Reidar Hellgren

A photo supposedly taken in Per Røed's garage at Smestad in Oslo. Dated 12.16.1959, the photo comes from Dagbladet and Norsk Folkemuseum's collection. The photo is listed with the following subject at Digitalt Museum: "Racing Car Club. Reidar Hellgren nærmest 16.12.1959." The old Flathead engine from Per's 1932 Ford cabriolet can be seen in the lower right corner of the photo. Drooling over the Oldsmobile engine he is about to install in the car is Fosmo, Per, Reidar Hellgren and Per Knutsen. Notice the ribbed aluminum valve covers. Could this be the members of the Speed Cars Club of Oslo. Photo courtesy of Dagbladet / Norsk Folkemuseum, from Digitalt Museum.

Reidar Hellgren of Oslo, Norway. 16 years old Hellgren had saved up enough money to buy a motorcycle. Speed had always attracted him, and already in the mid-1950s, he won his first Norwegian championship. Reidar stopped racing in 1958, and he didn't take it up again until 1998 when he began competing in classic racing.