Race :: Round 31 - The Volcán Goes Hot!

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Teide Sorolla-Ledaal, known as the Volcán, shifts down and presses deep into the curve still carrying too much speed. He is at the very edge of control. His tires and brakes shot, the Norwegian is risking everything now to hold the lead. It is an impulsive strategy, some would say demonstrating the hot-headed nature of his Spanish half. Even if his driving technique carries a lot of risk, the crowds erupt in cheers and applause! They simply love the Norwegian's daring!! Indeed, races are won and lost on split second decisions.

Immediately behind, on a more conservative note, Belgium's Victor Hugo Stéphane instead slides smoothly into the Storkurvan holding to the perfect racing line. He appears to be biding his time, awaiting the chance to overtake the Volcán when the moment is right.

At Höksböjen, the Czech driver, Vitez Rychly, rams down the gas pedal and takes the next curve with perfection. Once again, he demonstrates yet another example of relentless and pure driving skill. The orange Bugatti is handling brilliantly and Rychly is taking each curve as it comes, steadily closing on the leaders. Meanwhile, coming out of Fiskekroken, Germany's Godeschalk Hegkman and the Italian, Sebi Orsi, fall short. The Czech driver has now gapped them and appears primed to easily take a commanding lead.

Monaco's Louis de Montignac shifts up yet again and perfectly makes the Fiskekroken curve. The engine on his Tipo B purrs and this is the talent that the Prince of Monaco long ago saw in the man!

Behind, in the Barrböjen, the Scottish driver urges his Amilcar forward, only to see Switzerland's Petrus de Salvion Bernardus nose past him on the right side. Meanwhile, the Swedish shark, Rutger Hägglund, shifts down hard and edges his way into the curve. France's Aristide La Fontaine fishtails side to side and pulls alongside, barely nosing the Swede out for position. The Portuguese and Finnish drivers find themselves blocked in this, the narrowest point on the track. With nowhere to go, Gomes skids left and right to avoid colliding with the two cars ahead, who have slowed to take the chicane. It is desperate, but it pays off.

Finally, the British Amilcar of John Milk shifts up again to continue a slow acceleration hoping to rejoin the pack ahead. He will fall short of the chicane, but is far from out of the race. Whereas most other cars are running on balding tires and worn brake pads, the Britisher's car is now perfectly ready to press his advantage, sporting fresh tires and a repaired car. If he drives well, he will be assured of a mid-pack finish now.

Race :: Round 30 - Rychly Vaults to Third!

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At the front of the pack, Belgium's Victor Hugo Stéphane rams on his brakes to hold on as the car skids through Höksböjen. Immediately behind, in higher gear, the Norwegian driver, Teide Sorolla-Ledaal, is forced to veer left to avoid a collision. He hammers through the center of the curve, running over debris and bits of tire. Barely in control, he skids dangerously out of the curve, using the last of his brakes to avoid a spin out! In seconds, the Volcán has gone from perfect positioning to barely hanging on – but he takes the lead as the Bugatti and Duesenberg vie for podium position in this, the final lap.

Coming out of Fiskekroken, Germany's Godeschalk Hegkman noses out the Italian, Sebi Orsi. Suddenly, both drivers are surprised to see the orange Bugatti of Vitez Rychly rocket past to lead them out of the curve. The Czech driver is simply relentless – curve after curve, he has advanced to now a promising podium finish. His driving has been textbook perfect, showing how to take risks and capitalizing on every bit of grace Lady Luck has through his way. The Czech could now instantly take the Höksböjen curve and thus a commanding lead over the other two stunned drivers – will the German yet defeat his nemesis, Vitez Rychly? Can Orsi challenge?

Meanwhile, struggling out of Barrböjen, Monaco's Louis de Montignac shifts up, accelerating to keep some semblance of position. Behind, an aggressive mass of drivers press toward the chicane, ready to take advantage of the Alfa Romeo Tipo B as it struggles to regain speed in the straight leading to Fiskekroken.

The Scottish driver is first into the curve, followed by the Swiss driver, Petrus de Salvion Bernardus. Falling short, the French and Portuguese drivers prepare to assault the curve as well. Then, what's this? Roaring out of Hårnålskurva, the Finnish Chrysler shifts up to 6th gear! Could it be a late showing of the daring Finn's driving skill? Ahhh! No, yet once again, the most promising of circumstances result in little gain for Myrsky, who curses as the big V8 engine falters, somehow unable to propel his car forward with enough speed to overtake the cars ahead and regain his honor. No matter what he does, the Finn's luck seems to have run dry this race.

The British Amilcar of John Milk accelerates out of the pit stop, sporting fresh tires and other quick repairs. He is now in last place and must shift up to regain momentum to join the pack ahead. Perhaps his pit stop came too late in the race or perhaps his car will finish where others, barely limping along and nursing bald tires and overheated brakes, will fail in the final moments before the checkered flag. Only time will tell – yet one thing is certain, if he is to place, John Milk must now drive with the determination and daring of all Britain itself!

