SWEDE'S
STATS
PRE-1970
CAR LIFE
Magazine Article
February 1970
1970
BOBBY BALL
150
AUTO RACING
Magazine
March 1971
Competitors
Newspaper clipping courtesy of Norm 'Stormy' Parent
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The year was 1958. I was a member of the San Bernardino Quarter Midget Association. My cousin and I both raced with Swede and Bruce and I remember their Dad very well also. My car was number 19e with Valley Auto Supply of San Bernardino as my sponsor. My cousins number was 8e and his name was Tommy Parker. We both raced quarter midgets with Swede at the Orange Show, Corona, Monte Vista, and Las Vegas. Even as a kid, Swede knew how to make racing fun.
Swede beat me in three main events until finally one day he let me win one. I can't remember the track we were at though. I qualified in the pole position on a dirt track for the main event at least three times, I would lead the race for several laps and Swede would always end up right behind me. Just knowing Swede was there made drivers nervous. Swede would be patient and wait for me to make that one mistake to get under me and take the lead to win and did it several times. The time I did finally win either I got better, he had a bad day, or he felt sorry for me. My family still has some pictures of the racing days although they are put away. I don't know if any are of Swede.
Photo courtesy of Norm 'Stormy' Parent
I did find an old black and white photo (above) of the San Bernardino racing association lined up on the track at the Orange Show. It has Swede, Bruce, Doc, Bill Scott and many of the others who belonged to the association back in the 50's. I don't know if it can be re-produced its about fifteen inches long but still in pretty good condition.
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Later on in my life I attended high school with his wife Sheryl.
I kept up with Swede's racing career and saw him at Ontario before his accident. After that accident he had some trouble remembering old friends but did remember me vaguely.
Stormy 19e
Norm Parent