After having attracted around 300 4x4 cars for several years SOT this year made a jump to 350 cars. Depending on that double as many cars showed up showed up in Lapland than previous years.
Last summer was the rainiest since 1862. That’s why it felt fantastic that SOT 2005 offered sunshine every day and temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius. Not a single drop of rain fell during the offroad days, which made the offroad driving unusual easy.
The storm ”Gudrun” in January forced the land owners to remove 2000 fallen down trees before the SOT trails in southern Sweden were drivable!
New area this year was Bäck outside Mariestad and for the first time a car from the Czech Republic took part in SOT.
- The best vacation of my life! You drive in so varied terrain and meet som many nice people. We will drive SOT again in a couple of years! says Jim Fredriksson, Julita, Sweden, who together with his stepson Daniel drove all the days on SOT 2005 in their high-lifted VW Taro 1990. Most SOT participant was of course Michael Miles from England in his trusty Range Rover 1990. He took part for the 7th year out of 10 SOT, and he often drives all the way – all the days, like this year!
SOT traditionally ended at the top of the Luossavaara mountain in Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost city, where the participants could see a hazy sun on Saturday night.
Denmark was largest foreign group with 25 4x4 cars. Followed by: Norway (20), Germany (14), Belgium (3), England (2), Finland (2), Poland (1), Switzerland (1), Austria (1), Czech Republic (1), Holland (1) and Ireland (1).
11th Sweden Offroad Tour goes July 8-23 2006.
Info at http://www.swedenoffroad.com or telephone +46 (0)708-52 99 13.

2.7 SOT Falkenberg

What a difference from last year! Last summer the rain poured down all day at the SOT start in Falkenberg and the cars slided as butter in a hot pan.
But this year it was sunny, hot and dry at SOT Falkenberg on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005!
After last year’s lousy summer (the rainiest since 1862…) you almost forgot how wonderful it is on SOT when the sun shines.
But the heat made the trails record dry in Björnås. Even the special waterhole was completely dry. At the same time the trails were easy to drive and many could try the most difficult parts. The land owner had taken away 300 trees after hurricane ”Gudrun” in January.
But the start only collected 35 4x4 cars. Many long distance participants work on Friday and can not make it to Falkenberg in time. Especially the forigners from the continent.
Regular participant Michael Miles from England showed up in his faithful Range Rover for the 7th time out of 10 SOT! And he wants to drive "all the way - all the days"!
German Willi Hornig has before driven Germany-Mongolia and back (30000 kilometres!). So 3000 kilometres on SOT will probably be an easy drive.
Our fast food stand served hot dogs all day and the participants could enjoy hot food and cold drinks in the sunshine.
We sell our classic blue/yellow SOT-T-shirts and the new Jeep-SOT-piqué-shirts. Both sold well, many people want a nice souvenir from Sweden’s greatest 4x4 adventure.
On E 6 between Falkenberg and Hässleholm the participants could for the first time drive at 120 km/h (instead of 110 km/h). In Sweden they are trying a higher speed limit, but digital signs could lower it when there is congestion or bad weather.
Tomorrow it’s time for the second day at SOT: the former military area Hovdala south of Hässleholm. Shall we break last record with 60 4x4 cars?!

3.7 SOT Hässleholm

Totally 75 4x4 vehicles, including a German group of 6 ATVs and 15 Danish cars, took part in Hässleholm on the 2nd day of 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005!
That is the second best result during SOT’s 10 years, the record is 90 cars in Älvdalen 2001.
Old military areas always attract offroaders. Hovdala is a super area with varied terrain, lots of nice trails, the magnificent leaf tree ravine which is a real rollercoaster, many mudholes and a rocky trail.
The afternoon’s safari uses a new trail outside the offroad area, it was led by Danish local club member Arne Mortensen. Totally 40 cars joined, a new safari record!
The nice summer weather continues, 25 degrees Celsius and a shining sun all day, turned the tour leader into a real "redneck"...
Unfortunately we are not serving thai food this year. But in Hovdala we could enjoy a delicious lunch at Hovdala castle from the 1300’s. A cool dip in lake Finjasjön was necessary during the day.
Little Red 4WD Parts joins SOT and sells recovery equipment. They sold out the Hi-Lifts in two days and will get new ones at Rindab in Stockholm.
Our blue/yellow SOT-T-shirts and Jeep-SOT-piqué shirts are selling well.
Now there is ”only” 13 offroad days left on SOT 2005. Tomorrow Monday July 4 it’s time for Karlshamn and the first weekday on SOT. ”Paradise” offers Sweden’s finest private offroad area on a forest hill.