Race :: Round 29 - Belgium Struggles for Control!

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Belgium's Victor Hugo Stéphane slides into Höksböjen, deep into the curve and carrying too much speed. Victor Hugo looks down and notes that his tires are near shot. In a flash, he realizes that disaster looms. He shifts down in hopes of holding on as the car skids across the outside line of the curve. Just behind, Norway enters the curve with greater control, calmly taking the outside line at perfect speed. The Volcán grins, knowing that in moments he will spring past the yellow Duesenberg for the lead.

At Fiskekroken, Italy presses ahead to nose out Germany as the two come onto the ice. Meanwhile, the Czech racer vaults out of the Barrböjen chicane and enters the Fiskekroken curve with perfection. His orange Bugatti T51A slices through the debris that litters the track, suffering no damage as the car makes yet another epic advance to continue in a relentless attack of the leaders. Rychly sets up perfectly to challenge as the German glances back. He realizes the threat of the Czech driver, whose goggled face leers dangerously close.

In Barrböjen, Monaco's Louis de Montignac rams the gear lever down and grinds the clutch as he struggles to slow the car. The maneuver works and despite his balding tires, he slows just enough to avoid a spin out.

The Scottish driver launches forward, pursued by the Swedish shark, the Swiss Bugatti and the great big blue French Salmson racer even as the Portuguese driver, Pedro Gomes, falls off the pace and drops back.

John Milk of Britain leaps into the cockpit of his Amilcar and yells to the mechanics to turn the crank and get the engine restarted. Sporting new tires, a tightening of the transmission nuts and some minor repairs, the British Racing Green race car is now ready to get back into the race.

Finally, back at Hårnålskurva, the Finnish Chrysler slides into view. With the right gear selection, he may yet overtake the Britisher down the straightaway and avoid a last place finish.

Race :: Round 28 - Skidding through the Hairpin!

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In the lead, Belgium and Norway press on, clearly unchallenged as the final lap of the Isloppet begins. Hundreds of fans lean forward and cheer on the Norwegian driver, showing favoritism to Sweden's closest neighbor. Farther back, at Fiskekroken, Germany and Italy both fall short, sacrificing the lead to the two ahead as the gap widens. Sebi Orsi, in a rare moment, misjudges his gear handle and coasts out of Barrböjen, while Hegkman's Bugatti rockets ahead.

Meanwhile, in the chicane, Vitez Rychly cuts smoothly through the curve as Monaco skids forward alongside. Yet Louis de Montignac is only barely in control of his Tipo B, and he must now slow hard to avoid spinning out at the exit to the chicane. Clearly, Rychly will now again pull away as both cars will race toward Fiskekroken.

The British driver, John Milk, pulls into the pit stop and leaps out of the cockpit to help with the repairs. Cruising rapidly ahead to close the gap, the Scottish nationalist, Alastair MacDougall, presses on. He will now overtake the Britisher's car.

Back at Hårnålskurva, the four wolves jockey for position. Sweden skids out of the curve in a bid to set up for a rapid dash down the tree-lined lanes. He is closely followed by the Swiss driver, who skids out behind and slams on his brakes to avoid a collision. In the hairpin, France noses out the Portuguese driver for the lead, but only by inches. And at the tail end, the Finnish Chrysler continues to drive ahead ponderously toward a near certain last place showing.

Race :: Round 27 - Belgium and Norway Unchallenged Now!

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At the front, Norway and Belgium continue to battle for position as the two race nearly side by side through Fiskekroken. Both are identically positioned now for the drive toward Höksböjen. Clearly the Belgian Duesenberg is a good match for Norway's Bugatti. Yet the Belgian's tires are shot, while the Volcán appears in better condition to press for advantage into the last part of the upcoming, final lap of the Isloppet.

At Barrböjen, Italy dodges left, forcing Hegkman's Bugatti into the field of debris lining the inside of the curve. The Teutonic knight, however, casually flicks the wheel left and right and avoids the danger, overtaking the Italian in the process. Hegkman's discipline is showing benefits now as the two position for Fiskekroken.

Vitez Rychly rams down the gears in his Bugatti T51A, skidding the tires and burning rubber as the car fishtails at the edge of control. From 6th gear, he drops to 3rd and takes the entrance to Barrböjen perfectly. Such driving is the Czech's signature here in Sweden. Conversely, Monaco's Louis de Montignac falls short of the chicane, losing his bid to close with the Czech in the tree-lined mid-section of the course.

The British driver, John Milk, continues to drag the car forward slowly in 2nd gear. Time is bleeding off the clock as he crawls the wounded Amilcar toward the pit stop. He glances back in time to see the the Scottish nationalist, Alastair MacDougall, skid aggressively around the hairpin at Hårnålskurva. Instantly, the Scot sees the Britisher's green Amilcar ahead – he throws his head back and howls a Scottish war cry.

From the sidelines, a Scottish fan bellows, “Remember Culloden, laddie!”

Meanwhile, the wolves fall short of Hårnålskurva, leaving it to Scotland alone. These four cars are now in a fateful match up to see who will make it through the hairpin. Even over the raw sounds of the engines, a collective gasp can be heard as it ripples through the crowds. All realize that an accident may be all but unavoidable now as the four cars will funnel into the hairpin with insufficient spacing.

Finally, the Finnish Chrysler powers out of Storkurvan yet somehow falls short of making the Lekböjen chicane. More advantage is lost as the Finn's hapless journey around the track continues to careen into a near certain last place finish among the field.

Race :: Round 26 - Rychly Moves Up!

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As Norway and Belgium race ahead, they slide into Fiskekroken, running side by side. Neither driver will give quarter! The yellow Duesenberg inches past the Bugatti., but only by a hair The Volcán grits his teeth and prepares to fight for the position as both will momentarily come onto the ice.

At Barrböjen, Italy cruises into the chicane, closely followed by the German Bugatti. Hegkman looks to be enjoying himself, closing within inches of the already damaged Maserati. Both cars remain still cautious, neither wishing to burn too much tire at this point in the race.

Behind, the opposite is true for the Czech, Vitez Rychly. His orange Bugatti presses forward in 6th gear, all caution thrown to the icy winds that whip the car. Mere feet away, the trees lining the roadway flash past. Hundreds erupt into cheers, urging the Czech forward. Rychly is unfazed, the very picture of control. Despite the temptation to twist to look for his beloved Vilhelmina amidst the crowd back by the pits, he remains steadfast in his pursuit of the leaders. Falling short of the curve, he has no choice now but to ram the gears down hard, but he is well-positioned to challenge for the podium now....

Monaco's Louis de Montignac presses on, bypassing the pits. Meanwhile, the British driver, John Milk, shifts down to 2nd gear, obviously lining up to take a stop. Yet he fumbles the gear lever. The car barely crawls forward. He will sacrifice yet more time to take a pit stop as a result – it is a terrible turn of events for the Britisher.

Racing out of Lekböjen, the Scottish nationalist, Alastair MacDougall, presses his Amilcar forward with abandon, but misjudges the transition from the ice to the roadway. He falls short of the hairpin at Hårnålskurva and now must shift down hard, opening opportunities for those behind to close the gap and challenge him.

And indeed, like a pack of hungry winter wolves, those four cars form up for the assault on Hårnålskurva. Their sights are set on the blue saltire of the Scot's Amilcar. It will likely become very crowded in the hairpin – and will any yield?

At the tail end, Finland comes around the outside lane of Storkurvan, his engine complaining heavily as Tavho Myrsky seems unwilling to press ahead to regain advantage. The Belgian and Norwegian drivers look across the ice and both they realize that it might be possible to lap the hapless Finn before the end of the race. What an embarrassment for one of the world's greatest ice racing nations. The crowd begins to jeer at the Finn, urging him on to at least try to regain some honor....

Race :: Round 25 - Rychly Charges Forward

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Norway and Belgium skid dangerously out of the Barrböjen chicane. The yellow Duesenberg's tires are shot but the Belgian drives on with abandon. Farther back, Italy shifts down and approaches the curve, glancing back to see the German, equally cautious, shifting down as well.

Coming out of Hårnålskurva, Monaco's Louis de Montignac and the British driver, John Milk, shift up and ram the throttle down, hoping to press ahead and hold on to the lead from the orange Bugatti of Czechoslovakia. Yet there is no chance – Vitez Rychly takes another curve with perfection. The Bugatti roars through the tree-lined hairpin curve, eating up the circuit now.

In a supreme sign of confidence, Rychly has already shifted up to 6th gear coming off the ice. This was an all or nothing play yet again, highlighting talents he learned on the mountain circuits of his homeland. There can be no holding back now as he cuts the corner in a cloud of gravel and dirt. With such speed, the Czech will soon even challenge Hegkman and Orsi up ahead as they come into the Barrböjen chicane.

The Scottish nationalist presses his Amilcar deep into Lekböjen, comfortable now that he has a clear track around him. He sets up to follow Rychly's line into the hairpin, hoping for good luck. Through the forest, he cannot see the British car any longer, but he knows it must be just ahead....

Meanwhile, back at Storkurvan, the Swiss and Portuguese Bugattis press ahead. The French Salmson and the Swedish car fall into a line abreast coming out of the great curve. Finally, still off the pace Finland slides left to the outside lane of Storkurvan. The great Chrysler closes the gap, but only a small bit.