|
5 Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson |
Now .....i hope you are all sitting comfortably . Its time for the interview I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed meeting them both. The interview is interspersed with photographs which ulf provided me with. Also Ulf showed me around his garage and his garden . We saw his bikes and plenty of other things so there is lots to keep you occupied when you're reading this interview.
Remember as always listen to you is typed up word for word any retro trials editorial is in blue and the interview is in Black.
Remember as always listen to you is typed up word for word any retro trials editorial is in blue and the interview is in Black.
The Interview
Thank you to Ulf and Ewa for use of their library of photos
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
Ulf, I have many questions for you, not just a few, but many..........
Ok. I will try to answer you if I can remember, it was a long time ago.
Yes, it was over 30 years ago. Have you always lived in this area here?
Yes, but not always here in Lerum. I have lived in a small village about 40 kilometres north west from here, the village was called Elvingen. This is the place where my motor club was located, Elvington Motor Club, this was the club that I ride with all the time and they have a Motocross track and I remember going there when I was a small kid and I saw the motocross, the club also has trials beside the track and at other places and I was interested in the trials.
Ok. I will try to answer you if I can remember, it was a long time ago.
Yes, it was over 30 years ago. Have you always lived in this area here?
Yes, but not always here in Lerum. I have lived in a small village about 40 kilometres north west from here, the village was called Elvingen. This is the place where my motor club was located, Elvington Motor Club, this was the club that I ride with all the time and they have a Motocross track and I remember going there when I was a small kid and I saw the motocross, the club also has trials beside the track and at other places and I was interested in the trials.
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
And your parents, were they involved with Motorcycles at all ?
No, not at all, not at all.
So how did your introduction come with motorcycles?
The introduction came for me at this motocross track and at this club location. I go there one day to watch the motocross and besides the track there is a place for trials and I go there by chance to watch this. I didn't think this moment would shape my life.. when I was 15, I got a little moped and I built the moped for trials and changed it to adapt the bike and then using this morning, I ride through the woods and in the streams. I was not riding anywhere else at this time. I did not ride on the road or anything, I just ride with this adapted moped.
No, not at all, not at all.
So how did your introduction come with motorcycles?
The introduction came for me at this motocross track and at this club location. I go there one day to watch the motocross and besides the track there is a place for trials and I go there by chance to watch this. I didn't think this moment would shape my life.. when I was 15, I got a little moped and I built the moped for trials and changed it to adapt the bike and then using this morning, I ride through the woods and in the streams. I was not riding anywhere else at this time. I did not ride on the road or anything, I just ride with this adapted moped.
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
|
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
|
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
|
What moped was this?
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
It was a puch, this was an Austrian bike. We were maybe 3 or 4 boys who are interested in trials, so we make small trials competitions with some other boys just for the mopeds. These competitions are just for the mopeds, this was not official of course, you understand this was just for fun.
You have travelled the World now for many years, how is Sweden different from the many countries that you have been to? How would you summarise the way in Sweden is different?
You have travelled the World now for many years, how is Sweden different from the many countries that you have been to? How would you summarise the way in Sweden is different?
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
Difference with Sweden is that when you make a sport here like trial is that there is a lot of snow at winter so you cannot practice like you want, you have to go to Spain or France to make the practice. Here in October or November, through to March it is snow and everywhere is frozen and it is no good for trials, so this is not so good when this happens, I need to go to Belgium or Spain for practice before the world championship starts.