4.7 SOT Karlshamn

Now things really starts to happen on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 juli 2005! On the 3rd day July 4 totally 65 vehicles showed up in Karlshamn, on a Monday on a boring weekday! That is a record for county Blekinge in the southeast of Sweden!
Maybe it’s the nice summer weather that attracts more people and cars. In fact it’s more fun to drive offroad when the weather is good, and not bad like last year...
”Paradise” offers Sweden’s finest private offroad area. A forest hill with lots of leaf trees and magnificent granite slopes. The dryness and good grip made it possible to drive the afternoon’s safari both down and up the steepest and longest granite slope! The safari was long and varied: 1,5 hours!
But there was also wetness in Karlshamn, thanks to the big swamp where you are allowed to drive free. Someting that the six ATVs from Germany took advantage of, the machines where so muddy they almost brought half the mud home!
The offroading makes it possible to have the 200 years old ”church road” open. Otherwise it would desintegrate, a real culture favour!
The storm ”Gudrun” in January reminded us again. The land owner hade to take away a lot of fallen down trees, but som huge pine tree were still leaning in a spectacular angel in the nature.
As usual doctor Arne Löfqvist with wife from Kristianstad showed up in their trusty Jeep Wrangler. There were many news participants from the middle of Sweden, who wanted to start way down south this year.
Our SOT-T-shirts are still selling well in the lovely sunshine we have!
Tomorrow Tuesday July 5 it’s time for Blekinge Offroad Adventure Camp in Boasjö north of Karlskrona. 10 kilometres of winding trails and Sweden’s finest camp where a wok restaurant is waiting for us. Will there be a Karlskrona-record on this year’s sunny SOT?!

5.7 SOT Karlskrona

The records continues and the sun continues on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005!
SOT Karlskrona attracted 45 cars during the Tuesday, a very good figure for a weekday in the southeast corner of Blekinge, ”the end of Sweden”.
Family Ström from Enköping is taking part for the third year in a row. The father drives his Jeep with the kids and the mother drives her Indian Mahindra-jeep with the dog. Perfect family harmony!
Blekinge Offroad Adventure Camp offers 10 kilometres of fine and winding trails. Although the heat and dryness there were som real mudholes to enjoy.
The sun shone all day and the weather forecastes have promised good weather all of July! Fortunately there was a cool breeze over Boasjö.
The highlight of the day was the lunch break at the camp by the beautiful lake. Fresh woked chicken with rise and sauce was served. Many took the chance to look at the world’s only 6x6 sauna, take a cool swim and paddle a canoe!
Last summer’s lousy weather have made us forget how wonderful it is on SOT when the weather is fine. People are happy and many thank the tour leader for struggling on with Sweden’s greatest 4x4 adventure, especially the forigners, who which they hade someting similar back home.
Also Swedish 4x4 magazine 4 Wheel Drive congratulates SOT on its 10th year anniversy in the new issue, #7-8 2005.
Tomorrow Wednesday it’s time for SOT Vetlanda and Ökna in the deepest of ”dark” Småland. Take the chance to join when sunny SOT sets new records on its way through Sweden!

6.7 Vetlanda

The storm ”Gudrun” had its center over Småland and the land owner made a great job to take away houndreds of fallen down trees. And on the 5th day of 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 juli 2005 we could finally drive in the deep forest of Småland. The land owner had taken away most of the logs but there were still some that the participants hade to roll away to make it through.
Ökna offers a large arae along a mountainside which gives a big height difference.
Under the afteronoon’s safari drive people could tackle most types of terrain: long stony trails, water holes, granite slopes, swamps, piles of rounded stones and open fields.
The weather offers sun and high summer heat with 27 degrees Celsius! Luckily there is a cool wind.
But ”only” 35 cars showed up, maybe the good weather attracts people to other activities.
The dryness makes the terrain easy to drive, but there are always wet parts. The fire danger is high, and several forest fires plagues western Småland. That’s why SOT participants have to be careful with cigarettes and hot exhaust systems.
Tomorrow Thursday it’s time for Värnamo. Last year the city was flooded, but now it will for sure be drier!

