Wednesday 13 / 7: The inspection in the morning floating on without any problems, Then did we have to wait a long time for the first stage which started 18.30 it went inside the Rocklunda area, an asphalt stage with many narrow chickans and sharp turns round there were 10.000 persons in place to see the first stage, a wonderful festival.

My experience told me that we would not fully charge, one can only lose, it's easy to slide into a curb or turn into something. We got the second best time in the class anyway. Now we could go to night rest and recharge for the real contest, which kicked off at 07,00 Thursday morning.

Thursday 14 / 7 SS 2 Bockhammar a classic stage nice way with a beautiful float, we were charged for getting started in the morning and not lose important second, the stage went really well we won it with 15.3 seconds ahead of Fredrik Ekendahl although we came up with the car in front and had to make a spectacular overtaking in the middle of an S-combination of turns. Later in the day it came out a man and he said he had been at the turn, and it was among the worst he have seen, he said it was not possible to obtain a stamp between the cars, crowd had rejoiced (fun when you can bid on anything.) Now it was time for the first service, no errors just a little gasoline and a general check then on the SS 3.

This stage north of Kopparberg also went after planned nothing special happened and we won the stage with 19.5 seconds ahead of Kjell Andersson, we started first in our class so we had no idea of ​​what time the other did, on the journey up against SS 4 it started to get heavy-driven, we had a puncture on the left front, but we changed the tires pretty fast, fun and see Robin screw a bit.

SS 4 race's longest stage of 24 km screaming fast road in the middle of Bergslagen we brought in so the creaking, The old Saab was going at full speed and we were obviously caught up with the car in front again and this time it dusted a lot, we had to go in blindly, I did not see a thing, but Robin shouted that there was room to go inside, I trusted him and tried, it went well. Afterwards he said that he was not so sure he agrees with the thought that he looked through the dusted, it went well anyway. It turned out that we had a great time on the stage, we won it 56.3 seconds before Kjell and the time was enough to beat many of the faster cars (fun.)

Now it was time for lunch break in Hällefors.

I got a little surprised when we saw our times I had thought it would be pretty hard, I never thought we would lead by as much (1.28 min). After 45 minutes of service and a good lunch we went to SS 5 15.5 km funny road with a lot of warnings and notes in the Road Book, the route ran smoothly. We beat Frederick of 28.7 seconds.

Now it was time for SS 6 Bockhammar back down the opposite hole, the stage was much more harmonious and in my opinion better at this hole, yet a stage victory this time by 15.2 seconds in front of Fredrik. SS 7 days last stage was a bumpy road outside Surahammar, there were many warnings of this, I go too fast over a warning crest with a sharp right immediately after I could not keep the car and we spun the front dipping down into the ditch and it took a while to back up on the road. But we got away without any problem whit the car, but we lose a lot of time, we lost 18 seconds to Kjell.

The day ended with a lead of 1 minute and 55 seconds. After we service the car, it would be nice with a same food and sleep, there are long days in the car.

Friday 15 / 7 restarting at 07,00 on Friday morning, and this day was felled in Uppland. Now the weather was not as fun, rain hung in the air, it was a long journey up to Uppsala for service and then a few additional mil up to Österbybruk to SS 8, now it had started raining. The car would not rev over 5000 rpm, we lost 18 seconds directly to Fredrik on the stage. (shit)

In service we changed spark plugs we tried to go to SS 9 but there was no difference, I had a new distributor cap and ignition wires in the car, we stopped and changed it too, now it was to be hoped that it would work. The engine went bad about 400-500 meters of the stage then it came on and did well the rest of the way, a stone fell from the heart, we loaded as much as we could and won the stage whit 14.4 seconds. SS 10 was a short distance of 3.8 km it floated on and we were the fastest by 2.1 seconds. Now waiting lunch and service breake in Östhammar. I wonder if it has been so many people in Östhammar before? We had to stop in the square and be interviewed by a local speaker (fun when they do something extra for those who do not go into the woods and watching.)

After lunch we went off towards Kolarmora SS 11 a wonderfully winding route with many tricky devices, we charge a little extra, I knew that part of the family was at that stage and watched (then you can gamble a little extra) we won the stage before Kjell but it was tighter this time only 5.5 seconds separated us. Now we go down to Almunge and SS 12 a classic stage of the ARC-rally every year, it was packed with people and we had a great time 7.6 seconds ahead of Fredrik. SS 13 this days last, we had no problem stretching gain 8.3 seconds ahead of Fredrik again. Now waiting a long journey down to Västerås and a needed dinner and then directly into the bed, it begins to be felt in the body that we been running a few days.

Saturday 16 / 7 fresh start half an hour later today, there was a long journey down to today's first stage outside Katrineholm, our goal was to keep the lead, and take the car to the finish and not do something stupid, but it is difficult with so many people in the forest you would not want to compromise on speed, we were the first also in SS 14, 4.3 seconds ahead of second place. Yet another long journey down past Vingåker and Brevens Bruk. SS 15 was this competition's worst stage, broken and stony road no fun, I thought we would break something but it went well and we won the stage whit 4.2 seconds. Now it was lunch break and service in Brevens Bruk there was a lot of people here too (this is really a festival.)

SS 16 was one of the contest most beautiful stages we went up and down after the lake on a lovely winding road with much audience but for some reason did not the car go one 100% inside the stage, it did not give full effect, we lost pretty good against the other 17 seconds after fastest man on the stage, now we get nervous, Will it go to hell now? We changed the spark plugs and distributor cap and ignition wires again. But it did not work, we hoped that whatever happened the car would go to the finish, and that our leadership would be enough, there were only two stage left.

SS 17 competition's most famous stretch Skeppsta a classic stage from Midnattsolsrallyts early years. 10 km of wonderfully crooked rallyroad. We started the stage quite nervous but after 500 meters began the engine to operate perfect, and go the entire distance without any problems, to Fredrik's joy we get beating by one second, and Kjell was a further few seconds faster, they went weary well on the stage, I thought we had a good attack but they were faster. Now waiting a long haul up to the last leg SS 18 which was the same asphalt stage as the SS 1 inside Rocklunda area, we go by the last stage without any problem. Now it was nice to go up the finish ramp, after four days in a Saab two-stroke body feels pretty tired. The rally ended with that we won 2 minutes and 36 seconds ahead of Kjell Andersson from Västerås, third ended Fredrik Ekendahl 5.3 seconds after Kjell these two had a tough fight throughout the hole rally, it has not divorced many seconds between them during the rally both running Saabs, In fourth place came an Opel kadett

Now waiting a banquet and awards ceremony, and lot of talk about why you were not the fastest, and how they go ugly over the crest, it's always fun to hear everyone has different stories to tell after a rally like this. It was also agreed to one and another beer. I thank all the sponsors who made ​​it possible to run a rally of this size, I must also add that Robin did not put a foot wrong during all days, he has given me perfect instructions throughout the hole rally.