Ove Lundell
Encyclopedia
Ove Vilmer Lundell was a former 500cc World Champion motocross
racer. He was born in Möklinta
outside Sala
in the county of Västmanland
, Sweden
. He died of cancer in Varberg
in the county of Halland
, Sweden.
He was one of the finest off-road motorcyclists from Sweden, a nation that produced many of the sport's first world champions. His career began at the age of fifteen, when he performed at Swedish circuses where he rode the Walls of Death, on an old Indian
motorcycle. He worked during the 1950s and 1960s as a rider for the Monark
factory racing team. Monark was a large Swedish bicycle
and motorcycle
manufacturer that was also involved in construction and development.
Lundell won the Swedish National Motocross Champion in 1955, 1958 and 1960, and was a member of victorious Swedish Motocross des Nations
teams in 1958, 1961 and 1962. He was also successful in a variety other events, such as observed trials, enduro
, TT and Snow Scooter races.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Lundell was a highly regarded coach for young Swedish motorcycle riders, based at Anneberg Motocross Track outside Varberg
on the Swedish west coast. From the mid 1970s to the early 1980s he worked in Manaus
, Brazil
helping develop a Monark moped for that country. He returned to Sweden and in 1984, he started racing again, taking part in many National and International vintage racing events with great success.
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
racer. He was born in Möklinta
Möklinta
Möklinta is a locality situated in Sala Municipality, Västmanland County, Sweden with 377 inhabitants in 2005....
outside Sala
Sala
- Geography :* Sala Municipality, Sweden - a municipality in Sweden* Sala, Sweden - a city in Sweden, seat of Sala Municipality* Sala municipality, Latvia - a municipality in Latvia* Sala, Latvia - a village in Latvia, an administrative centre of Sala municipality...
in the county of Västmanland
Västmanland
' is a historical Swedish province, or landskap, in middle Sweden. It borders Södermanland, Närke, Värmland, Dalarna and Uppland.The name comes from "West men", referring to the people west of Uppland, the core province of early Sweden.- Administration :...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He died of cancer in Varberg
Varberg
Varberg is a locality and the seat of Varberg Municipality, Halland County, Sweden with 26,041 inhabitants in 2005.Varberg and all of Halland are well known for their 'typical west coast' sandy beaches. In Varberg the coast changes from wide sandy beaches to rocky terrain that continues north into...
in the county of Halland
Halland
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , on the western coast of Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Småland, Scania and the sea of Kattegat.-Administration:...
, Sweden.
He was one of the finest off-road motorcyclists from Sweden, a nation that produced many of the sport's first world champions. His career began at the age of fifteen, when he performed at Swedish circuses where he rode the Walls of Death, on an old Indian
Indian (motorcycle)
Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the...
motorcycle. He worked during the 1950s and 1960s as a rider for the Monark
Monark
Monark, also known as Cykelfabriken Monark AB and Monark AB, is a Swedish bicycle, moped and motorcycle manufacturer, established in Varberg, Sweden 1908 by the industrialist Birger Svensson....
factory racing team. Monark was a large Swedish bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
and motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturer that was also involved in construction and development.
Lundell won the Swedish National Motocross Champion in 1955, 1958 and 1960, and was a member of victorious Swedish Motocross des Nations
Motocross des Nations
The Motocross des Nations is an annual team motocross race, where riders representing their country meet at what is billed as the "Olympics of Motocross"...
teams in 1958, 1961 and 1962. He was also successful in a variety other events, such as observed trials, enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
, TT and Snow Scooter races.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Lundell was a highly regarded coach for young Swedish motorcycle riders, based at Anneberg Motocross Track outside Varberg
Varberg
Varberg is a locality and the seat of Varberg Municipality, Halland County, Sweden with 26,041 inhabitants in 2005.Varberg and all of Halland are well known for their 'typical west coast' sandy beaches. In Varberg the coast changes from wide sandy beaches to rocky terrain that continues north into...
on the Swedish west coast. From the mid 1970s to the early 1980s he worked in Manaus
Manaus
Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination....
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
helping develop a Monark moped for that country. He returned to Sweden and in 1984, he started racing again, taking part in many National and International vintage racing events with great success.