June 4th: A photo from the exhibition at the Oxelosund Harbour june 3rd. Can you tell the theme for the evening was vikings? From the left Micke, mechanics Emil (crew cief), Mika (bottom engine) and Kenta (truck driver). The dragster was fired up for the other vikings to enjoy. A day to remember and the viking helmets will of course follow team Kågered to the race tracks as well.




Micke on track - photo by Remco Scheelings

May 28th: We are back in Sweden after a both content and disappointing trip to England and after having completed the first race of the season at Santa Pod Raceway.

Micke was 3rd quickest during qualifications. The dragster responded well to  setup changes during the qualifications and both Mickes driving and the performance felt really reliable.

But then team Kågered´s competition came to an abrupt halt when the engine blew half track during the quarter finals.

Micke Kågered comments; - I really felt I had a potential winner car in my hands as the qualifications proceeded. We started with a 5.11 second run as the first on track for this season and there was never any doubt we could improve that, which we also did by running 4.89 on a less than full pass. So both my own and the crew´s expectations were set high and we were all very  disappointed (and I might add) surprised when the engine broke abruptly in the quarter finals.

Micke continues; - we can tell nothing from looking at the on board computer file afterwards, no indication that anything was wrong with the engine until it broke. From what we can tell it started with a piston and after that hell broke loose and the engine was on fire.  Most of that engine seems wrecked, we can hopefully repair the heads, but the block, crank, cam is not much to hope for. It was not what we needed for a start of the season, but at least we know for sure the car is as competitive as it was the later part of last season. The rebuilt chassis worked just perfect and we will just have to "regroup", take all necessary actions when it comes to parts and refocus and plan ahead towards the next race in Finland (beginning of july). At last I would like to mention and thank the fire rescue crew at Santa Pod, who are always real quick to turn up seconds after an engine gets on fire and also was this time.   

The transporters arrive at our Värna base this evening. The results have been posted.

As a courtesy of photographer Remco Scheelings we have put together a Power Point slide show with some photos form the event. Click HERE to start




May 15th: Micke attends the MaskinExpo trade fair at Barkaby, Stockholm for two days. Team Kågered´s exhibition trailer is on site for Trucking Scandinavia Pictured outside the trailer are staff from förlags AB Albinsson & Sjöberg together with Micke. From the left Gustav, Micke, Frida and Sten. To the right also Benny from Hinz/Palfinger, which also cooperate with team Kågered this year.  




May 11th: The past weekend Team Kågered participated in the exhibition arranged by SHRA Uppsala. A day promoting drag racing and with Micke to represent the sport. Pictured above is also Mickes former methanol funny car now operated by swedish team Mikael Larsson. Still a gorgeous looking piece of race car in our mind and the car won the best appearing car during the event. Well done!


Minutes before the opening, empty and quiet. Later on the premises was well visited and (not so quiet and a rock band perfomed) Well, we are used to noisy environments and the countdown has started for this seasons first noisy happening at Santa Pod. Hope to see you there!




..preparations for the first fireupof the year.
photo by Benny Wing www.hinz.se

April 20th: We had the dragster fired up saturday for the first this year. It has since last year been rebuilt and after assembly of all wiring etc. it is always exciting to see if we have got everything right.
And no problems in sight, which was good. Swedish mechanics Edvin, Mika and Emil joined Micke and Kenta for a full day of exhibiting at our sponsor Billackeringen Mjölby. We await some parts from the US but are all in all pretty much set for the racing season, which starts for us May 23-25 in England. Before then we have some exhibitions booked  (see the agenda above)


Bright sight! the new truck and racing trailer at night


NEW TRUCK ARRIVED FROM SCANIA

Kenta and Mickes neighbour Jimmy inspected the new truck

March 19th: Truck driver Kenta "Gotland" had a big grin on his face when he arrived with the new SCANIA truck at team Kågereds base in Värna. A SCANIA440 that is, and will be even more equipped with the latest products in lighting and sound, GPS etc. SCANIA, Lava Electronics, Trux and a few more companies have cooperated around this truck and made it special. It even has team Kågered´s name on it (see below).  Next week the exterior it is due to be redesigned by Billackeringen Mjölby to fit into team Kågereds company profile