7.7 Värnamo

The 6th day on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 juli 2005 offered the warmest day so far: 27 degrees Celsius and no wind!
Although the dryness there were two large mudholes at the farming school’s trails in Ulås east of Värnamo. Several cars choose to roll around in the muddy waters. Totally 35 cars took part, OK for a weekday.
Ulås offers a fun but small offroad area, but enough for six hours of driving.
Today we hade the first particpant from Switzerland, so now six nations has so for taken part in SOT 2005.
The six German ATVs are leaving us today after five days of intense driving. They finished the trip by building a log bridge over a mud passage, and that in the middle of the summer heat...
The weather forecats promised thundershowers during the afternoon. Some dark clouds appeared but no rain fell...
We sell our SOT-T-shirts and Little Red 4WD Parts sells recovery equipment every day.
Tomorrow it’s time for a new offroad area for SOT: village Bäck east of Mariestad.

8.7 Mariestad

Bäck east of Mariestad is a new offroad area for 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005.
A widespread area with long trails and open fields i a beautiful and green landscape. Mostly easy to drive but with some surprisingly tough and wet parts where winches had to be used to get through.
For the 7th day the sun was shining from a clear blue sky and the temperature is 27 degrees Celsius.
Luckily the offroad area is by a nice lake where the participants could cool off.
Totally 35 4x4 cars take part. Honour guest was the offroad representative Lars Carlstedt from Swedish Automobile Sports Federation. Actually it was Lars who got the idea of the first SOT in 1995 where he joined the whole tour. Lars is very happy that SOT has grown during 10 years to be Sweden’s longest 4x4 adventure. He now drives the tour leader’s former Mitsubishi Pajero 1999, which he bought.
One of the participants showed the July issue of Land Rover Owner International where there was a half page article about Sweden Offroad Tour 2005! The text contains only positive words about SOT for those who want to drive offroad in Sweden and also make som tourist sightseeing.
Tomorrow we drive at Brändåsen south of Kumla. It is a popular area and because it’s Saturday we expect a lot of cars and people.

9.7 Kumla

After a couple of calm days on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 juli 2005 the tour was back in business during the Saturday in Kumla! 50 4x4 cars appeared at the popular area in Brändåsen. Och the sun shone for the 8th day in a row!
Although the dryness there was plenty of wet mudholes and trails. But no one dared to try the deepest mudhole. Brändåsen offers an audience friendly area with forest trails, open fields, technical obstacles, hills and mudholes.
The first car from Finland showed up. Now seven nations has taken part in this year’s SOT.
A brand new Land Rover Discovery3 took part, it’s the first time we see the 3rd generation on SOT. The vehicle has 19 inches tires with low profile but aggressive tread! The ground clearance could be lifted another 10 centimetres! The Danish owner didn’t mind driving the expensive car in the toughest places.
The land owner hade his fine fast food stand with freshly grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, sandwiches, cakes, soft drinks, coffee and candy!
The high summer heat makes a cool swim in the nearby lake necessary during the day.
A Jeep Grand Wagoneer 1988 from Switzerland in mint condition showed up at the camping in Kumla, but the owner had instead taken part in the huge US car meeting Power Big Meet in Västerås.
But the SOT participants could check out the big Power-cruising in Västerås during the Saturday evening, on their way to Strängnäs. A chrome shining carnival!
Tomorrow Sunday it’s time for SOT Strängnäs, and because it’s weekend we guarantee a lot of cars!

10.7 Strängnäs

In Strängnäs on the 9th day of 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005 we were hit by totally 70 4x4 cars! The second best number after last Sunday when we hade 75 cars in Hässleholm.
Today we had the first car from Austria, and now eight nations have taken part in this years SOT.
Do we need to say that the 9th day had beautiful high summer heat, nearly 30 degrees Celsius! Although the dryness the mudholes in Sandlycke were wet as always!
The famous motor journalist Christer Gerlach from Stockholm showed up for some offroad training before his 3rd car trip around the world. He is already in the Guinness Book of Records as the most long driving car driver with his two previous trips around the globe.
Roger Lenngren and Indian girlfriend Susan from Enköping took part in their Indian Mahindra-jeep 1977. In February next year they will offer their first offroad trip with Mahindras in Himalaya. So far they have arranged successful motorcycle trips with Royal Enfields in the world’s highest mountain ridge.
This day’s cool swim was taken in lake Mälaren.
The food stand in Sandlycke served cool drinks and hot dogs all day.
Tomorrow it’s time for Ekeby gravel pit south of Stockholm, and we guarantee a lot of cars on this different offroad area near the coast, even though it’s a Monday!

