Where in life were you in 2003? Saddam lost power, Mulla Krekar became a national celebrity, the UN weapons inspector found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas, people feared a pandemic with a SARS outbreak, we danced slowly to “She’s so high” by Kurt Nilsen and quickly to Folk Og Røvere’s “Utadæsjælåpplevelse” and Johnny Cash died. An eventful year. And so it was at Gatebil. At the time, Gatebil was in the middle of “puberty”. If we are to confirm where the still young festival was in its life cycle.
Speaking of which, the 2003 film was perhaps first and foremost known for its above-average “humid scenes”. And we’re not talking about the dizzying weather at Vålerbanen, but the 100% humidity in the shower at a fitness center in Mjøndalen. NRK profile and fun man, Glenn Rodney Skog (actually Geir Schau) led us with a twinkle in his eye through two hours of car entertainment. At his side was Helene Rask, the most high-profile “glamour model” and street car babe of the time. The entertainment on stage was provided by fiddler and car enthusiast Rune Rudberg. The men’s magazine “Vi Menn” provided a professional stage show. Accompanied by audience members who found it appropriate to impulse organize their own short (and occasionally long) more or less professional(?) and dressed shows. Fortunately, not everything was suitable for film at the time. But just enough to keep the entertainment factor high, even over 20 years later.
On the track, the focus was completely different. Hans Dahlback and his tough VW Golf RS were once again on everyone’s lips. Leif Nilsen had really got the hang of his original Audi S1. Stian “Pedern” Pedersen showed up with his SupraMannen-trimmed Toyota – and drives so fast that the extinguisher had to be brought out in a hurry. Street car boss Hans Jørgen Andersson shows off his grimy Gr. A Escort, while the poison green KRH Volvo spun tires at such a pace that the newly established tire king of the time, Tommy Sharif, was left with drool in the corner of his mouth. Andreas Vaa makes his debut with his Fast & the Furious-Supra. Magnor Mydland’s multi-thousand-horse Granada gets both applause – and a bit of adult abuse – after a disorderly children’s show.
The Christmas event in 2003 really put Gatebil on the entertainment map. The partly unknown car event suddenly competed with Norway’s biggest music festivals in terms of visitor numbers. Old Rudskogen showed its best side, with glorious sunshine and a great atmosphere. We can see the contours of a properly established car show on the go-kart track. In recent years, partners large and small have opened their eyes to what was once a small group of friends who wanted to drive on a race track. The queues to get in stretch far beyond Route 111, both ways. The Peugeot Cup gave the public the opportunity for a long-awaited hamburger break, while in Gatebil’s Racing Series we see profiles such as Atle Guldbrandsen (Formula 1 commentator) and Vidar Jødahl fighting for trophies.
In 2003, Breisladden became a serious competition, and Anders Standahl and his Ford Capri won first place. Kenneth Moen, one of Norway’s best drivers in recent times, had not yet devoted himself 100% to sladding, but spent his Gatebil time on contemporary styling with camel paint and bubble bath. Frode Jørgensen charged freshly in his extreme Audi S2. Jocke Qvarnström drove his Porsche as if he had the police in his rear-view mirror – in an epic showdown with the “Street Car of the Year 2003”, Lasse Nicolai’s Escort MK2. The latter won in the race car class, while Andreas Vaa walked away with the styling prize. The prize for both boys was a trip to Las Vegas, accompanied by a companion – which is part of the bonus material in this film. From then on, Street Car of the Year was established as a serious competition, where people really got stuck in to building cars that could hold their own. The bonus material also included visits to garages, a trip to Dalback Racing and various car shows and events Gatebil attended. Come on: take a seat in the Delorean! Then we’ll put 2003 on display!
…and would you be tempted to pay a visit to Gatebil while watching a movie? Read all about Gatebil on Vålerbanen 23. – 25. may here: https://gatebil.no/2025-valerbanen-23-25-mai/