Skating away, behind the wheel of a classic British car

Part of the fleet available for the Classic Ice Driving school. Photo courtesy Jaguar Land Rover.

In January, the average high temperature in Arjeplog, Sweden, reaches 19-degrees Fahrenheit, and it typically snows on 16 of the month’s 31 days. While that may not sound like an ideal climate for a three-day getaway, Jaguar Land Rover Classic is offering British car fans something that just might make a Swedish winter bearable: the chance to drive classic Jaguar and Land Rover automobiles on ice, under the guidance of instructors, at the company’s winter testing facility.

New for 2017, and part of Jaguar Land Rover Classic’s ever-increasing product portfolio, the Classic Ice Driving experience allows participants to climb behind the wheel of a Jaguar XJ, Mk II, Mk VII and XK150, along with a Land Rover Series I, Series II, Series III and Range Rover Classic. The school’s focus is to teach the skills necessary to remain safe in vehicles designed long before the debut of driver aids like stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes, but students will also get to sample modern products from both brands such as the Jaguar F-Type and Range Rover Sport.

Jaguar and Land Rover have offered ice driving schools with contemporary vehicles in the past, but the expansion to include classic vehicles from the catalogs of both brands is something new. Of the move, Jaguar Land Rover Classic director Tim Hannig said:

The Jaguar Land Rover Classic business is rapidly expanding and now offers classic car sales, bespoke restorations, parts supply and, in this case, unforgettable driving experiences. Driving a Classic Jaguar or Land Rover is always a wonderful experience, and having the chance to drive both brands’ icons on ice in such extreme conditions is a unique opportunity. I am looking forward to meeting enthusiasts of these two great British brands in Arjeplog for a spectacular driving event.

The cost of the school is €3,000 (roughly $3,400 at the current exchange rate), which includes two nights at the Hotel Silverhatten and VIP transfers from Arvidsjaur Airport. Getting to Arvidsjaur Airport isn’t included, and a brief check of flights showed that planning in advance (and flying through a hub like Stockholm) will most likely be required.

Advance reservations for the school, set to take place in early 2017, are also required. For more information, visit Jaguar.com/Experience-Jaguar/Iconic-Experiences/Ice-Drive-Sweden.

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