11.7 Stockholm

On the 10th day of 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005 it was time for Ekeby gravel pit with surrounding terrain south of Stockholm.
The area near the coast offers different terrain in form of giant gravel pit, bare granite mountain, winding trails and open free driving areas.
Totally 60 cars took part, a fantastic numbe for a Monday, but we are close to the million-city Stockholm.
Two Belgian cars showed up. So now nine nations have taken part i this year’s SOT, which makes it the by far the most international offroad event in Sweden.
The heat reached a new height: 30 degrees Celsius during the day, and 33 degrees at the bottom of the huge gravel pit!
It looks like it’s going to be the sunniest SOT in 10 years! It felt necessary with a cool dip in the Baltic Sea two kilometres from the offroad area.
During the day a big package arrived with stuff from Jeep for our daily lottery: Jeep-carmodels, Jeep-T-shirts, Jeep-caps and Jeep-keybands.
Tomorrow it’s time for Söderhamn and Norrlandsporten’s skislopes. A different and exciting area with a 300 metres height level difference and spectacular view over the lake Bergsjön and the endless forests.

12.7 Söderhamn

The 11th day on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005 was spent at Norrlandsporten’s long ski slopes west of Söderhamn.
The area has a height level difference of 300 metres which creates long uphill slopes and a fantastic view over the surroundings. This is without doubt the most scenic offroad area on SOT.
Nice that a car from Poland (second time on SOT) and a car from Czech Republic (first time on SOT) showed up. The former east states start to discover Sweden’s greatest 4x4 adventure.
45 4x4 cars took part which is a good number for a weekday in Lapland.
The young guys from the west coast, FAS, Floda Alternative Scouts, join the northern leg of SOT this year, last year they managed the southern leg. They are freecamping in a large military tent and enjos the free and exciting life on SOT.
The heat wave continues and the thermometer showed 30 degrees Celsius once again. Luckily there is the large lake Bergsjön at the foot of the skislopes and many took a cool swim. The tour leader hade to swim three times: morning, midday and afternoon.
Our SOT-T-shirts are almost sold out. Take the chance to buy a nice souvenir before it’s too late.
We continue our daily lottery at 4 pm with nice Jeep carmodels, T-shirts, caps and keybands.

13.7 Härnösand

12th day on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005 attracted 40 cars, a splendid number for Lapland.
Today the first Dutch car arrived, and now 11 countries have taken part in Sweden’s greatest and most international 4x4 adventure.
We drove on the offroad area belonging to Midlanda Motorpark. The participants could enjoy various types of terrain: amotorcross track, forest trails, granite mountain, muddy ditches, the Swedish ”myr”-swamps and open fields. Especially the granite mountain was literally the highlight of the day.
On the Wednesday evening the motorpark hade its traditional enthusiast car meeting with drag racing, racing and more offroad! The SOT participants could drive anothrer 4 hours offroad if they wanted!
Of course it was another sunny day with 28 degrees Celsius and cool dips in the lake by the camping.
At the motorshow at Midlanda motorpark in the evening the offroad class was won by Conny Örnesved from Stockholm in his modified Jeep Wrangler 1998 and he got a nice trophy!
Tomorrow we have the only travel day on SOT 2005. But on Friday July 15 we drive at Marieberg Wildlife Farm northwest of Kalix, among reindeers and wildboars!

15.7 Kalix

The 13th offroad day on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005 offered the most exotic driving. We were driving at Marieberg Wildlife Farm northwest of Kalix. Inside a 3 square kilomtres large fenced area there are wandering deers and reindeers, plus wildboars in a smaller place.
The car convoy steered inte to the wildlife area and right out in the wilderness. The participants are free to drive along trails, open fields, untouched wilderness and in a creek.
The lunch was served at the ”forest restaurant” out in the wilderness with wildboar saucages, fried potatoes, chopped cucumber, salad, drink and coffee.
At 3 pm we looked at the military vehicle museum, where participants had the chance to go with a track machine.
Finally people visited the wildboars, but we are not allowed to ride them anymore, due to Swedish bureaucracy...
We are now a core group on SOT who all want to go to Kiruna. The team spirit between the international participants is great!
In the evening we drove up the treeless 820 metres high ”fjäll”-mountain Dundret outside Gällivare, to enjoy the breathtaking view over Lapland. They say that you could see 11 percent of Sweden from the top!
The evening was rounded up with a coffee break in the ”top hut” were waffles, whipped cream and cloudberry jam was served.
Tomorrow it’s time for the giant gravel pit in Gällivare and our trip to the deserted ghost mining village Nautanen!

16.4 Gällivare

The 14th offroad day on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005 offered a nice surprise: totally 50 4x4 cars showed up! Thanks to lokal SOT partners Kjell-Owe Mickelsson
and Maria Larsson, who heavily promoted Sweden’s greatest 4x4 adventure together with ad company imega.se in Gällivare.
Also local newspaper NSD, Norrländska SocialDemokraten, made a big feature in colour.
We drove in the giant gravel pit Sarkas, with lots of sandy hills and waterholes.
A large audience arrived so it become a like a festival feeling. Plus the best lunch service so far with freshly grilled hamburgers/hotdogs and homebaked bakery, and last but not least icecold drinks from at big box filled with ice. Perfect because Gällivare offered a sunny day.
The SOT participants could also test drive the ATV Arctic Cat from the local retailer.
The day ended with a convoy drive to abandoned ghost mining village Nautanen to have a look at desertet houses, mines and the magnificent view.
At midnight some of the SOT participants took a preview of the midnight sun in Kiruna because the weather were unusually good!
Tomorrow Sunday is the 15th and last SOT day, as always in Kiruna, the northernmost city in Sweden.

17.7 Kiruna

15th and last offroad day on 10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005 was traditionally arranged in Kiruna, were we offered a Magical Mystery Offroad Tour. The area looks like the legendary Kättilstorp-meet in southern Sweden, with winding sandy hills, but where the pinetrees were changed to ”fjäll”-birch trees.
Although the dryness there were plenty of nice water passages. The safari went on a new trail leading to a nice clearwaterlake, where many participants took the chance for a cool swim. Totally 40 4x4 cars took part, a new record for Kiruna! And totally 70 people took part in the farewell dinner at the camping restaurant, were typical Laplandish food was served: reindeer stew, mashed potatoes, lingonberries, ”thinbread” and lingonberry drink.
As usual only a few participants went ”all the way – all the days” during the 15 offroad days because it’s really a challenge: Michel Miles from England plus Daniel and Jim Fredriksson from Julita in Sweden.
After the dinner we drove up two mountains: first Kirunavaara to look at the huge mining area and then Luossavaara to look at the midnight sun, which we didn’t see because of clouds, but did see the night before!
10th Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005 set a new record with totally 350 4x4 cars from 13 countries during 15 sunny offroad days. A clear contrast to last year’s lousy rainy summer...
To celebrate the 10th anniversary we draw a winner out of the 350 drivers who won free driving on all Sweden Offroad Tour and the Terrain Touring-meetings in Sweden during 2006, worth 1000 Euro! The winner was Nicklas Johannesen from Bjärnum in Sweden, who with his Nissan King Cab 1987 took part in SOT Hässleholm!
Thanks to everybody who joined recordbraking SOT 2005!

Summary Sweden Offroad Tour July 2-17 2005:

