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Saab Rally Driver Per Eklund Top 10 In European Rallycross

Posted on 17. Apr, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Jakob QBA Nitka

Longstanding Saab rally driver, Per Eklund has made it to 10th place in the European Rallycross Championship recently.

For more information on these standings, please visit Mike Jager’s Per Eklund site.

Erik “On The Roof” Carlsson Celebrates 80th Birthday

Posted on 17. Mar, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: TTELA

This past weekend, our friend Erik “On the Roof” Carlsson celebrated his 80th Birthday on Saturday, March 14th, 2009 at the Saab Car Museum in TrollhÃ¤ttan, Sweden.

TTELA has provided an incredible report, of this joyous celebration for this legendary personality for Saab Automobile.

Carlsson ‘On the Roof “filled 80

TROLLHÃ„TTAN Mr. Saab – Erik Carlsson “On the Roof” – has gone and been 80 years. This was celebrated on Saturday with an open house at the Saab Car Museum where lots of friends, fans and Saab Enthusiasts came to pay tribute to rally legend.

- I believe in the Saab. Do not worry, it will be all right, “ said a noticeably moved Erik.

One of many for Erik in the celebrations was to be invited to a delicious oysters from Grebbestad.

Lots of friends and admirers who came to celebrate Erik Carlsson “On the Roof”. One of these was the friend GÃ¶sta Karlsson. “We have known each other in 50 years, he is a good friend,” said GÃ¶sta.

Saab’s CEO Jan-Ã…ke Jonsson was in place to pay tribute to Mr. Saab.

- I can not understand why so many have taken the time to come and celebrate me. It is not wise! Erik said while he was busy with the hugging, cheek KISS and sign books.

Already a 11.00 in the celebration began, the ring a long queue to the table where Erik was to receive the tribute. It was old and young, acquaintances, admirers and friends.

GÃ¶sta Karlsson, known Erik for many years, presented with Bertil Stener a big beautiful orchid and shook hand with his friend.

- Here’s a little flower Erik. It is almost to the day 50 years ago that we met the first time. Do you remember where?
- Yes, said Erik.

GÃ¶sta began to tell and both log:

- We pulled a isbanetÃ¤vling in Vilhelmina, Erik won and I finished third. After the race when I was about to wrap stuff in the car, Erik came up and said: “You can call me a week and I’ll arrange for you to buy a car at discount prices. Then we became friends. “

- I am old racing driver who drove for Saab 1960-1966 and was drivng with Eriks cars. Erik and I have also run the midnight sun races together – he is a very nice and good old friend, said GÃ¶sta and smiled at Erik.

Then it was time for the birth of the child’s next surprise.

- Can Erik imagine a little light brunch? said Per Olofsson, site manager for Saab restaurants, and put up a big dish with delicious oysters.
- Oh, yes! Is the Irish or what?
- No they are from Grebbestad, said Per and opened oysters while Erik on a conveyor belt devoured itself.
- They were really fine you. Many thanks.

Per Olofsson told that Erik is a big oyster lover and that over the years talked a lot about this common interest.
- I took me five and Erik had easily consumed five to. I promised to take me ten, when he turns 85.

After that it was time for the anniversary that is canvassed by Saab’s Managing Director, Jan Ã…ke Jonsson, and the management team.
- Hey. Did you have time to go here? said Erik.
- Yeah, good to see that Erik had to eat oysters, “said Jan Ã…ke Jonsson and told a little anecdote:
- At a meeting in Ireland decided to Erik for the two of us would eat oysters. Erik ordered in 20 pieces. I had two – he is about 18!

Jan Ã…ke Jonsson was then a tribute speech in which he told me about Erik, and how he has been extremely significant for Saab through the years.
- The gift you get this picture and a general overhaul of the property you think so much about, “said Jan Ã…ke Jonsson, aimed at Eriks little red Saab 96 he was 50th birthday of Saab.

After century, it became so may he live, and a generally smooth in the room cheered.
- The most important thing is not that I live a hundred years without light that Saab continues to live long after that! Many thanks to all Saab Employees. I believe in the Saab, it will go. It probably makes most of those who are here, otherwise, you had not come here! said Erik and received applause and smiles said everything.

Congratulations Erik, how does it feel to be 80 years?
- I am 80? No, now you all kidding. Thank you it is incredibly nice to be canvassed in this way. I never thought so many would take the time to come here.

And there is certainly no doubt that you believe in a future for Saab?

- Not a second. We have good cars, good people and an incredibly talented director, Jan Ã…ke Jonsson. This will go.

Rally Legend Erik Carlsson Celebrates 80th Birthday

Posted on 02. Mar, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile AB

Peter BÃ¤ckstrÃ¶m, curator of the Saab Car Museum, has for the first time, posted a press release this time celebrating Rally Legend Erik “On The Roof” Carlsson’s 80th Birthday!

Happy Birthday or in Swedish (Bra FÃ¶delsedagen) Erik!

Here is the press release below:

2009-03-02

Rally Legend Erik Carlsson Celebrates 80th Birthday

Erik â€˜Mr Saabâ€™ Carlsson is 80 years young this week (March 5) and still employed by Saab, making him the Swedish manufacturerâ€™s longest-serving employee.

