All Good Things Must Come To An End

They say that if you can get the introduction nailed for a story, the rest falls neatly into place. But to be honest, I can’t come up with any further superlatives to describe Gatebil at Mantorp Park, the only non-Norwegian Gatebil event. The collective Nordic countries have raised the bar so high, that the rest of us are going to be playing catch up for quite some time. We can learn a lot from their core mentality though – build a car that makes yourself happy and the everything will follow.

The Saturday morning started off wet. Really, really wet.

The remains of Friday’s action were scattered across the paddock. If this gearbox could talk, it’d probably blame the driver.

I quite liked this for its subtlety – E91 335i BMW with an E92 M3 front conversion. It’s a lot more difficult than you’d think!

Turbo S2000 – a Honda with torque. Feature on its way …

Club JDM Sweden had a pretty solid display of cars on show.

Speedhunters reader Marcus Eisenhut’s DC2 Integra stood out for me. This is no trailer car and Marcus is proud that he drives it daily.

I can’t imagine keeping it this clean is easy though!

Volvo wagon was different.

This E30 M3 was pretty special, I’ll explain why in a bit …

Every time I see a Bayside Blue R34 GT-R, I grow more and more envious of Dino.

Acura NSX attracted a lot of attention.

I still have a longing for the Lancer Evo VI – something so raw about them.

Alpina B7 Turbo was pretty original, but then sometimes it’s best not to mess with a classic.

I couldn’t help but be sucked in by the V12 Cobra again and again.

David Johansson from Superior kindly shared an on-board video from last year with us in the comments section of our last story. You can watch the video here. 

It’s pretty difficult to make progress walking around the paddock at Gatebil. There is always something to suck you in and consume your time.

Probably the most famous diesel in the world? Well, behind the Le Mans Audis I guess …

Rather sadly, I didn’t get to see it run over the weekend as I had to leave early to catch a flight. It’s still on my bucket list though.

Sierra RS Cosworth and full carbon bodied Supra – a perfect example of the diversity at Gatebil.

As the day went on, the sun made a welcome return. This tidy 7 Series gets my approval.

Rear mounted turbo setup in a PS13? Sure why not?

MKI Escort coming in for a wash.

For pure its aggression, I don’t think Ford will ever improve upon the EsCos.

Kenneth Alm on his way to kill four more tyres. Traditional drifters can never complain about tyre changes again …

Simple E46 M3 was very appealing.

I’m no expert, but I’m pretty certain this isn’t a good thing.

Side exit exhausted on this M3 caught my interest.

The queue for the tack was doubling back through the paddock – no sooner were cars back in from their runs before they were queueing again.

The 1M has really grown on me. I think it’s going to be a very special and sought after car in years to come.

If you are going to work under your car, you might as well do it with a bit of style.

S62 BMW V8 in a Volvo. Seriously, I think it must be some sort of law in these parts for a car no to run its original engine.

Martin Persson of Bilbilder.se enjoys lunch from a rather comfortable looking Radical seat.

Must resist temptation to browse classifieds for E34 M5s, must resist temptation to browse classifieds for E34 M5s, must resist temptation to browse classifieds for E34 M5s …

Although the stance scene in Sweden is relatively young, they are making huge strides in the right direction.

20×13 rears on this 370Z deserve respect.

The Swedish do have an ever so slightly different approach to the scene made popular in the US.

They often like to back up the looks with power; and lots of it.

This particular M3 is making in excess of 700+WHP.

Strange ‘engine’ swaps aren’t confined to the cars either …

F430 Scuderia engine bay was transformed with a rainbow of color.

Meanwhile in the pits …

Four door R32 Skyline rocking a bat-wing.

Chevy pickup was running an LS motor and sliding with the best of them all weekend.

Interesting location for fluid reservoirs!

Got to give credit where it’s due, this is what you call getting your value for money from your tyres.

R34 Skyline was running JZ powers and laying down solid runs all weekend.

Come Saturday afternoon, the Superior stand was showing some great quality and diversity.

Supra pictured earlier was struggling to find traction during the Xtreme sessions. Plans are afoot for wider rears in the near future.

Thomas Pettersson was putting the ex-Ueo S15 through its paces, and with style.

I really hope this doesn’t catch on.

Renault Versus Corvette in the most unlikely pairing of all time?

Even walking away from the event, I was still desperately trying to grab that ‘one last shot’. Gatebil creates an insatiable thirst in you for more. No matter how much information you consume, and how many crazy ideas you come across, you’re always left with a feeling that maybe you’ve missed something.

I really don’t think there is any other series on earth quite like Gatebil, and maybe that’s a good thing. I hope Gatebil never loses touch with what makes it so special.

I just want to write a huge thank you to Mikael Jaronsinski and the crew, actually the family that is Superior Imports for their incredible friendship and hospitality over the weekend. If it wasn’t for these guys, I doubt I would have uncovered even close to half of the things I found last weekend. Thank you!

Paddy McGrath

Gatebil Mantorp 2012 on Speedhunters

More Gatebil Stories …

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1

audi S2..<3you will be mine...
 

2

audi S2..<3you will be mine...
 

3

audi S2..<3you will be mine...
 

4

audi S2..<3you will be mine...
 

5

All of these pictures are fucken beautiful!!!

6

What the heck ?!
Picture 29 in the back is that a STANCED DEFENDER ?!?!?
Only at Gatebil .. These Swedish people shure have a hang to badassery !
Nice Post, m0re please !!

7
MickeSuperiorimports

The pic of Martin is stellar! I definitely did NOT look that cool in one of those things...
Thanks for the mention, but we need ONE MORE PART! People are going nuts over this series of event coverage in Sweden so don't you dare to stop now! ;-)

8
MickeSuperiorimports

The pic of Martin is stellar! I definitely did NOT look that cool in one of those things...
Thanks for the mention, but we need ONE MORE PART! People are going nuts over this series of event coverage in Sweden so don't you dare to stop now! ;-)

9
HeathvanderWaerden

Awesome article. Lovely photos, nice variety of cars for sure. Just looks like an awesome event. Probably sound like a keyboard warrior saying this but check the grammar in the written article before you post it. You're***

10
ZetaZetterberg

Chevy pickup have a complete corvett C5 chassi under ;)
 
 

11

I love that slammed Land Rover Defender to the rear of the green MkII Escort.  Crazy cool.  

12

Please milk the crap out of this coverage, and a feature on that red z! 

Author13

 @ZetaZetterberg I'm speechless but yet I'm not surprised. Gatebil.

Author14

 @Ecesis There's another shot of it on track in the 'A Screw or Two Loose' story :-)

15

For the last 2 years I've been keeping a close eye on Speedhunters, besides the great coverage they provide for all sort of automotive disciplines (Time Attack for SURE) Gatebil is always on my mind to check out.  It's great to see what thinking outside of the box is really about.  I would love to visit this event some day.  and like AaronYoung1 said "Please milk the crap out of this coverage"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE! ( think I got the point across, lol) 

16
Thomas Pettersson

Great job again Paddy!!! verry honored to be part of your coverage !!

17

monster energy wagon. wow.

18

All the M3's here were amazing!

19
David Johansson Superior

Great pics and reading again Paddy...gatebil rocks! The rudskogen event in july will be crazy!!!!!

20

Eye-candy overloaddd!! you've outdone yourself on this one Paddy. Desktop of the V12 Cobra engine bay pic please.

21

desktop of the BMW E38 pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee
 

22

desktop of the BMW E38 pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee
 

23

Anymore information on that widebody hatchback???

25

Anything else about the truck? thats pretty sweet.

26

killer chevy p/u, thanks for the great coverage. love the defender, too =]

27

Yall have got to do a feature on that Cobra that things is amazing.  I have seen pics of t everywhere for months now but never any info.

