Kenneth Olausson

Five men are actively engaged in a garage. All are fans of Ronnie, but currently, in life, they are serious about the model car track. Scalextric cars zoom by at dizzying speeds. Someone exaggerates and ends up outside the track. Everything stops for a moment. I smile and think of Ronnie, who used to oil his tires to get a little extra slide on the car track in the living room.

Back in Maidenhead, there was occasional lively racing on the short track for electric model cars. Peterson's home had long been in Maidenhead, a few miles west of London. In October 1974, he signed a lucrative contract with Rovex Limited in England, covering Scalextric activities throughout Scandinavia. Before Christmas on December 4 the following year, Ronnie stood at Åhléns in Stockholm, signing autographs while eager gift buyers glanced at the car track. The presence of the Örebro native naturally resulted in increased sales. According to the agreement, Ronnie Peterson was sponsored by Scalextric for two years with the possibility of an extension. The contract sum for that time amounted to £5,000 – approximately 75,000 SEK with the exchange rate of that era.

In Tungelsta, a serious Grand Prix series is ongoing for five mature men who are both big fans of Ronnie and spend part of their free time competing at Scalextric Raceway. For the third consecutive year, Grand Prix races are held, where the winner not only enjoys prestige but also receives a photo folder with Ronnie pictures, signed by Olausson. The diligent group consists of enthusiasts led by Lennart Zethzon and Niklas Lundell, a quintet of victory-hungry combatants.

"It was exciting to read Ronnie's car track contract with Scalextric," says Lennart. "Imagine, he had to sign that he would behave according to etiquette... incredibly - hahaha."

The secret to success is called "car tuning." Each member must spend a lot of time keeping their racing car in top condition. "Nowadays, we buy most parts from Pendle Slot Racing," reveals Lennart Zethzon. "There are things elsewhere, but the English are the only ones who provide good service and a complete range." And there is a need for some training and experience with pit stops. Of course, it's about making the fastest possible stops not to lose valuable time.

Eleven-year-old Oscar Bussler from Strängnäs has tested his talent in Tungelsta and looks forward to the next race with the guys.

"He is welcome with us," laughs Niklas Lundell. "It's the youngsters taking over when our hands start shaking. But right now, we're chasing more participants to make the competition even more exciting."