As international rallyingâ€™s first real superstar, Erikâ€™s career with Saab spans six decades and today he remains actively involved as an international ambassador for the brand, attending Saab launches, dealer and customer events around the world.

The names of Carlsson and Saab are inextricably bound together. Born and bred in Saabâ€™s home town of TrollhÃ¤ttan, Erik first sprang to fame in the early Sixties, as â€˜the big man in a little carâ€™, taking two back-to-back victories in the Monte Carlo Rally (1962-63) and a hat-trick of wins in the British RAC Rally (1960-62). His â€˜David and Goliathâ€™ exploits against more powerful cars were the springboard for launching Saab as a global car brand.

As a young boy, Erik used to stand on the perimeter of the local airfield in TrollhÃ¤ttan and admire the aerobatics of Saab aircraft flying overhead. Little did he know that Saab would soon start manufacturing cars, and that he would play such a key role in promoting its products.

He bought his first car, a second-hand Saab 92, in 1955 and it was a development of this car, the Saab 96, which took him to his most famous rally victories. Over the years, he has driven thousands of Saab cars and been involved in the development and testing of many of the models. There is probably no man on the planet who has driven more Saabs than Erik.
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Per Eklund Competes In Nordic Rally Cross 2009

Posted on 27. Feb, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Eklund Racing

Per Eklund, longtime Saab rally driver, who said he was determined to rally again in 2009 earlier this month, is now reported to be engaged in the Nordic RallyCross.

According to the Per Eklund fan site run by enthusiast, Mike Jager, this event will be held on four tracks, crossing Norway and Sweden beginning on May 16th and ending on August 22nd.

For more information, please visit the site directly.

Here is the calendar below of the dates:

The racing calender 2009:

1. May 16, Arvika, Sweden
2. June 20, Trondheim Norway
3. July 25, StrÃ¤gnÃ¤s Sweden
4. August 22, Lyngas

For the latest news, see the official homepage: http://www.rallycrossnorden.se/

Per Eklund Determined To Rally Again In 2009

Posted on 09. Feb, 2009 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Per Eklund / Trollspeed

Per Eklund, 62, has been rallying since 1968, is determined to rally again this year according to Mike Jager’s website. If he is able to get the financing this year during the economic crisis, it will mark his 41st anniversary as a rally driver.

This past fall, Per received an award from the Saab Club of the Netherlands.

As Saab Automobile announced that they would be returning to racing in 2009, I wonder if they would be the official sponsor for Per Eklund once again, or if he would need to find funding elsewhere, because currently, Jens Edman, is the official driver in that officially sanctioned program.

This article goes on to say that Per Eklund needs to have something substantial because he plans on attending the Nordic Cup which begins as soon as May 16 in Arvika, Sweden. As it is now, he says that being a rally driver is almost akin to NHL hockey plays paying just for the opportunity to play in the sport, which is complelely wrong.

I wish him well in this pursuit, I hope for him and Saab Automobile, get all of the funding they need.

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Saab Club Netherlands Creates Per Eklund Trophy

Posted on 25. Nov, 2008 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Saab Club Netherlands Pictured L-to-R (Esther Smith, Per Eklund and Caroline de Greeff

The Saab Club of the Netherlands has created the “Per Eklund Trophy” this year, which was given to the best Saab Rally Driver in four events this past year.

According to Mike Jager’s website, this club’s historic rally team has added this trophy to their annual rally which has been given to Henri Dommerholt and Jens HÃ¥kansson, with a Saab 96 TT Monte Carlo from 1965.

Results Per Eklund trophy 2008 :

1. Henri Dommerholt and Jens HÃ¥kansson, Saab 96 tt, 34 points
2. Kjel Postema and Nittert Postema, 28 points
3. Michiel Klinge and Jurryt Jannink, 22 points
RenÃ© Hut and Cobi ten Wolde, 22 points

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Legendary Pat Moss Passes Away At Age 73

Posted on 18. Oct, 2008 by Ryan.

Photo Credit: Mr. Saab / Saab Automobile

It is my sad duty to report that Patt Moss, legendary rally driver and wife of Erik “On the Roof” Carlsson has passed away on Thursday, October 16th at the age of 73.

Here is a well written report of her incredible life in the U.K. Telegraph.

Please let’s pause and give respects to her passing and wish Erik Carlsson and family, our deepest condolences.

Pat Moss, who died on Thursday aged 73, became one of Britain’s leading horsewomen and factory-team rally drivers, winning the European Ladies’ Rally Championship five times, the Coupe des Dames on the Monte Carlo Rally eight times, and scoring the Mini Cooper’s first big rally victory in the Tulip Rally of 1962.

Taught to drive at the age of 11 by her elder brother, the great motor racing driver Stirling, in the family Jeep, Pat Moss was a confident driver of Land Rovers on the family farm by the time she was 17, when her father treated her to her first car, a 1936 Morris Ten.

She enjoyed factory drives with all the major teams of the day for 20 years, starting in 1954 in a local car club rally near her home at Tring, Hertfordshire, in her own Triumph TR2, accompanied by her groom, Ann Riley. They won the event, the pair being the only crew to find both a worm and a feather.

With the success of this treasure-hunt behind her, she offered her services to all the major car companies â€“ she badly wanted to drive for Triumph, as the two-litre TR2 was winning all the club rallies of the day, and was a major contender on the international scene.
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