Totally off topic.

Rally! Rally rally rally!

... uhm. Why am I saying rally? Because today I've been at one! Norway has finally been able to nag themselves into hosting a World Rally Championship (WRC, nub) round, hereby known as Rally Norway. And as fortune would have it, they've arranged it more or less on my doorstep. I live in the deep forests of snowy Norway,not too far from the Swedish border. Perfect place for nutters to go bananas with their horribly expensive cars. Yes? *Nods vigorously*

The main head quarters of this event is Hamar, a mid-sized town which was one of the town arranging the Olympics back in 1994, for those of you who remember that. But very many of the Super Stages (SS's, nub) is being held in more or less remote forest roads, and closer to small town you'll miss if you blink when you drive by them. This WRC-deal has really made a circus around here. Geez. Fireworks, big ol' beer tents, snow scooter shows, skylights, bad music, shops open around the clock, crazy german guys in caravans everywhere, more beer and lots and LOTS of silly hats. But somehow I loved it. Yes I was cold, and had to walk further than my hurting joints wanted to allow me, and now I'm tired and my muscles sore.. But it was fun! There's not everyday something this big happens around here, and it's extra fun when it's something I actually care about.

I guess my interest for motorsports is a result of my environment. My dad and brother are both car mechanics in their own workshop, and my brother grew up doing motorcross (insane little motorbikes, nub), scaring the hell out of me when he put me on the tank and drove around the block when I was 4 or 5. He's also restored a few old veteran cars (a wolksvagen and a MG3 for those who're interested), and he's had about a gazillion different cars. My brother and I have spent quite a few hours together playing WRC3 and Colin McRae on PlayStation, complete with steering wheel and pedals (he even had a racecar seat rig (with recaro seat, nub) for a brief period), we actually started being each others co drivers. "3 right, over crest, lamp post right..." And I have to admit Petter Solberg winning WRC sparked my interest in WRC. I actually remember watching that last Super Stage in England, and jumped around in my living room when it was official that he'd won. This is the closest thing I'll ever get to being a sport fanatic, apart from a brief football period. *shudder* I haven't paid that much attention after that, only tried to keep score over who wins and where Solberg ends up (usually in the ditch, these days).

I'll stop ranting about rally now. I'm watching another Super Stage tomorrow. Solberg's on 4th I think. Petter, that is. His brother isn't that far behind. Yes, I love rally. I like cars. I actually can be interested in them. I love watching "Autofil", or "Top Gear". And tomorrow, I hope I'll get a beer.