Date: July 2-17 2005.
Offroad locations: Falkenberg-Hässleholm-Karlshamn-Karlskrona-Vetlanda-Värnamo-Mariestad-Kumla-Strängnäs- Stockholm-Söderhamn-Härnösand-Kalix-Gällivare-Kiruna. 15 locations during 16 days!
Jubilee of The Year: 10 years since we started Sweden Offroad Tour!
Record of The Year: Totally 350 4x4 cars from 12 countries, after having around 300 during the last years.
Partners: Jeep, Dunlop, Warn, Rindab, On & Offroad, auto motor & sport, Motor-Life, SBF, KAK och Försvaret.
Largest: SOT Hässleholm with 75 4x4 cars. Former military area, Sunday and sunny weather contributed.
Smallest: SOT Mariestad with 35 4x4 cars.
Biggest surprise: That double as many 4x4 cars as usual showed up on the northern leg of SOT.
Largest foreign group: Denmark with 25 4x4 cars. Followed by: Norway (20), Germany (14), Belgium (3), England (2), Finland (2), Poland (1), Swtizerland (1), Austria (1), Tjeck Republic (1), Holland (1), Ireland (1). SOT is truly international!
All the way - all the days: Michael Miles, England, Range Rover TD 1990 plus Daniel and Jim Fredriksson, Julita, Sweden, VW Taro pickup 1990. An achievement!
Most SOT participant: Michael Miles, England, Range Rover TD 1990. Has taken part in 7 out of 10 SOT - and mostly all the way!
Long distance: Petr Coufac and his two ons from Austria in a Jeep Wrangler 1995.
Biggest hero 1: Totally paralysed Conny Örnesved, from Täby outside Stockholm, in a rebuilt Jeep Wrangler 1998, who showed that nothing can stop a real offroaders! Had to quit last year because of a drowned gearbox, but made it all the way to Kiruna this summer.
Biggest hero 2: The tour leader who on his way home winched away a fallen down tree on the road that blocked the traffic between Åtvidaberg and Ringarum in Southern Sweden.
Winner of The Year 1: To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of SOT we draw a vinner from all the 350 drivers in SOT who got free participating in SOT and all Terrain Touring (Saturday Offroad Meetings) for 2006, worth 1.000 Euro: The winner is Nicklas Johannesen from Bjärnum in Skåne, in his Nissan King Cab 1987 who took part in SOT Hässleholm 3.7!
Winner of The Year 2: Conny Örnesved from Täby outside Stockholm who won a trophy for best 4x4 during the Motor Show in Härnösand, same evening as SOT Härnösand 13.7.
Winner of The Year 3: Everyone who won sponsor stuff every day on SOT, specially the fine Jeep car models.
Promotors of The Year: Kjell-Owe Mickelsson and Maria Larsson who together with ad company imega.se did that double as many 4x4 cars than usual (totally 50) and a large audience showed up at SOT Gällivare 16.7.
Sign of The Year: The 5 metres long blue/yellow Sweden Offroad Tour sign at the entrance to Gällivare.
Honour guest of The Year 1: Lars Carlstedt, Tomelilla, from Swedish Automobile Sports Federation, in the tour leaders former Mitsubishi Pajero at SOT Mariestad 8.7. It was Lars who originally come up with the idea of Sweden Offroad Tour!
Honour guest of The Year 2: Motor journalist Christer Gerlach from Stockholm at SOT Strängnäs 10/., to do some training for his third car trip around the world. He is already in Guinness Book of Records for his two earlier one-man-trips around the planet.
Finest Jeep: A Jeep Grand Wagoneer 1988, in gold metallic and wooden decor from Switzerland in mint condition, at the camping in Kumla 9.7. But refused to drive offroad, after visiting the huge US car meeting Power Big Meet (10000 US cars!) in Västerås.
Most winchning: The tour leader car's Warn-wich had to work several times daily on SOT.
Worst breakdown: Dutch Michiel van Duyvendijk showed up in SOT Härnösand 13.7 with his recently rebuilt Land Rover Discovery 1997. But immediately brok his steering bar and got a toe in, in the deep forest. Rescued and welded by local Jeepers, but did not dare to continue on SOT.
Service of The Year: Rindab retailer Little Red 4WD Parts who sold recovery equipment during SOT.
Sunniest. Whole damn SOT 2005! Except for the last afternoon in Kiruna.
Dryest: SOT Falkenberg 2.7, not a singel drop of moist, even the "waterhole" was completely dry...
Rainiest: What rain?! Not a single raindrop fell during 15 days of offroading. But there were still mudholes on all locations except Falkenberg.
Warmest: SOT Stockholm 11.7. At the bottom of Ekeby gravel pit the temperature reached 33 degrees Celsius. Followed by 30 degrees in Strängnäs 10-7 and Söderhamn 12.7. A real heatwave!
Coldest: SOT Kiruna 17.7. At the top of Luossavara mountain: 13 degrees Celsius.
Best lunch: SOT Gällivare 16.7. Fresh grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, homebaked and most important: icecold drink from a box full of ice. Perfect in the summer heat!
Best dinner: Farewell dinner at SOT Kiruna 17.7: 100 percent lapish: reindeer stew, homemade mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam, "thinbread" and lingonberry juice!
Best coffee brake 1: At the "top house" at the top of Dundret mountain outside Gällivare 15.7 with a view over one tenth of Sweden: fresh waffles with whipped cream and cloudberry jam!
Best coffee brake 2: The 50' style café at village Hälla, by road 90 between Sollefteå and Åsele: untouched and genuine furnishing from 1953. And delicate bakery!
Midnight sun: SOT Kiruna 17.7, on Saturday we saw the sun in a little haze, but on Sunday it was too clouded.
Bästa swim: SOT Söderhamn 12.7. Three swims - morning, noon, aftoernoon - in the biglake Bergviken just by the foot of the ski slopes/offroad area. Perfect when it is 30 degrees Celsius in the air.
Reindeer of The Year: The white albino between Kalix and Gällivare.
Next SOT: 11th Sweden Offroad Tour July 8-23 2006.
Partners: Jeep, Dunlop, Warn, Rindab, On & Offroad, auto motor & sport, Motor-Life, SBF, KAK och Försvaret.