Thed Björk » English

Getting ready for race at Jyllandsringen

Thed Björk — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:46:58 +0000

This sunday it´s time for the next STCC race at Jyllandsringen Denmark.
I am ready to fight for a win, it has been a long time since the last time.
So training saturday and race sunday, I lokk forward to a great racing weekend

I am home again after a great business trip to Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Thed Björk — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:45:28 +0000

It was my first time to Las Vegas and a more crazy place is not easy to find on our planet I would think. Enormous hotels, gambling everywhere and open around the clock. Amazing!
On the outside it was between 40 and 43 degrees hot, real desert.
it was also very interesting to visit Samuel Hubinette at his home area, Drifting. Samuel finished fifth this evening, he had better speed but a engine problem slowed him down.
Then it was time to go back down to Los Angeles and Newport Beach, a more normal temperature 25-28 degrees a wonderful place.
But now I am back home and next weekend it´s time for the next STCC race at Jyllandsringen, Denmark. Last time in Karlskoga a finished third two times so now it time to spit in my gloves and aim for a better position!
I am still in seventh position total but there are six more races to go and a lot of points so it not over until the fat lady sings!

Rental car race!

Thed Björk — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:23:24 +0000

At Hollywood Park, Inglewood LA last sunday happened a classic rental car race. It was me against Andreas Eriksson teamboss of OMSE .
Now I am prepared to meet the STCC competition on saturday.

Click here to view the embedded video.

X-games from my side

Thed Björk — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:24:37 +0000

The whole week was full off preparations for x-games as you may have read before. I just want to give you my side from the week before so you don´t think that we only where on the beach..

The started as usuall with a Monday and I had to get some vehicles. One UHAUL truck and one big motorhome. I went around and collected them and I was surprised how big rigs you can drive with a normal car licenses here in USA.

Tuesday and Wednesday was testing days at Brian Deegans place. Yes he had built a test track infront of his house. Very convenient and he only lives a little more than one hour from the workshop driving up in the country. That´s the time if you find the way.. For some people it took much longer…

The testing went well and it was a good preparation to run four cars. The whole Thursday was a prep day and twelve at night we went to put the trucks at the arena. Because traffic is terrible we didn´t get so much sleep during the racing days.

Friday was building the pit and test day. Me and Andreas had long tactic discussions to be prepared for most things but it was difficult due to TV that ran the schedule. The Rally race was chaos, the practice track was too difficult, no one could turn then the changed to the race configuration and no one could find the way!

I was working with Kenny and Deegan. Andreas with Block and Foust. Deegan asked me early if I could spot the track for him and tell him everything on the radio while driving. That put some pressure on me put it felt really good to advance to the final and take the silvermedal.
Foust won so that was the first one two for the team!

The Super Rally race later that evening was a big success, action, jumps and cool fights was exactly what the people wanted. Foust and Deegan continued in a very good way and secured the second gold and silver medal!

Sounds easy? But it was not. The mechanics worked nonstop during all the days to make it, the drivers did have some incidents during practice and qualifying but a really good team effort made it possible to get back on track and finish!

Result from X-games, by Olsbergs MSE

Thed Björk — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 05:35:03 +0000

Tanner Foust took two gold medals and Brian Deegan took two silver medals when the Rally/Racing and the SuperRally events was held during the X Games 16. A brilliant performance that everyone in OMSE have worked really hard to achieve.

OMSE came to the Los Angeles Coliseum Stadium with four Ford Fiesta Rally Cars. Our Swedish representative in the team was last year’s champion Kenny Brack who now tried to win again. The other three cars were driven by the Americans, Ken Block, Tanner Foust and Brian Deegan. Three charged drivers who also wanted to be involved in the battle for gold medals.

For this year’s competition the Rally Car event had expanded with an additional sport – Super Rally. An interesting sport which is comparable to what we in Sweden call rallycross, a motorsport that had never been run in the U.S. before this event.

With four strong drivers in OMSE, hopes for prominent placements was obviously realistic but at the same time everybody knows that much can happen in close racing.

In Rally Car Racing Ken Block disappeared already in the elimination round. Also Kenny Bräck got problems in his first heat which was in the quarterfinals where he met Canadian Antoine L’Estage. Kenny drove too fast in a bend outside the stadium and he hit the right side of the car in to a concrete block. This meant that the gold medalist from the 2009 was out for the moment.

For Brian Deegan and Tanner Foust it went better and soon they met in the final. Tanner Foust won it when Deegan.

A moment later it was time for the Super Rally, which was received with a standing ovation by the audience in the Los Angeles Coliseum Stadium. Again, it was Kenny Brack and Ken Block who disappeared first of the Ford drivers. Kenny Brack tried a too narrow inner curve under the mega ramp. He hit the right wheel hard to the concrete wall and he had to retire. Ken Block took the hole shot in the last chance heat, and was on his way to the final. But technical problems forced him to retire.

Both Brian Deegan and Tanner Foust won their respective heats which qualified them for the finale. There they were up against Samuel Hübinette and Stephane Verdier. Deegan got a good start but entering the first corner, Tanner Foust passed him and took the lead, a lead which Foust then never lost. Deegan was in third place for a long time but when Stephane Verdier took the joker lap, he could move up to second.

This meant that Tanner Foust took two gold medals and that Brian Deegan took two silver medals which is an incredibly good result for OMSE.

Rally Car SuperRally results:

Final (5 laps):

1. Tanner Foust (USA), Ford Fiesta Mk7

2. Brian Deegan (USA), Ford Fiesta Mk7

3. Samuel Hübinette (S/USA), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10

4. Stephan Verdier (F), Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk2

Last Chance Qualifier (4 laps):

1. Samuel Hübinette (S/USA), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10

2. Andrew Comrie-Picard (CAN), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

3. Tim Rooney (USA), Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk1

4. Ken Block (USA), Ford Fiesta Mk7 – DNF

Qualifying heat 1 (4 laps):

1. Stephan Verdier (F), Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk2

2. Ken Block (USA), Ford Fiesta Mk7

3. Andrew Comrie-Picard (CAN), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

4. Dave Mirra (USA), Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk3 – DQ (no joker lap)

Qualifying heat 2 (4 laps):

1. Tanner Foust (USA), Ford Fiesta Mk7

2. Samuel Hübinette (S/USA), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10

3. Antoine L’Estage (CAN), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9

4. Sverre Isachsen (N), Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk3 – DNF

Qualifying heat 3 (4 laps):

1. Brian Deegan (USA), Ford Fiesta Mk7

2. Tim Rooney (USA), Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk1

3. Carl Decker (USA), Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk1 – replacing Travis Pastrana

4. Kenny Bräck (S), Ford Fiesta Mk7 – DNF

Rally Car Racing results:

Final:

Tanner Foust (Ford Fiesta Mk7) beat Brian Deegan (Ford Fiesta Mk7)

Semi-finals:

Tanner Foust (Ford Fiesta Mk7) beat Antoine L’Estage (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10)

Brian Deegan (Ford Fiesta Mk7) beat Andrew Comrie-Picard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)

Quarter-finals:

Tanner Foust (Ford Fiesta Mk7) beat Dave Mirra (Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk3)

Antoine L’Estage (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) beat Kenny Bräck (Ford Fiesta Mk7)

Brian Deegan (Ford Fiesta Mk7) beat Travis Pastrana (Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk3)

Andrew Comrie-Picard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) beat Travis Hanson (Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk2)

Eliminations:

Dave Mirra (Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk3) beat Chris Duplessis (Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk1)

Brian Deegan (Ford Fiesta Mk7) beat Ken Block (Ford Fiesta Mk7)

Antoine L’Estage (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) beat William Bacon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)

Andrew Comrie-Picard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) beat Patrick Moro (Subaru Impreza WRX STI Mk1)

Soon time for STCC race nr 5

Thed Björk — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:28:55 +0000

Falkenberg is host of next weekends race. It´s gona be great to get back in the car again after a quite long time.

I am writing a list on www.ginza.se and last weeks list was this:

Thed´s 5 stjärnor:
Musik Värmlandspojkarna: Ut med båten
Film: Wallander – Indrivaren
Musik-DVD: Linkin Park: Live from Tokyo
Musik: Brooks and Dunn: #1 and then some
Film: Up in the air

Maybe there is some you like listen to Varmlandspojkarna on spotify.

Sälen

Thed Björk — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:32:45 +0000

Yesterday I was working as a conferencier at Karlskoga festen in my hometown. Everything went well and it was nice to try something new.

Now I am going to Sälen to charge my batteries for next race Falkenberg next saturday.

Time to celebrate Midsummer!

Thed Björk — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:53:33 +0000

Tomorrow we have our big summer celebration. I have been working on some really nice projects but I am gona tell you more about that another time. Now I will take it easy a couple of days and enjoy some free time.

Take care!

Race report Gothenburg

Thed Björk — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:07:31 +0000

So it´s monday again and this weekends race was yet a tragic one.
In the qualy something broke in the rear of the car and it turned and I hit the wall.
It was not possible to repair to the first race but the mechanics gave everything and managed to put it together to the second race, fantastic.
I drove from 19 position and actually went all the way to 6 position when the driveshaft broke with two laps to go.

Result no points.

Result third STCC race

Thed Björk — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:36:48 +0000

Last weekend we drove the third event in the STCC championship at Gelleråsen, Karlskoga.
I qualifyied third and in the race I was battling for third position with Tommy Rustad who then knocked me of the track. Sadly I didnt get any points and was very frustraded with this move.

I concentrated all my energi for the second race starting in 16 position and charged my way up the field.
I had a very good car and was focused to gain as many positions as possible, it was hard but for sure not unfair. I managed to get all the way up to third position which gave me a very positive feeling for the continuing races.

Race week

Thed Björk — Tue, 18 May 2010 19:05:05 +0000

Yes!! Thank god that times goes fast!
On Saturday it´s time for the third race in STCC on my hometrack here in Karlskoga.
On the first two races I have not collected as much points as I would have wanted but I will try to change that this time.

