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Ice Driving School & Finland Trip

PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:05 pm
by The Swede
I put this up on the MLR and on Scoobynet.

If anyone wants to join this 'test trip', you know where to find me. ;)

As promised long time ago... :oops: (sorry, divorce slowed me a bit down this winter)

In view of maybe organising more of these trips next year, I want to try with one group this year.

The idea is to go for 4 days to the North of Finland (i.e. Lapland) and get a 2 day advanced driving course from people like Marko Ippati (2000 British Rally Champion gr.N) and Risto Mannisenmaki (ex co of Tommi Makinen).

The other two days would be enjoying the joys of Finnish Lapland, near to the Russian border. (organised by Jokke Kamerainen of Rukapalvelu).

You would stay in typical logwood cottages for 3 nights and one night at a hotel.

Programme:
Proposed dates (flexible) 30- March til 4 April (It's still cold then overthere !)

Sunday 30-3:
- Flight to Oulu from London
- Transfer to the North East (Ruka, near Kuusamo)
- Evening there with different Sauna's, spa, dinner, etc
- Stay in Ruka in logwood cottages

Monday 1-4:
- Day 1 of driving school:
-> Theory
-> Driving in the dark
- Evening meal
- Stay at local hotel

Tuesday 2-4:
- Day 2 of driving school
-> full day of advanced car control on ice lakes
- Transfer back to Ruka and evening meal
- Stay in Ruka in logwood cottages

Wednesday 3-4:
- Free for people to Ski or enjoy other activities such as doing a snowmobile safari, go husky sledge riding, ice-fishing, etc.
- Evening meal at a known restaurant serving Lappish game
- Stay in Ruka in logwood cottages

Thursday 4-4:
- Transfer back to Oulu
- Flight back to London


If I get approx 15 people, I can get this organised for us for approx 1380-1400 GBP per person, all accomodation, flights, food, transfers and courses included.
The only thing you'd pay is your drinks and e.g. the skiing on the wednesday.

Having been to Ruka etc, I can only recommend this. It's one of the most beautiful places on the planet, especially at the end of the winter when it's still snowed under, but days are very long already.


Personally, I think this is a bargain, considering a 2 day driving course in Sweden, without the 2 days of relaxation etc with e.g. Don Palmer Driving School is 2500,-GBP !

Please note though that I am only organising this to share the fun of driving and going on holiday up in the Artics. It's not my profession and I am not getting any profit whatsoever out of this (hence the low cost).
Pricing might hence vary a bit still if numbers/programme changes as I pass everything through 'at cost'.


For pics :
- http://www.rukapalvelu.fi/en/entry_page/index2.php
- driving course: http://www.ajohalla.com

PostPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:44 pm
by SPIKE LIKE MIKE
Not likely to happen thsi year fella.....BUT 2009 is a possibility 8)

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:12 pm
by The Swede
Sure.

I am still waiting for the group of 2007 of the WR1oc ! :lol:

PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:38 pm
by Houdini
Sorry Sandy, but I thought this was not going to happen so the funds have been re-directed elsewhere. I'd probably have to agree with Spike that it looks like a 2009 oppty for me now. Really sorry, mate.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:05 am
by danr55
How come this is so much more expensive than when we previously looked at doing it? :?
Would still love to do it, by the way!

PostPosted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:26 am
by The Swede
The costs estimated originally were for flying there, have a two day course and fly back. With some extra hotel and only transport in.

For that I thought we'd come to approx 700,-GBP.

The issue was finding people only interested in driving course to be allowed to go from their wives & family.

So I omposed a total package that combines a touristic few days enjoying the typical 'Artic' things and the driving course. (which makes it a 5 day trip now)

Another issue, is that I dare to arrange rental cars and hotels for the guys from the WR1 club only as a one off trip. But as you know, the guys here all got cold feet when we actually proposed the trip and for other people, I am not going to go through all the trouble of sorting everything out. So 100,-GBP approx is because of transfers in country.

If you get me a group of 12-16 people from here together, I am happy to look at a low cost option. But I'm afraid it's mission impossible you're setting out on. :roll:

PostPosted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:41 am
by danr55
Any reason for this to still be Sticky, Swede?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:51 am
by The Swede
No, too much fart and not enough shit around to even hope to organise this.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:06 pm
by danr55
The Swede wrote:No, too much fart and not enough shit around to even hope to organise this.


:toofunny:

PostPosted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:02 pm
by The Swede
danr55 wrote:
The Swede wrote:No, too much fart and not enough shit around to even hope to organise this.


:toofunny:


I bet you won't have trouble to put names to this, will you :wink:

How does it feel to be the last of the Mohicans ?