The one guy had a Licence to Kill. I’ve got one for the racetrack. Part 2: Taxi rides, parts hunts, and electricity on instalments

    A few hours earlier — Friday morning. Sitting in a taxi on the way to the track felt like some parallel universe. I was technically heading for a racing licence — something that should smell like control, precision, and “I’ve got my life sorted”. And yet there I was in the back of a taxi, while my own car was six kilometres away, parked up somewhere, probably having a quiet little pity party. The road to Poznań was harmless. The taxi was warm, quiet, reliable. I realised my body was reacting to every normal bit of acceleration like it didn’t trust it — as if it was asking: “Hang on… so it can move without drama?” I leaned my head against the window and stared out, and somewhere between exhaustion and adrenaline an annoying thought popped up: maybe today would actually be… easy. Luckily, day one was theory. No car needed. No starting. No chasing volts. No praying for 14. Just a classroom, rules, flags, behaviour, safety — all the stuff that makes motorsport feel like...

Arctic Adventure – Part 1: When You Gamble with Your Life

Nordkapp Arctic Adventure

 

 

 

Arctic Adventure — A Winter Drive to Nordkapp!

The Plan

Having a plan in life isn’t difficult.
Actually doing it, though… that’s a different sport entirely.

Having a stupid idea is even easier.
But pulling it off?
Definitely not easy.

So — is the idea of driving to Nordkapp in winter really that stupid?
The idea itself, maybe not.
But doing it in a classic car?
That’s a different league. A completely different postcode.

For some people it’s simply daft. For others it’s brave, or “special”.
And the timing I chose was special too:
New Year’s Eve at Nordkapp.

To be honest, this idea had been living in my head for years.
Only the part where you actually do it never quite happened.

Until 2016 — when it almost did.
Everything was prepared and planned to perfection…
except for the engine failure two weeks before departure.

So once again it was:
“Next year, then!”

And next year, it actually happened.

I did it.
We did it.

We spent New Year’s Eve at Nordkapp.
2017 into 2018.

The Preparations

Originally, the plan was to “conquer” Nordkapp once again in the FSO Polonez.
A car from Poland’s communist past.
The very same car I’ve already used to travel through almost 30 countries in Europe.

If I’d gone alone, I would have done exactly that.
The Polonez would have been on the road again.

But things changed.

Changed in the sense that my partner suddenly wanted to come along.
Honestly, I never expected a woman to volunteer for something like this.

Four weeks before the start of this icy adventure, she simply said:
“I’m coming.”

A pretty clear statement, I’d say.

At first, I had my doubts.
Why would she want to join me for thousands of kilometres through ice and snow, in darkness and cold?
Is this some kind of bravery test?
Or — even worse — pre-booked relationship therapy?

She had my respect immediately — and my full attention on top. 😊
Maybe that was the real reason.

All well and good… but can this possibly go well?

Then I saw her first

Comments