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These are the "quiet" days for the cars up in the great white north and it is mostly just a "slumber party" in the Shark Tank, Car Cave or Zoo (whatever the ultimate nickname becomes...)
Fresh bottles of Leatherlique and detailing carts litter the place. Some would question my removing the tail lights and washing, claying and waxing the unseen paint behind.
I feel the same way. This one is a real Unicorn and I am honored to be caring for it in "preservation mode" with all original replacement parts for the few missing items and bits and pieces that are deteriorated beyond preservation.
Steve is driving it to SITM this year, so it will be interesting to see how he enjoys its current condition.
Ake, Those are great examples of Strosek Ultra wide bodies, and I like your garage! Those sport seats in the blue car are spectacular!!!
Today is the first day of spring and it is almost time to get the XX8 and its stablemates out of Hibernation...
Soon!
928 GT R, David I think it is, thank you for liking my garage and my cars. Not only the marine blue car has nice seats, both the other two cars do have seats in very good condition, no sport seats though.
The oldest car, the 1985 prussian blue Strosek Version II, has not been on the road since 1996. I am working on that, hopefully next year. I understand you are from Michigan, any Swedish connections?
Åke
928 GT R, David I think it is, thank you for liking my garage and my cars. Not only the marine blue car has nice seats, both the other two cars do have seats in very good condition, no sport seats though.
The oldest car, the 1985 prussian blue Strosek Version II, has not been on the road since 1996. I am working on that, hopefully next year. I understand you are from Michigan, any Swedish connections?
Åke
Ake,
My main Swedish connection is Helena Kjiellander, Helena was four time World Champion in slalom waterskiing (1991-1998) and appeared in our book on snow skiing (The Athletic Skier) that I published with Warren Witherell. Helena is in the Swedish and AWSA Hall of Fame and remains a casual friend. Helena absolutely dominated Womens Waterskiing for ten years. She is married now, lives in Dalles Texas and works for Microsoft.
I recall Helena being greeted at the airport after one of her World Championship victories by Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf. It was quite the Honor!
In the late 80's I was seasonally living on Lake Wauatta with then 2 time World Slalom Champion Kim Laskoff who also went to Rollins College with Helena, *Kim and Helena were fierce competitors and between them were World Slalom Champions for 12 consecutive years. I have tremendous respect for Helena as an athlete and as a wonderful person, she exemplifies the highest and best in humanity!
I'll try to add a couple of photos to this post of her from my archives and thanks for stirring up the memories!
David, I could not find a picture of Helena Kjellander with the King but I have found out also her brother Michael has been doing water skiing and both of them come from a small place called Ödeshög a bit further south quite close of where I live. Ödeshög is located at the shore of lake Vättern, the second largest lake in the country, and I suppose it is there she started water skiing. Very many Swedes emigrated to Michigan in the old days. Thought your family might be one of them.
Åke
Ake, That's Helena! I was also acquainted with her brother, he was a great Pro Tour water skier, but we never became friends or spent much time together. You are correct that there are many Swedes in Northern Michigan. Hearty foresters and pioneers of the ski industry.
My main family tree is from Belgium, Luxembourg, Great Britain and Western Germany. When you think about it, we are only about 700 kms apart in our ancestry... Perhaps I will visit Europe later this year, If I do, I'll make time to head a bit north and visit you. Regards, David
12-07-2018, 06:32 PM
