceland Hill Rally: nan elevation climb. It ascends complete 600 meters and spans complete 5 kilometers of region to scope not nan finish, but nan commencement of a wholly caller 50-kilometer stage. The rally is completed complete 3 consecutive days, pinch competitors racing complete 620 kilometers total. That's longer than nan full authorities of Washington from East to West.

These days, nan title is sponsored by Can-Am, which is simply a institution that makes plentifulness of mini off-roading buggies. Because of this, among nan different classes, you tin find mini trail-ready Can-Ams racing alongside Dakar-style title trucks successful nan aforesaid event.

Not each automotive point from Iceland is rooted successful motorsport. One peculiar institution has been building highly-capable 4x4s that assistance successful recreation and moreover investigation expeditions for decades now. In 1988, a mini squad of engineers formed Arctic Trucks successful Iceland and began modifying four-wheel thrust vehicles to fresh larger-than-stock tires. This engineering feat allowed those vehicles to negociate Iceland's divers landscapes.

The team's activity didn't spell unnoticed, arsenic Toyota's Icelanding section would waste Arctic Trucks' upgraded type of nan Land Cruisers and Hilux arsenic mill options wrong nan country. Over nan adjacent respective years, Arctic Trucks' civilization Land Cruisers would go nan first vehicles to transverse Greenland's celebrated crystal cap, arsenic good arsenic assistance successful a glacier investigation task successful Antarctica.

As nan years passed, it would found operations successful nan United Arab Emirates, Norway, Russia, nan U.K., and respective different regions, wherever it would commencement to connection guided tours and expeditions of distant areas crossed nan world. Currently, Arctic Trucks' inventory of vehicles includes monstrous versions of trucks for illustration nan Toyota Land Cruiser, Izuzu D-Max, and Nissan Patrol, arsenic good arsenic downright ridiculous worldly for illustration the Toyota Hilux 6x6. You whitethorn really retrieve nan "Polar Special" section of "Top Gear" which features a Toyota Hilux driving successful nan bluish arctic. That conscionable happened to beryllium 1 of Arctic Trucks' ain beefed-up, wide-body examples.

While Iceland is simply a portion of nan European Union's economical area and follows galore of its guidelines, it's not an charismatic member. The state doesn't person overmuch successful nan shape of home automotive manufacturing, truthful nan mini organization relies heavy connected imports — and 1 of Iceland's largest trading partners is nan United States. The U.S. besides has long-standing relations pinch Iceland for nan liking of NATO and different subject ties, truthful it's nary wonderment that galore American automobiles person ended up connected Icelandic roads.

Several car clubs and museums successful Iceland attraction specifically connected classics, pinch overmuch of their inventory consisting of American alloy from nan pre-war era done nan 1980s. For example, nan Ystafell Transportation Museum's FaceBook page highlights countless older cars. It besides describes nan depository arsenic having "one of nan largest collections of cars successful nan country," truthful it's nary astonishment to spot truthful galore different models there. 

Another important group of statement is nan Icelandic Vintage Car Club, besides known arsenic Fornbílaklúbbur Íslands. Founded successful 1977, this group had akin starts to nan aforementioned Akureyri Car Club, hosting mini events and gaining notability successful nan community. The group organized some nationalist and world trips for its members, yet offering retention and attraction services for folks' classics. In summation to nan club's ain stash of American cars, including a 1937 Chevy rescue truck, nan club's members return immense pridefulness successful their ain American imports. The club's charismatic website includes images of 1969 Camaros, early Plymouth sedans, mid-'60s Lincoln Continentals, and big-body mid-century Cadillacs.

America's resistance strips are shutting down in galore places, but Iceland has plentifulness to spare. While this type of racing isn't arsenic celebrated successful nan state arsenic Formula Offroad aliases rally racing, location are a fewer places successful Iceland that consciousness and look a batch for illustration aged 1,320-foot America raceways. One specified resistance portion is nan Kvartmíluklúbburinn Motor Park successful nan superior metropolis of Reykjavik, which was really nan very first resistance portion to unfastened — not conscionable successful Iceland, but successful each of Europe, too. 

Holding its first passes successful 1980, Kvartmíluklúbburinn seems to beryllium 1 of nan only places successful Iceland that has a paved quarter-mile resistance portion (the aforementioned Akureyri Car Club has a 1/8-mile paved portion astatine its show grounds). Kvartmíluklúbburinn besides houses a paved circle track, autocross and drifting courses, and moreover a soil resistance strip.

Just for illustration successful nan U.S., nan Icelandic soil resistance cars scope successful people from production-based modified trucks and buggies to Top Fuel dragsters. They house massive V8s, blowers, pro-chargers, and — arsenic you mightiness expect — elephantine paddled soil tires. Some of nan quicker soil dragsters tin recreation 300 feet successful astir 2.2 seconds, pinch trap speeds of complete 150 mph.

It seems for illustration Icelanders person nary limits to what they'll title in, beryllium it dirt, mud, aliases water. Another celebrated automotive pastime successful nan state is tractor racing. Similarly to Formula Offroad races, tractors successful these events typically tally complete elephantine ungraded mounds, done waterways, crossed muddy banks, and up elevated hills wrong a mini course in an effort to scope nan extremity without breaking thing aliases tipping over.

While they aren't arsenic fast-paced arsenic Formula Offroad, nan racers successful these "tractor rallies" person nosy pinch them. Competitors modify their tractors pinch motor upgrades, much fierce tires, and moreover large banners secured atop their tractors that mightiness show silly and heartfelt messages. But tractor racing isn't conscionable for recreation, arsenic they're overseen by nan Icelandic Motorsports Association (AKIS), nan country's racing governing body.

The information rules laid retired by nan relation are really rather strict. According to AKIS, a tractor's motor cannot transcend 50 horsepower and must beryllium nan original motor from nan manufacturer. They for illustration drivers deterioration a due fire-proof title suit, but it's stated that a welding suit is fine, too. And yet, among each nan different emblematic information measures specified arsenic helmet and harness rules, AKIS allows children nether nan property of 18 to compete pinch signed support from their parents.

There astir apt isn't a car-loving state connected Earth that hasn't embraced drifting, and Iceland is perfectly nary exception. Considering really AKIS sanctions tractor rally racing, it's not astonishing to spot it overseeing drifting, too. Currently, nan Icelandic Drift Championship has 3 main classes: Small Street Cars, Street Cars, and Open. While each people is different, they each must abide by an overarching group of rules. All vehicles must person a tow hook, beryllium rear-wheel thrust only, measurement little than 2000 kilograms, and usage soul combustion engines only — nary electrical motors aliases hybrid powerfulness trains.

In nan Small Street Car class, output is constricted to 300 horsepower, and tires are a maximum of 225 millimeters. In nan Street Car category, tyre size maximums are bumped up to 245 millimeters, though nan rules connected other horsepower aren't rather arsenic clear. As for nan Open Category, according to our champion research, this is nan chaotic one. Cars are now invited to usage tires up to 285 millimeters, and arsenic acold arsenic we tin tell, they can produce astatine slightest 400 horsepower.

The Icelandic Drift Championship is dominated by each kinds of BMWs. The E30, E36, and E46 chassis are each represented here. Of course, different brands and models are featured, too, as old Toyota Cressidas tin besides beryllium recovered astatine Iceland's various drift events. On apical of showcasing brands from crossed nan world, Iceland's drifting civilization is spreading, too. Last year, an Icelandic driver named Hrafnkell Runarsson was selected to correspond nan state successful nan FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup.