1981 racing season started with a brand new red & white F3 Burgess and AKAI Hi-Fi Video as my main sponsor. Evinrude Racing support with best possible F3 race engines from the OMC factory in Waukegan, Illinois.
The Formula 3 World Series was created with Aspen Wear as the main sponsor.
Ten races was part of the series and some really good price money at every event.
Also a trip to Paris to collect the check for the World Champion after the season for the overall winner.
First race was Brodenbach, Germany and the price I payed for not knowing the difference between a US gallon and English imperial gallon.
I asked John Hill about the fuel use for the new engine. He told me the correct use in imperial gallon (4.5liter). I calculated over to liter thinking a gallon is a gallon. A US gallon is 3.8 liter.
38 liters was not enough… I was leading the race and run out of fuel in the last turn…!!!
The good news was my lead was half a lap and only two drivers past me when I slowly crossed the finish line.
To make a long fun season shorter I won many races Nottingham, Drammen and in Italy and could have won the title in the next to last race in Vishy, France but screwed up and crashed in to a back marker when I was lapping her.
Broke the left pickle off the fast Burgess boat but thanks to Sture Sjoberg the boat had a new pickle for the last race in Den Bosch, Holland the next weekend.
I needed to beat John Hill and did so Saturday and the World Title was mine.
A great feeling and I called Sweden to tell my family. Well..I got big news back home also..Richard my second son was born the same day.
A mix of pictures from 1981. My #1 F-3 Burgess/AKAI/Evinrude CC.
Richard my son in the mid eighties.
Paris November 1981 and the proud F3 World Champ.
Paris November 1981 and the proud F3 World Champ.
Nottingham 1981
