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6 Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson |
I know some riders have large inside warehouses to practice in, did you ever have this facility?
No no no, not at this time.
Do you have brothers and sisters?
I have 2 sisters
Are they older or younger than you?
One is older and one is younger
So what did your parents think about you getting involved with the motorcycles?
I think they were very happy because my father was dying at the time. When I am starting with trials in 1970, my father was very ill with cancer, in 1970 he was only 50 years old, young man. I have to make a big effort myself to practice and continuing with the trial without my father. I was 18 at this time.
There are many children who have a father behind them to encourage them and push them, but your father could not help you, so how did this work for you?
I think I had a very big interest for trials, it was trials 24 hours everyday and it was a friend of mine who had a Sprite motorcycle with a 125 cc sachs engine. He took his driving licence at 16 years which you can do here in Sweden. When you are 16 you can get a licence for a 125 so I tried this bike of my friends and I was very good and it was better than all of the others. When I was 18, I buy new Montesa from the importer in Sweden.
No no no, not at this time.
Do you have brothers and sisters?
I have 2 sisters
Are they older or younger than you?
One is older and one is younger
So what did your parents think about you getting involved with the motorcycles?
I think they were very happy because my father was dying at the time. When I am starting with trials in 1970, my father was very ill with cancer, in 1970 he was only 50 years old, young man. I have to make a big effort myself to practice and continuing with the trial without my father. I was 18 at this time.
There are many children who have a father behind them to encourage them and push them, but your father could not help you, so how did this work for you?
I think I had a very big interest for trials, it was trials 24 hours everyday and it was a friend of mine who had a Sprite motorcycle with a 125 cc sachs engine. He took his driving licence at 16 years which you can do here in Sweden. When you are 16 you can get a licence for a 125 so I tried this bike of my friends and I was very good and it was better than all of the others. When I was 18, I buy new Montesa from the importer in Sweden.
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
The name of this man was Kenneth Leare, he was the importer. I buy a new bike and I win all of the trials here in one year, this is when I was 18 years old and when I was just a junior. Then the importer give me a special surprise for the next year. The importer then gave me some sponsorship to help me get up to the senior class and then in the first year, I was perhaps in the top 4 or the top five in the highest class on this Montesa. I always ride Montesa, all of the time.
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
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I have a lot of questions down here as a guide because I don't know whether you talk much and I need some questions to get you going but if you wish to talk then go ahead.
No, I don't like to talk No, he doesn't like to talk hahaha I am quiet. I have interviewed some older guys and some younger guys and I find that when you ask the older guys questions sometimes they tell you to stop and they say that they will tell you their story. |
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
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He is a Swedish guy
What does that mean?
If you compare me to Pedro Pi, if you started talking he go go go go go and never stop hahahaha, but I am from Sweden and it doesn't happen over here.
What does that mean?
If you compare me to Pedro Pi, if you started talking he go go go go go and never stop hahahaha, but I am from Sweden and it doesn't happen over here.
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
So the first guy to actually see you and think this guy is good and I will help him is the Montesa Importer?
Yes yes, he saw me when I was on the sprite and helped me to get a Montesa and into the world of Montesa.
Yes yes, he saw me when I was on the sprite and helped me to get a Montesa and into the world of Montesa.
Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson