Another endearing aspect to the event was interestingly enough, the parking lot. Or rather, the field beside the airstrip. Sure, there were many “regular” sensible Volvos, Saabs, Peugeots, and Citroens. Yet, for every commuter, there were two classics. I met a gentleman named Roger who owns a clean and original 1963 Buick Wildcat. I had seen the car at the Delsbo cruise and was hoping to get a closer look since. The Wildcat didn’t disappoint. From the beautiful vibrant deep red paint to the lush black leather interior, the car represents what I consider the high point of American car art. 1962 to 1965 cars had all the polished metal and artistry from a 1950’s dashboard, while possessing the mean blocky body shape of the muscle cars to come. The Wildcat was powered by the 445 small block. Buick’s engines were named by their torque not their size. The engine is actually a 401 cubic inch Nailhead. Another vehicle that caught my eye was a modified Plymouth Roadrunner. While I didn’t get a look under the hood, vinyl decals signaled that the car was powered by a 505 Ci Mopar. The car’s deep purple paint color and blacked out bumpers gave the Roadrunner a sinister appearance. The car’s lowered stance gave the low wide grill an exceptionally mean look.

One of the most intriguing vehicles we found that day was not an American car, but a once humble Opel Kadett. What originally was powered by a subdued 1.2 liter engine making less than 50 horsepower, now possessed an earth turning 500+ ci big block. The engine possessed a perfectly crafted twin turbo setup sticking halfway out of the hood. The car wheelied violently each time it launched, so the times put up were a far cry from the beautiful machine’s potential. My second favorite was also once a shy commuter car. A four door Volvo 740 turned rocket ship. With the tube frame chassis under her, the Volvo maintained its safety pedigree. The 740 ran superbly with textbook planted launches.

While the event would continue on until the sun went low into the sky, we had to leave halfway through. The experience was incredible though. While racing as a whole has become harder and harder to financially sustain, the ages of the drivers on the track were surprisingly young. Pelle and the M.A.D. Performance Opel crew are both still young enough to be carded at Systembolaget when it came time to drink back home. It was refreshing to see the new breed of car enthusiasts step up to take the mantle and continue the technical innovations being done to cars reaching over 60 years in age. It gives hope that our passions will not die out in the age of the electronic car, drive by wire, and technical automation.

GALLERY