We, the university motoring club, had a "winter rally" last 
thrusday/friday. First spent some quality time at
Nokian tyres test track (also a rallycross track). The roads could
not have been much more slippery, ice with some powdery snow on top
of it. Spent almost three hours going around the track... first 
we tried to be sensible and have only two or three cars (lap times
were just over a minute) at the same time on the track, but later
there were nine cars. Mostly sideways at 5-90km/h. Next cars headlights
in the mirror, and driving 110%. One Saab (90) ended up on top of a snowpile
which took some time to get out of, and everybody spun a few times -
but the snow was soft so mostly no damage except to a Talbot
which somehow destroyed most rubber suspension bushings (very, very
odd. OTOH, the same car had rear suspension arms rust enough
to have +-15 degrees camber last autumn). 

Rest of the evening was spent driving around small roads, trying to identify
objects at checkpoints and a special assignment, assembling a miniatyre
airplane engine (pile with 40% extra parts) - without telling what
it was of course. Now, after about 5 km from the start, Eppu
(my navigator) said the roads seem to have pretty good traction, let's
maintain a quick pace. I agreed. Three turns later, at ~70km/h
on a left-hander, we find that 
a) we need 38% more traction
b) we would have needed 15% less entry speed
The road was tilted to the outside of the turn, which did NOT help.
In a 4-wheel drift we slide towards the ditch, I try to keep us
pointed to the right direction (successful) and out of the ditch
(not successful). Tail drops to the ditch as the soft snow
offered little resistance (if it would have, tail would have bounced
back to the road with no problems), and the front follows soon.
At that point, I probably expressed myself with some mild profanity.
Thump. We have stopped. About 160cm lower than the road surface, at the
bottom of the ditch, in 70cm of snow. Hmmm. The engine is still running.
Oil pressure ok. Don't think we have hit anything solid.
But we were NOT going to get out of the ditch without help...
Lending a cellphone from a passer-by (one in five Finns has one,
I guess I'm #2 and Eppu #3 as we don't), we call the Range Rover monster
truck to pull us up. Some 30 minutes later, we were back on the road.
Engine bay was absolutely stacked with snow, that had to be gotten
rid of first. Only some fender damage (same corner that got 
wrapped in the moose encounter). Started the engine, and checked 
for leaks. None, and no marks of any fluid loss in the ditch either.
The rest of the evening was spent at slightly more careful speeds
to unknown bends as that seemed to result in better average speed ;)

Later we were supposed to cross a lake through an ice road, but
we managed not to find the right one in the darkness. We did find
the beach though, and drove some 50 meters to the ice, then the
top layer started giving up under the tyres... without stopping, we 
quickly turn back towards solid ground. No, we are not crossing
the lake at this unplowed point. Some even bigger nutters 
did, in a Huyndai Pony for crying out loud! They spent an hour
and the half on the 5km. Following back and forth on tracks
that usually ended at a hole in the ice. They also managed
to avoid a big hole, about 3 times 6 meters... and finally
found the other beach, at some summer cottage and climbed up.
They had gottes stuck many many times when falling though the first
weak layer of ice, which required some pushing with wet feet. 
See, we weren't the only ones having fun ;)

After spending half an hour trying to find the right ice road,
we gave up and went around the lake (added 70km). This lost enough time
that all the following checkpoints had been gathered already.
Then it was time to find the cottage at the national park.
For some reason, this seemed to be in the only god-forsaken
territory with almost no roadsigns. Naturally, we got lost
at around the 4th or 5th consecutive intersection with no signs.
Roads got smaller and smaller, and there was more and more snow
on the road with less and less tyre tracks. To our delight, 
battery voltage seemed to be going down as well, lights
got pretty dim at idle. Time to start using only the absolutely
necessary applications. In addition to engine with fuel pumps which
suck 25A already, we had twin long beams, blower, interior light
and stereo on..., and the 1/3 dead alternator just wasn't up 
to the task. Can it get better than to be *somewhere* in the middle
of nothing, -10C weather, complete darkness at 11PM, no phone or signs
of civilisation in the last 20km and under 11V at battery?
Yes it can. We also had only about 15liters of fuel left, and average
fuel consumption of 14-16l/100km... Finally we reach a larger
road, and find a nearly deserted "village" of less than 10 buildings.
A gas station. Closed. A phone booth. Died after a couple of rings
and then accepted no money. No radiator fan, which brought coolant
temperature just below red line while waiting. We are really having
fun by now. I vote that we try once again, this time with somewhat
more accurate interpretation of the map than up to this point
"a bit more/less than between the last two intersections".
According to map, we had about 9km to go. Problem was still that
the any relevant road signs were nowhere to be found. 
Carefully we advance forward, and just when we thing we should
have found the cottage already one or two km ago, Eppu votes
we go back, and I say let's got through that wooden gate still
a bit further. Then, a black Saab with a blue flashing light 
comes through the gate - we were after all at the right place,
the cottage (no electricity, and therefore very little light)
was only 50m forward after the gate... 
Time for a few desperately needed beers and sauna.