No I haven't got an ego trip. I hope. If someone is interested just read, if not, no hard feelings.
I like to do things from the beginning. But it would take to much time, so I going to make it as short as possible. I lived in Vara the first 4 years that's 100km, 63 miles northwest of Gothenburg. My dad had a Gulf gas station, my first word was Gulf. Then he became a miller so we moved 10 minutes southeast. I can't figure out anything interesting to write until -89. Then I just graduated from high school, 2 years shop work, and started working at Atlas Copco in Skara. After a year there I went on to study automation and electrical wiring for a year. Then I worked at Atlas Copco until they closed the factory in -92. I was unemployed for a couple of months, well not working at the same place every day, before I left for the USA for 3 months, flew into New York took a Greyhound to Florida to see a cousin. Stayed for 2 weeks to see Disney world and all that. Was in Daytona for Turkey rod run. Then it was Greyhound to Arizona to visit grandma's brother in the middle of the desert for two days, then off to LA to see Boyd´s, Bernt's, TCI, Pomona. Took an airplane to Canada and Vancouver to visit family for Christmas and new years eve. Then to San Francisco to visit more family and see the Oakland roadster show, back to NY and home. No I don't like to be stuck in one place all the time.
I'm standing in Arizona and on the other side of the river is California.
I live where the arrow points.
I moved to this cottage in -91.
-93 went on. In October I started working at Arkivator in Falkoping, and still do. -95 I took an 18 month course in basic engineering. I was on the board for the party animals, Hi Life, pyrotechnical nerds Krut (powder) SHRA Jonkoping. All this when I was building the Amazon. It was a little tuff. Then I went back to Arkivator -98. -98 I got the Mellberg scholarship for all the cars I'd built. It's on 25000sek, 2700$, and a trip to the Essen motor show in Germany. It was a great honor to receive the Mellbergstipendium since only one person gets it every year. When I got an offer to work for Johan Ragnarsson in the USA I didn't have to think long before I went. So in the beginning of March -99 I went to West Palm Beach and worked for Renntech with Mercedes. Then I helped Johan to move to Atlanta and started to work for Panoz auto development. Johan and I made a prototype body for Panoz in handformed aluminum. I was even making parts for one of the Panoz Le Mans racers. Then I hitch hiked to LA with a Panoz pickup, stopped at Tombstone. In LA I rented a car and drove PCH to San Francisco, just love that drive. Spent two days with some family before I drove back over to Fresno to visit an old friend from school. Back in LA I took the train to San Diego and visited another friend from school.
A Mercedes I made fender flares on.
Another in progress.
Doing some work on a Panoz LMP car.
Outside the Crystal Palace saloon in Tombstone.
In San Diego I tried to surf for the first time, not so good. I think I'm going to keep to windsurfing and downhill skiing.
When I got home in May -99 I just continued working. Finishing off my garage I started to build in -98. My dad turned 50 when I was in the US and he always wanted to 4wd, so I bought a half of a Vaz Niva. The other half is mine. Then I packed dad and a tent and went to Gotland and Canin tropy.
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After I proved that you could compensate size with speed the Niva looked like this. Managed to break a drive shaft in my debut in trail, with only feet to the finish. Had to call home and stop some friends partying so they could come pick us up in the morning.
Right now it's the beginning of 2000 and not much is happening. Trying to get a green card or something but that's not easy. I'm building a Volvo 444 for a man with some crazy ideas.
Finish off with a winter picture of the cottage I bought in -95.
