– And that’s a wrap everybody. The wool rally took place in Sagmyra, Dalarna 26th of July 2014. The rally with ancestry from the 50’s and 60’s was revived in the hills northwest of Falun.By Vera Wallberg. Translation Ellen Kay Krantz.
Sagmyra used to have a big and blooming wool factory with workers from different parts of the world. During the heydays of Sagmyra they had an annual wool rally. See history
Today, in 2014 new visitors are attracted to the old factory when it has been restaurated into an outlet mall with restaurants and romantic boutiques. It’s not only the old factory that has been revived but also the famous wool rally. The initiators consist of two friends that remember the original rally edition from their childhood, Roland Ohlsson and Alf Oholsson.
The day started early for the promoters and friends Roland and Alf. Alf is also known as promoter of Torsangs motor market. An early morning run through of the route to double-check the signs are proper with some worrisome thoughts – Was anyone going to come besides friends and family?
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Bjursa Moped Club in contemporary clothing represented by Eva Bojort-Gustavsson, Uno Holmgren, Pernilla Bjorklund and Katarina Saxvall.
The anxious thoughts were unnecessary because 10.30 sharp visitors were storming in to the starting point at Sagmyra public house. Altogether there were 58 starting cars and the rally was off to a kick start. The crew had to work their asses of this record hot summer day around the eight mile course. It stretched all the way up and around the old factory and Sagmyra central, down to Hallgardarna, offering a great view over the lake Gropen with Falun behind the high mountains in the horizon.
Maria Glad from Edsbro with company lived up to the name and rode in a Cadillac De Ville -65.
The vehicles were parted into categories of cars, moped, mc and tractor. The route had six stations with questions and two with maneuvering tests like “back up as close to the cone without hitting it.”
Queuing in the shade of the wool factory up to the “clothing line”. Monica Strom is keeping an eye on Johan Lonnerholm and his Chevy Monte Carlo -77, just so it won’t break down..
The rally entailed more inventive games like “throw piston in tire”, darts and some different variations depending on what kind of vehicle competing. Like hanging laundry to dry on a clothing line out of the window without putting the car to a full stop.
Alf Ohlsson with his wife Ing-Mari worked all day in the cafeteria under very hot circumstances. Alf of course had his Chrysler Windsor – 41 with him…..
Some competing vehicles were really hard for the judges to categorize. The entire community rallied together to set the competition up. Promoters, entrepreneurs in Sagmyra, Leksand and Rattvik sponsored with prizes and even the cultural department of Sagmyra sponsored with a beautiful prize.
YES! Bull’s eye. Pernilla Bjorklund made the piston sail right through.
Pelle “Burner” Bjorn’s trike made the judges’ scratching their heads categorically. ..But they ended up first runner up on the MC class.
Mattias Granados acted as first measurer when Hakan Svart backed his Buick against the cone.
Hakan “Svarten” Svart behind the wheel with his son Robin in the passenger seat. Daughter Lina and wife Annika gets to ride in the back. If there had been a prize for the coziest motor rumble, Hakan’s name would have been all over that.
Roland and Alf stood for the refreshments, music and radio chatter in the park. Old Iron Cruisers, the local car club had a fish pond for the kids and a chocolate wheel for the peckish.
Rickard ” Sillen” Tauber , founder of Old Iron Cruisers, with members stood for the chocolate wheel in the park.
First prize in the car class, a Tidstrands-plaid and a signed copy of Lennart Sand’s artbook, went to Mats Smeds. Roland Ohlsson acting as prize girl. At the microphone Henry Nyland, the former CEO of Tidstrand factory.
Printz-Urbans entertained us with music.
After the award ceremony Printz-Urban from Borlange entered the stage and it was high time for us to enter the dance floor. The singer Thomas Printz works as a tinsmith during the day and they have played together for many years.
– We play as long as there are people on the dance floor, the “Printz” said with an accent.
The ones of you getting folk-music vibes by the name can relax. Printzen and company delivered an awesome mash of Creedence, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more with some own material. This got the people of Sagmyra to shake some ass on that floor. Afterwards people were lining up to show their appreciation to the band.
Borje Svensson was on standby in case anyone needed assistance with the most brutal tow truck in Sagmyra, a Ford V8, manual, Diesel 4WD….
Leif Garvin with his Batmobile showed up to shine.
The longest, most fun day in Sagmyra had come to an end. The wool rally was really appretiated by both citizens of Sagmyra and travelers from far away, we have one visitor from way down south – From Skane!
Roland and Alf received lots of handshakes and congratulations to arranging a great event. They were all wondering if there would be another rally next year.
Text and photo by Vera Wallberg for
Det var mycket trivsamt :D Men jag heter inte Håkan :( Jag heter Rickard :) MVH Sillen
Thank´s for your comment Rickard. One more big advantage with a web magazine is that you can edit and correct it after the release. Now we got your name correct sir.
– Thank’s again for making the magazine better Rickard.