12.02.2020
The teams finally reach Poland after a night's drive. In Nowy Tomysl the participants get to see the largest wicker basket in the world during a company visit at a basket weaving mill. After lunch, the last leg of the journey continues towards Berlin. At around 1 pm the participants reach the Brandenburg Gate. The winner of the Rally 8000 is Team 07 "Frängkonien Deiffl" with Dominik and Ralph, who drove in a BMW M4 Competition convertible (actually open most of the time). We congratulate them on their victory. Meanwhile Alexander is practicing his patience and is eagerly waiting for his package, so that he can finally go back to Germany too.
11.02.2020
While Alexander is still stuck in Lofoten, the other teams head for Helsinki, Finland's capital. From there, a fast ferry will be used to take the participants to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The journey then continues without any stops towards Latvia.
10.02.2020
Back in Leknes, the "Arctic Beauty" team is informed on Monday morning that the so urgently needed spare part was not sent by express delivery but by standard shipping. Thus, according to DHL, it will take 7 to 8 days until the spare part arrives. So the rally is as good as over for Alexander. Extremely disappointed, he is now stuck on the Lofoten Islands, while the remaining teams in Finland are heading further south. On their way to Oulu they stop for a sled dog safari.
07.-09.02.2020
Due to a heavy snow storm, the rally teams unfortunately do not quite reach the North Cape. On Friday evening they finally arrive in Muonio, Finland, where they spend the night in log cabins. Over the weekend, the participants can look forward to various events, e.g. a shooting practice, a snowmobile ride, reindeer are ready for feeding, an ice-cold bath can be taken after the sauna and whoever wants can spend a night in an igloo. Unfortunately, the planned balloon ride has to be cancelled due to bad weather conditions (thick cloud cover, snow trickling). On Sunday evening, the team "Arctic Beauty" is back in Leknes on the Lofoten Islands to install the ordered spare part in the vehicle the next morning and to start the catch-up race.
06.02.2020
The Volvo P1800 of the team "Arctic Beauty" is still in the garage in Leknes on the Lofoten Islands. The shipment of the requested spare part has unfortunately been delayed due to customs formalities, which is why it is not expected until Monday. Meanwhile the rest of the field is on its way to the North Cape. Driving here is sometimes only possible in block handling behind a snow plough. After a night at the North Cape, they will continue southeast towards Finland, Muonio. Various events, such as a snowmobile ride, take place there over the weekend. Alexander and Lasse do not want to miss these tour highlights despite a defective vehicle and therefore they take the long way with a rental car. On Sunday evening the team will then return to Leknes, hoping that the spare part can be installed on Monday morning.
05.02.2020
The first setback for the "Arctic Beauty" team: Due to a jerk, the Volvo P1800 first has to be inspected by a local car service. There, the so-called bit is removed by the D-Jetronic (trigger contacts which open and close the injection valves). This part seems to be broken, but a replacement is very difficult to get. Finally, "Blepp's Volvo-Garage" from Ratshausen on the Swabian Alb is the savior in need. The well-stocked Volvo dealer sends the required spare part by express delivery to the garage. Unfortunately, this means at least two days of standstill for Alexander and Lasse, while the other teams head further north. At the North Cape a three-day driving break is taken, which gives the two fallen behind the opportunity to catch up again.
04.02.2020
The next morning they drive along the beautiful Atlantic Ocean Strait towards Lofoten, an island group off the coast of Northern Norway. Around midday, the race convoy reaches the Arctic Circle before crossing to the Lofoten by ferry. The thermometer now shows -25° C, sometimes snowstorms start. The first problems with the Volvo P1800 are about 50 km before the ferry port, which is why the "Arctic Beauty" team must first find a Volvo dealer. While Alexander and Lasse have the vehicle inspected, the other teams travel 500 km north over the Lofoten Islands.
03.02.2020
The first cold start with the Volvo P1800 was successful. Only the roof rack ensures a lot of wind noise. The team's endurance is already put to the test in the first stage. In 36 hours it goes from Krefeld via Hamburg, Puttgarden and Denmark to Sweden, where the participants meet in Gothenburg for dinner. On Monday evening, the "Arctic Beauty" team finally reached the first overnight stop in Norway.
01. & 02.02.2020
Already on Saturday the rally participants come together for the big tour briefing in the Jaguar Classic Center in Essen.
On Sunday morning the tour starts in Krefeld.
RALLY 8000 - 2020 with FLURO®
The legendary Dental Arctic Rally is kicking off this year on Sunday, the 2nd of February 2020. The participants will be travelling more than 8,000 km in 11 days and experiencing Scandinavia and Northern Europe “at its best” - including the Atlantic Ocean Strait, the Lofoten (part of a group of islands off the North Norwegian coast) and the North Cape.
A dog sledge and snowmobile leg, a Northern Lights night safari, a wilderness barbecue, a car scavenger hunt, ice fishing, an ice karting leg, driving skill tests and an overnight stay at the igloo hotel are just some of the highlights of this tour. A balloon ride across the Arctic Circle and a helicopter trip at the North Cape can also be booked additionally. Every vehicle is equipped with TrackJack GPS equipment and can therefore be followed live.
The rally starts in Krefeld and finishes on Wednesday the 12th of February 2020 in Berlin. Nineteen teams are taking up the challenge this year. FLURO® will also be taking part for the first time in 2020. FLURO® sales agent Alexander Streit from the ATS Streit industrial agency is setting off on the trip together with cameraman Lasse. The "Arctic Beauty" team with the number 11 will be starting with a 1970 Volvo P1800.
Alexander Streit will be taking us along on this special adventure and sharing his extraordinary experiences with us every day. We are looking forward to the exciting tour.
