Leangen

A photo of Arvid Johansen with his 1930 Ford Model A Roadster taken at Leangen, September 12, 1937. Greger Strøm was on everyone's lips that Sunday. Would the young mechanic, with his homemade race car, be able to give Arvid any competition at all? Johansen was the big favorite, and Greger overheard him telling a journalist that he planned to play a little with the newcomer at the beginning of the race before he eventually would pass him by and kick his ass. Photo from The Greger Strøm Photo Collection.

Greger knew that his engine wouldn't produce many more horses than a stock engine and that a low weight would be crucial for his success. He started the race at Leangen in second gear, knowing that Johansen always started in second gear as well. During practice, Greger had carefully measured which gears would give him the best start. His racer weighed less than Johansen's Model A, so he quickly achieved a leadership position. Photo from The Greger Strøm Photo Collection.

"Now comes Arvid," Greger kept telling himself as he was pushing the Ford 4 Special to the maximum, "he must be tired of playing with me now..." According to the book "Bilsport i Norge," Greger didn't look back, but he could hear the intense sound from the four straight exhaust pipes that Johansen ran out of the hood side on his hopped-up Model A. Photo from The Greger Strøm Photo Collection.

Johansen never caught up with Greger, and the young mechanic won his debut race in front of 7000 cheering spectators at Leangbanen. In 1995, Greger told the magazine Right On that right then, it felt like he had won the Indianapolis. The helmet belonged to Sverre Gjørmesli, a member of NMK Orkla, and it had the letters ORKLA on the forehead. Photo from The Greger Strøm Photo Collection.

A newspaper clipping from 1938, showing Greger Strøm of Trondheim, Norway, surrounded by admirers in his second build, The Ford 8 Special. The expectations were high before the race, and the local newspapers had warmed the audience up, announcing that Greger would achieve even higher speeds this year with his roaring V-8. Photo from The Greger Strøm Photo Collection.