28
MickeSuperiorimports

 @HunterMcLeod Pretty sure Paddy doesn't mind, this is one year old and has some info. The car is... unique. 
http://main.superiorimports.se/nyheter/feature-magnus-jinstrands-world-beating-superharged-cobra-v12/

29

Spotlight on the cobra prease.This may be over... but should we be expecting some Speedhunters action at the East Coast Honda Meet at Richmond International Raceway June 30th?

30

@AaronYoung1
On the theme of "milking Gatebil" (great idea BTW) may i make so bold as to suggest a possible article headline?:
 
"The Volvos of Gatebil".
 
Thank you Mr McGrath. 
 

31

Anyone have any more info on that Chevy AD truck? I have one setup for autocrossing so I would like to see more info on it

Author32

It's a C5 Corvette underneath according to a commenter below ...

33

I can't agree with you more about always feeling your missing something. So many spot on builds to admire, not enough time in the world. Awesome coverage

34

That Volvo 240 series running the BMW V8, super sleeper.  Anymore info on it?

36

Really great coverage Paddy, there really are some awesome cars there.
but i remeber last years coverage like it was last week, it had Larry and Rod there as well, and there seemed more coverage then, and for the better two. its nothing personel,i just get the impression your being asked to do too much in too short time. (You say Rod lives  there, where are his posts?) all the events seem diluted lately. what has happened to Linhbergh and jeroen? also was there no worthersee event this year?
I dont want too make it sound like this coverage was inferior, by no means was it. you have done a great job and i comend you for that.
cue all the abuse i may well receive, or does anyone else feel the same?

37

Thanks for dooing coverages at gatebil !! I love it ! and the people of norway feel so proud when you say so many nice things about us.. it fuels for more crazieness !! :D

38

full feature on the truck please

39

desktop of the s62 volvo please. does anyone know of a build thread for it?

40

great pics!

41

Desktop of V8 Volvo wanted!!! XD

Author42

 @roey I don't think anyone is going to abuse you mate, it's a fair question! 
 
We used Mantorp as a build up to the main event which is Rudskogen in July. This was my second Gatebil event, after Rudskogen last year, and to be honest I couldn't have predicted in a thousand years that it was going to be this insane. I really thought it would be Rudskogen turned down several notches, but these guys just give it 110% all year round. It was a great opportunity for us to check out fresh builds and arrive in Rudskogen better prepared.
 
Come July and the Rudskogen event - there will be a full compliment of Speedhunters in attendance along with the FD of Mad Mike, DMac's '86 and Fredric's GT86. It's coverage worth waiting for :-)

Author43

 @roey I don't think anyone is going to abuse you mate, it's a fair question! 
 
We used Mantorp as a build up to the main event which is Rudskogen in July. This was my second Gatebil event, after Rudskogen last year, and to be honest I couldn't have predicted in a thousand years that it was going to be this insane. I really thought it would be Rudskogen turned down several notches, but these guys just give it 110% all year round. It was a great opportunity for us to check out fresh builds and arrive in Rudskogen better prepared.
 
Come July and the Rudskogen event - there will be a full compliment of Speedhunters in attendance along with the FD of Mad Mike, DMac's '86 and Fredric's GT86. It's coverage worth waiting for :-)

44

 @PaddyMcGrathSHThanks Paddy, thats reasurring to know.
It must really wear you down, getting paid for doing this for a living.
Keep up the good!

45

I SEE WAT U DID THR WITH THE BAT WING PUN ;) NICE CALL BRO
 

46

I SEE WAT U DID THR WITH THE BAT WING PUN ;) NICE CALL BRO
 

47

I SEE WAT U DID THR WITH THE BAT WING PUN ;) NICE CALL BRO
 

48
Franky_Marrero

hey quetion to the intergra dc2 or anyone who can anwer how do yu keep it soo clean like that  i got a 95 integra metalic green (one on my pic)  and a b18 swap Ls motor and i try to clean it but cant get it that clean so is there anything yu do in perticular to do so?? or anything i can get to help
 

49

Is there going to be coverage about the Mercedes W123 drifter? BlackSmokeRacing is coming to Rudskogen (source:  http://www.blacksmokeracing.com/event-calendar/)

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