No matter which Gatebil event you visit, if you walk through the paddock you will always come across cars with interesting stories.
Bee Tram’s main event in 2024 held at the Rudskogen Motorsenter in Norway, the paddock did not disappoint.
There are several reasons why a Gatebil paddock is so special. One of them is the remarkable variety of cars.
As you walk through this automotive maze, you’ll come across everything from heavily modified street cars…
…to custom-built, high-performance racing cars, such as Kai Roger Bakken’s Gatebil icon Lotus Esprit.
Another special feature is the unlimited access to the paddock. Visitors to Gatebil can meet and interact with drivers and their teams, making it a social meeting place where car enthusiasts of all levels can share their passion.
It’s not every day that you get to experience Formula Drift Pro-spec drift cars like Ola Jaeger’s MkIV Toyota Supra up close.
Regardless of your automotive expertise, the Gatebil paddock is both inclusive and highly educational. I say this not to inspire, but because I can spend hours talking to drivers and asking them how they achieve certain performances. This often happens when you investigate what’s under the hood of these remarkable cars.
If there’s one thing Scandinavians are good at, it’s putting engines in places you wouldn’t expect them. Of all the engine swaps, the Toyota 2JZ is the most common, which has a lot to do with accessibility and cost. It’s not the latest swap trend, but many of these builds will grab your attention and hold it.
Have you ever seen a Hyundai Veloster with a 2JZ swap? This was a first for me.
If the 2JZ swap is too mainstream for you, how about a 500hp Nissan VQ35HR-modified BMW E36?
Or perhaps a Nissan 180SX with a Mercedes-Benz M104 turbodiesel engine is more your thing?
It’s always exciting to see ideas that you wouldn’t think would work actually work.
If you’re not a fan of engine swapping between different manufacturers, Gatebil always has a good selection of cars that stay true to the brand’s roots.
Also in Scandinavia there are the insane Chevrolet Corvettes with V8 engines.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? Sometimes you get the chance to meet a hero from the past that you may have only read about. That’s how it was for me with this one twin-engine Toyota Starletwhich is still a Gatebil hit ten years later.
Another classic car that is still making waves is The Ford Anglia of Kjell FrykåsThe original rebuilt Volvo B230 four-cylinder engine has been replaced with a Ford Cosworth engine, and new body components have been added. The rebuilt Anglia debuted with its new engine last year and has become a top contender in the coveted Gatebil Extreme series.
Whether it is a new construction project or an existing project that is constantly being developed, there is always something to discover in the Gatebil meadow.
That’s it for my report on the 2024 Gatebil Main Event. Stay tuned for the various car reports I made this summer at Mantorp Park and Rudskogen Motorsenter.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazeta