The vast landscapes of Scandinavia and the Baltics are known for their rugged terrain, long distances, and harsh winters. For Haulotte’s technical trainer Jonas Paterson, these challenges are all part of the job. Responsible for training technicians across eight countries, Jonas ensures that both Haulotte’s field teams and customers have the technical know-how to minimize unnecessary service interventions. But when he’s not training, he takes on challenges of a different kind, like the Carbage Run.
A unique rally: The Carbage Run explained
The Carbage Run is an adventure rally designed for thrill-seekers who want to explore the road less traveled. Unlike high-end races like the Gumball 3000, this event focuses on creativity, endurance, and fun.
Jonas explains the spirit of this race: “it’s not about speed; it’s more about having fun. The race is a community with people from all walks of life that get together and do fun things and see a lot of countryside zones that you usually don’t see when you visit another country”.
Participants drive cars that must be at least 25 years old and cost no more than €1,000. The rally isn’t about speed but about experiencing remote landscapes, completing scavenger-hunt type of missions, and embracing the camaraderie of fellow adventurers.
For Jonas, the inspiration to join the Carbage Run came from a conversation with a colleague at Haulotte, who recounted a similar event in Tunisia. Intrigued, Jonas researched the rally and decided to take part. This year, the winter edition, called the “Highway to Hel(sinki)”, a witty play on words, took him on an unforgettable 3,000 km journey through Sweden and Finland.
The journey: from Helsingborg to Helsinki
The rally kicked off in Helsingborg, Sweden, and covered a route that included Örebro, Sundsvall, Luleå, and Rovaniemi, before heading south through Finland and concluding in Helsinki. Unlike conventional road trips, the Carbage Run routes deliberately avoid highways, steering participants toward gravel roads, icy trails that border dense forests.
Driving in these conditions is no easy endeavor, especially in a car built decades ago. Jonas’s vehicle of choice was a Toyota Corolla AE82 from 1984, a 75-horsepower front-wheel-drive car with over 230,000 km. With minor rust issues and a gearbox that had seen better days, the Corolla was put to the ultimate endurance test.
Beyond the race itself, the journey was filled with spontaneous interactions that highlighted the camaraderie of the road. When Jonas and his team spotted the “Cramo” sign in Luleå, Sweden, they made an impromptu visit.
« I parked the car near the entry and walked in, » Jonas recalls. « At the counter, I was greeted by two girls, and I introduced myself. » When he explained the Carbage Run and asked to borrow a Haulotte lift for a photograph, the staff was more than willing to help, excited by the uniqueness of the event. « The Toyota became the focus of the staff and customers at Cramo that morning, » Jonas shares, « standing in as the backdrop for several selfies. »
Mechanical challenges along the way
The first challenge arose before the rally even began, two days before departure, the clutch failed. Jonas spent an entire night in the workshop making urgent repairs, finishing just two hours before hitting the road. During the rally, the gearbox developed a worrying noise, prompting him to search for a replacement. In a stroke of luck, he found one for sale in the middle of the Swedish countryside and carried it with him, though he never had to install it.
One of the most dramatic moments came while driving through a snowstorm in northern Finland. The snow was so deep that the Corolla skidded off course, damaging the undercarriage. To keep things intact, Jonas and his team wrapped a rope around the car securing it so tightly that the doors couldn’t open, forcing them to climb in through the backseat.
Lessons from the Carbage Run: a technician’s perspective
While the Carbage Run is all about fun and adventure, it also reinforced key principles that Jonas applies in his professional life. As a technical trainer working in Scandinavia, he understands the importance of preparation. In his field, service technicians often travel long distances, sometimes up to 14 hours one way, to reach customers. A well-prepared technician can mean the difference between a quick fix and a costly, time-consuming delay.
“In both my job and the Carbage Run, being prepared is crucial. You never know what will go wrong, but if you anticipate potential issues and plan accordingly, you can minimize downtime and keep things moving,” Jonas explains.
This experience also highlighted the importance of adaptability. In remote places, with limited access to spare parts or assistance, improvisation becomes key.
The spirit of the Carbage Run: more than just a race
With over 400 cars and 1,000 participants, the Carbage Run is about more than just driving, it’s about community. People from diverse backgrounds take part, from mechanics to doctors, all united by a love for adventure. Each day includes unique scavenger hunt-style missions, such as finding the oldest IKEA catalog in Sweden or the oldest car tire in Romania. These challenges add an extra layer of excitement and sense of community among participants.
Other encounters along his journey enhanced the Carbage Run spirit. Jonas reached out to Pekka, a field technician from Pekkaniska, whom he had met through Haulotte.
“Since I know many of our customers and their technicians personally, it’s natural to give them a call if I’m in the neighborhood,” Jonas says.
The two met at a hotel in Kuopio, Finland, where they snapped a picture of the Corolla alongside Pekka’s service van, another symbol of shared experiences and a bright example of the spirit on the road.
Reflecting on the experience, Jonas encourages anyone with an adventurous spirit to give it a try: “If you enjoy a good challenge and want to see parts of the world you’d never normally visit, this is for you. The number one rule of the Carbage Run is simple: have fun.”
From long-haul training missions across Scandinavia to rallying through snow-covered forests in an aging Toyota Corolla, Jonas Paterson thrives on overcoming challenges. His participation in the Carbage Run, Highway to Helsinki, was not just an adventure but a testament to resilience, preparation, and adaptability.
Whether on the job at Haulotte or on the road with fellow rally enthusiasts, Jonas embraces the unpredictable, making the most of every journey, one kilometer at a time. He particularly thanks everyone who helped when they were lost, to Cramo Luleå for assisting with the Star 10 lift and sharing valuable road tips, to Pekka from Pekkaniska for the great conversations and laughs, and to all the fellow ‘Runners’ of the Highway to Helsinki for the unforgettable stories, camaraderie, and shared adventures.
Keep up the Carbage Run spirit!