February 23 rd: Micke spent some days last week slaloming down the skislopes of Sälen. Great relaxation and a new found interest that Micke is sure  has come to stay. Pictured above is Micke at the slopes of the Rommeslope in Borlänge. Bahco has provided tools suitable to adjust ski equipment and a tool station can be found at the end of the slope. Clever idea and very useful as Micke could tell by looking first hand.



February 3rd: UPDATE
As always this time of year we are dealing with a lot of matters that are not official and that we can not write about. Despite a worldwide recession we see bright on the future. We would be lying if we said we don´t see a change at all. We do. Some of the companies we work with are noticing a decreasing demand for products, but overall we feel the spirit is high and nobody wants to just stay put and wait until the recession is over without taking action. Now more than ever we feel companies find it important to look after and support their retailers and meeting end customers face to face.

We feel we have a good working concept together with our sponsors and the plan is to continue to be visible at a large number of activities throughout the year. A few major issues is pending at this time, but we hope to be able to bring some light over and share some of what is happening within a few weeks.

We have updated the race calendar with the dates for 2009      



January 12th: Micke had a great visit to the UK and the Autosport show in Birmingham. He met a lot of racing friends and some sponsor companies among the exhibitors. 


January 3rd: Happy New 2009!
We have enjoyed a week where we have spent time with family and friends. A nice mix of ice skating, dinners with friends and some movie watching, overall nice relaxation. The nearest month is filled with some travelling and a lot of meetings for Micke to conclude the last details and start planning ahead for the preseason activities. They include as well major exhibitions as roadshows.      




A candle light dinner by the dragster seemed appropriate for the occasion..
 
December 15th: The past weekend Micke and Åsa hosted a lucia party for 22 invited guests at our base in Värna. It is a tradition since 4 years and our way to express our gratitude to some of the friends and neighbours who in different ways helped us out during the FIA race at Mantorp Park this year (mainly caring for the 750 guests we had on site). For the occasion it felt pretty appropriate to indulge the dinner beside the dragster. The party later moved to Micke´s  combined museum/pub. 


Micke is about to announce the winner of his traditional "Mantorp quiz" assisted by good friend Pia (1st prize is a ride with Micke in the 2-seat dragster. Our friend and former crew member Aila was the lucky winner this time!)




December 15th: On december 11th we had a visit from a group of SCANIA employees to our Värna based work shop. Many were interested in the technology of the dragster and as a follow up we plan for a next meeting with the group during the 2009 FIA race at Mantorp Park.






Loading was not the easiest thing today..

December 5th: The last public exhibition for this year is finished. We started the season in january with the Gothenburg motorshow and we end it in december. It has been a long but interesting year where we have met many thousands of people during races, roadshows and fairs. Today it was real close that we did not make it back to base. As you can see looking at the photo, in Skövde (where our sponsor Gelins hosted this exhibition), the snow just pured down and made it difficult to load and drive the transporters from the site. Now 6 pm we just got back with all equipment and will wash and park it inside the hall tomorrow.


November 26th: Yesterday Micke was back in Borlänge at ME Racing Services for a photo session together with sponsor Speedglas. The new Speedglas welding helmet (that is just being launched at the market) is really something else. Among the first to try it was of course L-G Eriksson, while working on Mickes chassis. The chassis update is close to finished and the plan is to bring the dragster back to base on friday. First up however is a conference with representatives from some of our sponsor companies. The location for the meeting is Viking Line´s ship M/S Cinderella leaving Stockholm this evening with destination Mariehamn on Åland.




L-G Eriksson is in charge of the dragster dept.
Here the rear part of the dragster have been cut off and he is working to set the correct engine position for the new framework, using a jig.

November 13th: Micke is in Borlänge at ME Racing Services premises, where chassis builder L-G Eriksson (Pro Mod driver Mats Eriksson´s son) is managing the top fuel chassis update. ME Racing Services are cooperating with US based chassis builder Murph Mc Kinney and is one of very few licensed chassis builders in Europe. As new regulation demand most European top fuel dragsters to be rebuilt, ME Racing Services have their hands full with work from most of the top fuel teams over the winter. ME Racing services also specialises in Pro Mod chassis and big boss himself Mats Eriksson pilots a gorgeous -56 Crown Vicky Pro Mod car. Youngest son Ludvig is nominated for the motorsport junior driver award of the year in Sweden. The Eriksson´s are a drag racing bitten family to say the least! Micke who has been a friend of the family for many years enjoy his stay in Borlänge and finds it interesting to take part in the work with his own dragster this week. 


Micke is assisting L-G, interested to learn more and to cut some time on the work of his own dragster chassis. The car is scheduled to be at the next exhibition at the beginning of december ( then hopefully in one piece, looking like normal again!)


 

November 11th: The dragster was transported to chassis builder Mats Eriksson´s premises in Borlänge monday. Sunday we had all the swedish crew on site in our Värna workshop to strip the car completely before the service. First time since the race at Mantorp Park that all were gathered and we all enjoyed it. 




November 8th: We was happy to be part of our sponsor KAMA Fritid´s exhibition in Tenhult (same loctation as where the KABE caravans are built).
Pictured is Micke together with KAMA Fritid´s president Tommy Nilsson and bike rider Filip Backlund, who is also associated with KAMA. The saturday evening consisted of a 1st class dinner for the 250 invited guests attending the all day event.



October 20th: Last thursday we were in Stockholm and helped celebrate the 50-year anniversary at our sponsor System Edström Bilinredningar.



Micke together with speedway driver Greg Hancock and System Edström Bilinredningar´s president Lars Hällsten. Dragster and racing trailer in the background.


The dragster was fired up outside the new premises of System Edström Bilinredningar





October 13th: Micke is currently mounting lights on the workshop wall and found it a great idea to use the racing trailer as a ladder. Electrician and neighbour Kalle is supervising. 



October 1st: A new month and autumn is definately here in our region, today with grey sky and rain. A lot goes on behind the scene this time of year, however there is not much we can report at this time. We still have some exhibitions left, the nearest one tomorrow onboard Viking Line´s ship M/S Cinderella. It is in connection with a conference for 200 specialised teachers, teaching students at high school level in automotive related topics. Team Kågered is invited by the organsier Transport Group together with companies like sponsors SCANIA and Bahco.

Other than that this week is mostly filled with work to plan ahead and keep in contact with sponsors.

The dragster is in for a rebuild at chassi builder ME Racing in Borlänge (new regulations regarding tubing dimensions, require the rear part of the chassis is replaced). What we gather it goes for 99% of the top fuel cars in Europe,  with the expection of the cars that were new for 2008. We still don´t know at what date we can "park" the dragster and transport it to Borlänge, as we have requests for some exhibitions both in november and early december.  It will hopefully clear within the nearest weeks. 


September 19th: Exhibition together with SNA Europe/BAHCO and System Edström Bilinredningar. Location AHLSELL ÖREBRO. The top fuel dragster and transporters were on display



September 18th: Well visited event at in Karlstad thursday, where host AHLSELL served 1100 (!) hamburgers to invited customers. The interest for the BAHCO tools on display was great, not least because of the new revolutionary hand saws that has just been introduced on the market. Team Kågered was on site to assist sponsor SNA Europe/BAHCO and show the top fuel dragster and transporters. 


September 12-14th: The weekend was spent by Micke in Växjö, where he exhibited the race car and transporters together with SNA Europe/BAHCO. The location was at Bahco´s client JULA and pictured above team Kågered also got company from the local firefighter division. Well visited and interesting days for Micke and part of the crew.


September 9th: Most of team Kågered are back in Sweden after what was to be the seemingly longest event we have been at. The organisers Santa Pod Raceway struggled with the rain, dried the track uncountable times in between showers, just to see their work made undone in minutes when the next rain shower came over the area. Splendid job from all involved and amazing that the visitors held out in the rain!

We have posted the results, which in short mean Andy Carter is the 2008 Top Fuel Dragster champion. Lex Joon was in the lead before the event, lost points during the one and only qualification run and would have needed to win the event to get back in the lead.

However, unfortunately the final had to be cancelled due to rain. It was getting late sunday evening and the organisers simply had done all they could and had to call off the remaining runs in all FIA/UEM car and bike classes.

For Micke the event meant an unchanged position in the championship points standings. He came to Santa Pod as no#3 and remained in that position after having beaten Urs Erbacher in the quarter finals, but lost against Lex Joon in the semifinals. The car ran ok under the circumstances, but snapping bolts to the blower belt pulley meant the engine stopped pulling at half track during the run against Joon and the race was over for team Kågered.

This weekend really was a bit of a lottery for all teams and the weather meant no fair chance was provided really as only one run of qualifications could be run. In Top Fuel Dragster the fastest car got the win in the end with Andy Carter as  pilot and crew chiefs Karsten and Per plans worked all the way. So they are worthy winners we think, although we feel sorry for Lex Joon, who never got the chance to earn any points back when the final rained off.

As for our own results, ending as number 3 in the championship pretty much shows our overall performance this year. We started bad, found a major clutch fault after Mantorp, won at Hockenheim and kept up the performance to a competitive level at Santa Pod under poor circumstances.

We are happy that we again, after two really poor seasons, are able to run quick and to win events. Our team works well together and all swedish crew members have already stated they are ready to take on a new season of top fuel racing. The nearest month we will work hard to raise the funds needed to compete at top level another season. Updates will appear as news happen throughout the coming months.
 

September 3rd: Team Kågered´s transporters have arrived at Santa Pod and the swedish crew fly to England this evening. Thursday will be a day of final preparations, before the qualifications start friday. What we hear real chilly and winday on site today.

9 teams enter the top fuel dragster category, whereof
4 teams have a theoretical chance to win the FIA European Championship. They drivers are 1.Lex Joon 2.Andy Carter 3. Micke Kågered and 4. Urs Erbacher

We are unsure whether there will be time for us to update this website during the event, so we do not promise anything yet.

We do advise you follow the action all weekend at Eurodragsters website www.eurodragster.com
They do report close to live from the control tower and also have a webcamera on site. Don´t miss it!


September 1st: We spent all the past weekend exhibiting the dragster, racing trailer and selected tools with Bahco/SNA Europe at the Gotheburg Aero Show. Supposedly over 50.000 people came to the Aeroseum fairgrounds and the interest for the dragster and tools on display was great. Below are a few well selected photos..

IN LEGENDARY COMPANY..

The Bahco Express Dragster in between the Mustang (left) and the Spitfire. Both planes are privately owned in Sweden and was part of the airshow 

Although the planes are faster (600-800 km at maxspeed) they have not near the engine capacity of the top fuel dragster, which is about 5000 horsepowers stronger..


.. and a closeup of the dragster with the Mustang (Mickes favourite plane)


Time for fun? At least that is what Micke thought when he forced team mates Åsa (middle) and Kenta (right) to be in this picture..


Christina and Jerry from SNA Europe/BAHCO displayed selected tools at the Aeroseum



WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A COMEBACK OF OUR NITRO T-SHIRTS?

August 28th: Last season we printed nitro t-shirts (that sold out) and some requests have come in about new ones. To find out if they would be in demand, we invite anyone interested to see a "Nitro t-shirt comeback" to send us an email HERE. What we need to know is what size you would request and how many We gather the cost would be around SEK199/EUR25/GBP20 incl postage within Europe. Your email is NOT binding in anyway, just to give us an indication if we shall proceed with this or not.

The print was on the back of the t-shirt and a small Micke Kågered Racing chest print is planned for the front. Colour of t-shirt was black. If the interest is big enough for other colours we can consider that too. We could also print it on longsleeved t-shirts if there is an interest for that. It is just a thought..



August 24th: After a hectic week, but rewarding week of exhibiting together with ours sponsors Peugeot and Hinz/Palfinger, we finally got time to service the dragster sunday. Mechanics Edvin, Mika, Max, Kenta, Micke and Max made was pleased to find that nothing was damaged after the final run in Hockenheim and servicing the engine we ran with went smoothly. We are in for another hectic week where we have 4 days to get everything together and loaded again. An exhibition next weekend in Gothenburg means all equipment leave base already thursday august 28th. After Gothenburg, the transporters are on their way to England and the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod. We do look forward to it! 




August 20th: The top fuel dragster and transporters are on display in Hinz/Palfingers stand at the heavy duty truck- and transportation exhibition LASTBIL at Elmia fairgrounds in Jönköping Sweden. The show opened today and is ongoing until saturday evening.

We just got this spectacular photo from the nightshow at Hockenheim (no dropped cylinders during this run!)


Courtesy of Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes



HOCKENHEIM HIGHLIGHTS

Mechanic Kenta picked up the trophy for team Kågered. photo by Remco Scheelings


Micke set a new personal best of 4.80 seconds
photo by Remco Scheelings

August 18th:From what we gather the FIA European championship points standings looks like this;

1. Lex Joon 249 points
2. Andy Carter 244 points
3. Micke Kågered 239 points
4. Urs Erbacher 203 points

All 4 of the above drivers have a chance to win the championship title for top fuel dragster, with one event remaining in England two weeks from now.



The BAHCO Express dragster on track in Hockenheim
during the nightshow photo by Remco Scheelings


August 17th 5 pm The final have been run and the results have been posted. Micke beat Lex Joon in the finals running a 4.90 seconds, while Joon lost traction half track and ran 6.25. As team Kågered have a plane to catch this evening, we will place a longer report with Mickes comments within the nearest days, we are really thrilled that the car worked so well and that we was able to run quick repeated times this weekend.

August 17th 2.20 pm The semi-finals have been run
and the results have been posted. Micke through to the final where he will meet Lex Joon. Joon won narrowly over Tommi Haapanen, both ran 4.90 seconds but Joon was quicker off the startline. Micke´s opponent Risto Poutiainen faced an engine change before the semi-finals and did not make it in time. Micke, knowing he was alone on the track choose to cruise through to save hugely on service needed after the run. This means Lex will have a lane choice in the finals over Micke. The final is scheduled at 4.50 pm 

August 17th 11.30  The quarter finals have been run and the results have been posted. Micke outran Stig Neergard setting a new personal best with 4.80 seconds at the same time. Micke by that is on to the semi-finals where he will meet Risto Poutiainen. Risto won his quarter finals over Urs Erbacher (Urs smoked the tires). Championship leader Andy Carter was also taken out in the quarter finals by Tommi Haapanen, and he meets Lex Joon in the semi-finals.

*******
August 16th 9.30 pm The show run has been made. Micke made a half pass running in the 7 second range, quickest was Lex Joon with 4.90 followed by Andy Carter 5.00 seconds 



4.30 pm The qualifications have been completed here at Hockenheim and the results posted. Micke 3rd quickest in the field, closely behind Lex Joon and Urs Erbacher. Andy Carter, who is in the lead of the FIA championship stayed 4th quickest, two thounsands of a second slower than Micke. Micke is up against Stig Neergard in sundays quarter finals, Lex Joon meets Jari Halinen, Urs Erbacher is up against Risto Poutiainen while Andy Carter meets Tommi Haapanen.

