Fyresdal

On the Road to History! In 1978, Terje Saethre captured this moment as he and his friends headed to Fyresdal in a buddy’s 1970 Dodge Coronet. That year marked the very first First Go! drag race, the first official drag race ever held on Norwegian soil. The group transported Ludvig Bjørnstad and his dragster Headache to and from the event. Photo courtesy of Terje Saethre.

Kjetil Kvipt's 1926 Chevrolet Roadster Pickup

Kjetil Kvipt's 1951 Chevrolet Panel Gasser

Kjetil Kvipt's 1953 Ford Customline

Kjetil Kvipt's 1957 Ford Town Victoria

Olav Kvipt's 1959 Karmann Ghia

Olav Kvipt's 1967 Volvo Amazon

Order from: Norway - Sweden - Rest of the world

First Go!

First Go! was the name of a drag race held at Fyresdal Airport in Fyresdal, Norway. The first event took place in 1978, and it holds the distinction of being the first official drag race ever held on Norwegian soil.

Located deep in the mountains of Telemark, the airstrip in Fyresdal offered a straight and secluded runway that made it an ideal venue for quarter-mile racing. The event was organized by Norwegian hot rodders and racing enthusiasts who wanted a legal and controlled environment to race their high-performance street and strip machines.

Throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s, First Go! became a recurring event that drew participants and spectators from all over the country. American cars, hot rods, drag bikes, and custom builds lined up on the strip, echoing the spirit of early American drag racing culture. The atmosphere was raw and authentic—equal parts competition and community gathering.

Although the original First Go! races eventually faded out, the legacy of Fyresdal as the birthplace of organized drag racing in Norway remains a significant chapter in the country’s hot rod history.

Cars of Fyresdal, Telemark, Norway

Kjetil Kvipt's 1926 Chevrolet Roadster Pickup
Kjetil Kvipt's 1951 Chevrolet Panel Gasser
Kjetil Kvipt's 1953 Ford Customline
Kjetil Kvipt's 1957 Ford Town Victoria
Olav Kvipt's 1959 Karmann Ghia
Olav Kvipt's 1967 Volvo Amazon
David Petrych's 1967 Opel Rekord 1700

Citizens of Fyresdal, Norway

Aslak Momrak
David Petrych
Kjetil Kvipt
Olav Kvipt
Sondre Kvipt