We choosed to continue fast, and maximize our time to see and experience, so for Monday program, we headed for the mother city of all Wolkswagens – Volfsburg, as we wanted to visit Autostadt.

We where wery friendly welcomed by Alex, who gave us a short intoduction to the major carcity, and after a pizza, we started using our leg muscles to take us through all the interesting different pavillions of the park. ( about the park, please see more on www.autostadt.de ) . Many of us had high expectations of the Lamborghini Pavillion, but still, I think everybody liked most the pavillion with old nostalgic cars and cool decorations.

Alex told us that beginning of summer had been wery rainy in Germany aswell, and as this was the first day of warm sunshine, t-shirts got of, icecream was good and the guys in the red BMW took the cabriolet roof down. We continued Autobahn driving with some tricky questions and games by Kirsi, to which Ari without even hearing the answers had the total answer – CANADA !

After this, the word became to be a frase, used along the road in various meanings, especially when feeling a taste of tireness in driving. Monday, however went on with Autbahn driving west to the Essen area. Some of the cars, the BMW M3, the Porsche 911 and the Vectra enjoyed driving over 200, as we others came a bit slower behind.

In Essen we found a good hotel right in the center with good parking and all the fun nightactivities around us. Some enjoyed only some food and beers, but some went all the way, discovering the nightlife of Essen. Late and Co in the BMW Cabrio was though looking for sun lotions, as the drive on highway without shirts was giving them a nice red tan.

In the morning, we also found a good place to wash the cars, to get ourselves ready for some show, but as we where just finished, tuesday seemed to turn in to a wery rainy and gray day. However, it did not bother us too much, as we where invited to the facilities of RAID tuningcompany.( please visit www.raidhp.de )

We got an introduction in to the world of racing with Raid filters, the amazing finish of their steering wheels etc, we were aplied with a gift and also got the chance to make some shopping. One wery famous item was the poweramplified speakers built in to a look a like Nos bottle. We wisited also D&W Tuningmarket in Bochum, where we finally met up with our Danish Tourprticipants Björn and Lasse, with their charming ladies, and a trailer, with a covered up car, with the looks of a Peugeot 206. We where eager to take a closer look at the car, but because of the rain we waited for next day carshow, in Belgium.

At this point, the Nissan 200 brakes was gone, only spreading a gold dust on the big chromed wheels, and something had to be done immediteately. We tried to find a Nissan dealer, only to find out it would take up to 2-3 days to get the parts. Hmmm, not so good, so we kept on fighting, looking through different car spareparts shops, and finally, we found one, who could get the parts ordered, overnight.

In the morning, we left Juha and Minna behind us to get the new parts installed, and drive directly to Frankfurt, as the tourgroup headed for the Car Show in Belgium. On the boarder we where met by wery curious custom inspectors, who where xtremely interested in the cars. Some hours later, we entered this special car show area, in Rillaar, a bit north of Brussels. We had a wonderful and professional meeting, as we where helped and guided into the center of the show, where a special area was reseved for the Euro Tour Vikings. The Car Show was nice, consisting of good Belgian Tuningtaste ( as usual, in Belgium ), and we had the chance to meet some of our dear Belgian friends that we knew from past Shows in Finland, they had visited. And we will see them again in France, at Magny Cours.

The show had overall interesting cars, and of our finnish cars, Risto and Virpis Celica, was the one who got the crowds attention, with the massive hifisystem, lambodoors, Nos system and the magic finish. Of the Belgian language we did not understand much, however, at the end of the show, we found out they had a special price for the Viking group, who Björn from Denmark won, with his all under and inside painted and chromed ShowCar, a Peugeot 206, with matt black paint, airsusupension and huge black Racingwheels. Thanks to meguairs, we were given a wery good info about carfinishing, by Sven, who also gave all particiopants a carcare bag for the road. Thank You...

At the show, a huge heatwave svept over, given us hot weather and sunshine, but in the end a little thunderstorm. We got on the road again, enjoyed driving and some of the new parts that were already installed. Our muscle boys from Kotka, Jani and Mikko, in the BMW M3 had now a pair of angeleyes installed in the car, to make the donuts at the U turns look even more agressive, in the dark. – PIMP MY RIDE !..

A lot of plans and dreams where now completed, and time had come to get everything out on the road. Some Euro tour participants gathered already for a day on the racetrack on Ahvenistos Racetrack, on Saturday 17.07 On program some car show, but mostly free driving on the testtrack with various street cars (see www.glamour.fi).

One of the tour team, Minna & Juha enjoyed the track, that much, that he used up a major part of his fresh Nissan brake parts, just to start the tour with. A slight problem we have to get back to.

But at saturday evening, all Euro Tour participants gather at the harbour in Helsinki, for a sea cruise with Viking Line. Seacruise started with the traditional buffet consisting of the traditional scandinavian specialities. At first, there was a slight tense feeling in the air, as nobody yet knew each other, or what was actually going to happen out on the roads. It was soon fixed with some drinks, and soon there was so many questions to be answered, and hectic planning and storytelling. er that , it was getting time for the midnightshow, and before we all realized it, sun was up spreading light over the beautiful arkipelago.

And what we all had been waiting for was about to start. to get our kicks out on Route E4, and drive south. Before leaving, Toni , did a oilchange in his slick Porsche 911, which was a good thing. Somehow, a part of the oil managed to find its way to a little corner of the motorcompartement, which later caused a stop, when caravan had to stop fast, and the oil spread out on the exhaustpipe, causing some scary smoke scenes on the road,Besides this small incident, no other problems where detected, except the fact that Nissans brakeparts, where getting just worse,and worse.

A caravan of various bright colours and different carmakes and styles cruised through Sweden, and as sun was beautifully getting down, the caravan drove over the massive bridges to and in Denmark. In head of us, was Risto and Virpi, who drove their wery special Toyota Celica ( as they had participated inMantorp, the day before ), and we all waited to catch up with them on the road. The Tuning music in the cars got only harder and wilder, and to a hectic tempo, the tuning caravan drove into the Danish night, heading for a hotel. Ari & Co from Tampere, put on the ultimate night show, as Ari turned on all neons on his wery shiny Orange Corrado. Both under the car, as well as inside his car, it was a true pleasure for the eyes, as caravan thunder kept going over brides, through tunnels and finaly we stoped on the border to Germany.

No good hotel was found, but we met up with Risto and Virpi. After a short introduction to the other tour participants, driving tempo accelerated, as it was time to feel the freedom of speeding on the German Autobahn.

We came to Lubeck for a first night stop. The place we found Ws a truckers motel, with mostly finnish drivers, who got wery interested in all cars. We thought others in he area would also would be, so some of us slept in the car of safety reasons.

When it became clear that we are going to do a first Euro Tour, it seemed like there was plenty of time to get cars built, tuned and fixed before getting out on the road. Sometimes time moves faster than dreams, and only those really hardworking tuners are those who will be enjoying a working dream car of their own on this tour. The others, will drive with 30, 50 or 70 % ready cars, and will spend part of the driving, dreaming about finishing the car. However, the main thing is leaving, getting out from Your hometown, out of garage and enjoy driving, good friends and Your car as it is today. Finishing the car can wait, and visiting new countries, experiencing new cool cars and their owner, will most likely give ideas and inspiration for the finishing of the car, or, new projects.

Last weeks, participants have been working late on their cars to get them ready for the tour. Some more, other less, and on D-day for start, we´ll see who has been working hard, who less, and how many of all tourparticipants registered for the tour, will actually be ready to get there out on the roads of Europe.

Some interesting cars owners had already have to cancel, but on the whole, its seems like an interesting group of different car brands, styles and colours will actually soon be joining each others company, heading south. Start of summer in Finland has been really rainy, so everybody is hopefully waiting for warm and sunny weather.From Finland, 2 participants has already left, and will be joining the group later, while 2 will leave later tha the other, and catch up with the others along the road.

"Toni", has not been on the lazy side, and his 2Fin2Fun Porsche 911 was already last summer a cool and fast street car, influenced in his own way by the Fast and Furious boom. Last winter, he went all over the car again. New spare parts, bigger brakes and wheels, a new Bilstein coilover suspension, he installed a roll cage in the car and has finished the interior to the maximum in new leather, with a new pair of race inspired Recaro seats and all the latest technology from Pioneer.( Pics ) He will certainly be one of them who will enjoy autobahn, and who desires to visit Nurnburg Ring. Others, have also been creative. "Marko", for instance was not pleased with Opels choise to manufacture Vectra only as a 4 door version. So, he did the full bodywork, changing the car to a smooth 2 door coupe. He has got a really trick flakepaint completed, but interior will still wait for finishing state, therefor he still wish to talk about his prototype,while travelling in between building. Others results, we are soon about to see. And some really wild ideas never came further from their design studium ( PP Design ) to the paintbox. We are looking forward to experience the styles of southern Europes Tuners, and come home to continue an never ending Spicy story.

Besides oilchanges, adjusting wheel cambers etc, there is one new invention, whis is the optimal tool and help to help make a voyage safe, easier, quicker and more economical. Its the installation and usage of the new navigation systems in cars, which will help the driver to find an adress easier and will calculate the most economical way to the destination Traditional units are a pain to install, and takes quite a time to get running properly. Now, on the market You can find a revolutionary new way of navigating with Magellan.Their new unit for cars are simply mounted on the cars dashboard, or on windshield inside and needs only to be plugged into the cigarette lighter. Unit is amazingly user friendy, and will be of big help in big cities, where traffic is hectic, and the names of the streets hard to find. as You drive, the unit will tell and show You the way from Your home all the way to Your destination.It may warn You of when to turn, and if You have made a wrong turn, it will even guide You on the right track again. And if You are getting bored with the males voice, You can switch to female voice or vica versa. Magellan, please take me to Magny Cours. Magellan !

In order to start our Euro Tour properly, we wanted to visit a dear friend of us all - The real Santa Claus, who lives in Northern Finland in Rovaniemi, Where the artic circle begins. Here on the boarder between Southern Finlands florishing civilisation and Northern Finlands unique wilderness, we managed to get hold of Santa Claus, in between his sleeping hours. He wished all Tour participants happy and safe travelling for theroads of Europe, and we are looking forward to see him again, in six months from now, for Christmas.

While visiting Rovaniemi, we joined in for Rovaniemis new Tuning & Styling Show, hosted by European Tuning & Styling Association ( more known under the name of Roll Over Tuning ). Happening consisted of 2 parts, a friday night Redneck Race ( 201 m ) and a Reindeer Cruising and Show at Laplands new Lappi arena. Racing started at 21 and went on until 02 in the morning. Many persons from Southern Finland, wondered how that was possible but understood soon that at this time of the year, sun never sets at the arctic circle. A place, that can be awful dark and cold in winter, is the complete opposite in summer for a hectic tourist season. And the sun was strong, so strong, that participants necks got really red.In the race there where many interesting wehicles, from fast euro cars to American drag cars, some really fast bikes and of course a really fast snowmobile on wheels.See and read more on www.rollover-tuning.com

Next day, car enthusiasts gathered in the Lappi Arena, for a Hifi and Tuning Show. On place where some of Northern Finlands most spectacular show cars, and outside the arena there was cruising and burnout activities. Inside, there was a feeling of "Hot Import Nights", with good music, show cars and special lightning effects. And what would a good car show be without pretty Tuning girls, that was on hand for a competition of their own. The girl competition was won by Laplands own sweet lady, Irina Juotasniemi, who also won herself a trip to autumns most Xtreme Car Show, 23-24.10 in Helsinki, where Irina will be among the Car shows Car Babes finalists, who will compete for this seasons hot Car Babe title.

Within the show, there where some of the 1# Euro Tour participants who gathered for the show and some party time on saturday night. When night club was closed, and participants left the club with the Hotel escalator, they could not believe their eyes when getting up from the dark bottom floor, as the sun was already high on the sky, 03.30 in the morning. It was time for some breakfast, some sleep and getting ready to test drive cars for the actual Xtreme Euro Tour ( part 2 ), who will start in 2 weeks, 17.07 from Helsinki. Before that there will be a lot of work, preparing the cars for the road, and a possible extra trip to "Gatebil" happening , in Norway, 10 -11.07. Helsinki - Rovaniemi - Helsinki is now done, a trip of about 1600 km of Finlands most beautiful landscape. See you soon , on the road again.