Between races I have many different projects, last week I was on the west coast of Sweden and organised a event for my partner Muovitech. Conference in the morning and driving experience in the afternoon. Great day but the weather could not have been any worse, I was completely wet after a whole day of rain!

Second race

Thed Björk — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:02:25 +0000

Last weekends race was not a good one.
I started on top by qualifying on Pole, breaking an almost two year long record of Volvo poles.
Then we struck disaster, on the first race we changed to rain tyres and it was the wrong tactics. The difference between being a hero or loser is sometimes very close and this time I was the second.
If you are wondering I have just been broken down and will come back next race!

Weekend text

Thed Björk — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:03:55 +0000

Have just been out running, I have had a nice and sunny day.
The weekend I have been out to Gelleråsen track to watch my teammates running in the new Porsche Challenge series. Congratulations to good positions Roar, Prince Carl Philip, Linus and Matte.

This week is a racing preparation week and I look forward to Thursday test and Saturday race at Knutstorp.

First race report Jyllandsringen

Thed Björk — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:38:12 +0000

I had a good start to the first STCC race this year by qualifying second!

But the trend ended very early in corner three on the first lap, Mattias Andersson in an alfa went out on the gras and collected my rearend when he couldn´t stop the car. I went down to 20 position and worked my way up to 12. In the second race I went from 12 to 8.

But in two weeks it´s time for the next race at Knutstorp Ring. I look forward!

Packed and ready!

Thed Björk — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:55:09 +0000

Tomorrow it is time to go to Denmark, the testing starts allready on wednesday.
Today I had a meeting with my mental coach Jan Alriksson to prepare this season. We put together the program and it feels great to work with Jan. We have now worked for five years together and he is a naturall part of my preperations.

Last weekend before the season kicks off!

Thed Björk — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 22:22:37 +0000

Next Sunday it will be clear who is the leader of this years STCC season. I am ready for the challenge and this year there will be no room for discussions, winning is everything!
Today I was out in the garden working with my friends Olle and Kenta.

Weekend news

Thed Björk — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:01:25 +0000

Today has been a nice and sunny day here in Karlskoga. I have been in the garden together with my family.
It was good for me to relax a little because yesterday I was at the opening at pm-hem.se and it was a great party.
VP was paying and it was good food and nice people!

Testing at Gelleråsen

Thed Björk — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:30:37 +0000

Today I really got the racingfeeling back! The car feels great and it´s gona be fantastic to start the season in two weeks.

Thursday

Thed Björk — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:35:19 +0000

I started this day with a 45 min running session 07.30. It feels really good to get out in the morning! Tomorrow it´s a testday and we will driving at Gelleråsen my home track.

Happy eastern!

Thed Björk — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:05:20 +0000

Hope everybody has had a wonderful weekend.
For me it has been a couple of very nice days with eastern dinner and lovely weather.

First roll out is done

Thed Björk — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:50:30 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Last week we were in Denmark for our first roll out. Everything felt good and it feels great to be racing again.
Check out this movie from the test and you can see the cars on the track for the first time.

View of the ski resort Hundfjället in Sweden.

Thed Björk — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:26:04 +0000

This is a picture from last weekend when I was skiing with my family.
Tomorrow its time! 04.15 my teamboss Kvick is picking me up we are going to Jyllandsringen for the first shake down of the cars and drivers this year.

Weekend vacation in Sälen

Thed Björk — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:53:32 +0000

It has been a turbulent time but now it is clear, I will continue one more season for Flash Engineering.
Yesterday evening I drove up to Sälen with my family to recharge my batteries. Next week it´s time for the first roll-out.

A big congratulation to Pelle at Ginza, it´s his birthday today!

Time to hit the slope!

First formula one race.

Thed Björk — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:42:41 +0000

Spring is getting close as the first Formula 1 race kicks off! Of course I was sitting close to the tv at the start moment. I actually thougt that Vettel was going to take the victory if the car had been working ok. to see the speed of Alonso in the Ferrari was not so surprising..
But the new rules with no refuelling is a disaster!! I hope that F1 can change this rule direct.

Otherwise it is not so many days till my first test!

Flash Engineering reveals ETCC & DTC ambitions

Thed Björk — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:21:31 +0000

Swedish Touring Car Championship team Flash Engineering revealed their plans for the 2010 season today. Thed Björk and Jan ”Flash” Nilsson are aiming for the titles of the STCC and the Scandinavian Cup.

”Last season works as extraordinary motivation for the coming one! We know that the cars are quick, they are upgraded for this season and our goal is to finish at the very top,” said Björk.

The team has upgraded their BMW 320si’s to 2010 specification along with a change of livery.

”Our program something special this year and I feel extremely motivated for this season,” said ”Flash”.

The team has announced their plans to expand internationally and take part in both the European Touring Car Championship and the Danish Touring Car Championship.

”The ETCC calendar was changed last week which enables us to take part in it. We are currently working on entering both series,” said ”Flash”.

Björk finished second in the championship last year on the same points as champion Tommy Rustad and ”Flash” finished sixth.