Tonight 5 of the top fuel dragsters put on a show during the separate event called the nightshow. It is strictly off competition to give the attending crowd of spectators a feeling of what 1st class European drag racing is all about. The top fuel group have selected the 6 teams depending on who wants to drive and also based on the current status of the cars after the last qualification run. Plans are that Andy Carter, Lex Joon, Urs Erbacher, Risto Poutiainen and Micke Kågered are the ones to enter the track later tonight. We will post any news as soon as it appears. 


The car back in the pits friday 15 minutes after the run and Micke checks the rods and pistons, here discusses with Emil while Max (behind) services the heads
 
August 15th 8 pm: One qualification session have been run and the the results have been posted.


Micke with Andy Carter before the run



Max, Micke and Mika in the pit area at Hockenheim

August 15th 9.35 am Hockenheim pit area: There have been raining overnight, the air is very humid and the ground still wet. Weather to clear up and no more rain forecasted, so we hope to be in for a some qualifications although maybe a bit delayed today.

As we have a good internet connection available on site, we plan to post the results for top fuel dragster and our comments in between runs. 
   


Clutch mechanic Edvin in a good mood thursday evening at Hockenheim

August 14th: Team Kågered are all gathered at Hockenheim and tonight make some last preparations , fitting some new devices on the car in time for friday´s qualifications. Two sessions scheduled, one around noon and one later in the afternoon.

As we have a good internet connection available on site, we plan to post the results for top fuel dragster and our comments in between runs. 






August 12th: The exhibition transporters was in  Halden, Norway in cooperation with förlags AB Albinsson & Sjöberg (BILSPORT & TRAILER Magazine etc) for the Halden Grense Treff truck exhibition august 9-10th.



While that trailer get a rest for the time being, the racing trailer is on its way to Germany and Hockenheim. The crew fly on thursday.  



Check the archive page for information dating back further than the above..

The FIA Championship round#2 at Alastaro Finland july 3-5th. www.fhra.fi
LINK TO RESULTS AND ENTRY LIST


 


SHOP FAST AND SAFE WITH TTEAM KÅGERED ONLINE!






Local temperature and time at team Kågereds homebase Linköping, Sweden.



Our campsite is now open for the season! Cabins by the sea for rent. Space for  motorhomes and caravans. 1.5 hours from Mantorp Park, 1 hour from Linköping. Email inquiries in english or swedish to info@hallmarehavsbad.se 


The Kågered family is not only into motorsports. We also run a nice family campsite summertime. It is situated by the sea on the Swedish east coast, 65 km north of Västervik, close to the village of Loftahammar. The areas is well visited for its lovely nature and fishing is free. A sandy beach, shallow water perfect for kids. Cabins with seaview for rent weekly or per night! We have many foreign visitors and staff on site that speaks german and english.

To learn more, please visit www.hallmarehavsbad.se (presented in english, german and swedish) If you prefer, drop us a line with your inquiry HERE!



"Must visit links"..

Eurodragster is the number one news forum for drag racing in Europe. Eurodragster bring you reports and photos from major events in Europe (during race season) as well as day to day news on what is happening in drag racing Europe! www.eurodragster.com

For the latest dragracing news in swedish (and english) pay a visit to www.dragracing.se


The sound of a top fuel dragster..
Needless to say, nothing beats the "real" thing of a live experience.. but here is at least a hint of what it can sound like.

The sequence is filmed in the pits at Alastaro, Finland during tests. Just a regular warmup of the engine, where Micke Kågered sits in the car and tuner Alan Jackson oversees the procedure. First the engine is started and run on pure methanol. When the sound changes, it has been switched over to nitro..

Click on photo to start video clip!
(Will open in a new window)






A videoclip from the finals from Mantorp Park 2004. Micke Kågered (left) up against Jöran Persåker.Who won? Click on thumbnail picture to start!


 

click to enlarge photo!

Do you have talents when it comes to sketching and drawing? NO? Well, maybe you have a child who is good at it? Now, you have the chance to color team Kågered´s dragster, or more truthfully.. a blank photo of it! GOOD LUCK!