Leangbanen

Greger Strøm Special No. 1 at Leangbanen in 1937. Greger's Nordic Special Racer was built in 1937. It attended one race at Leangbanen in 1937 where it beat Norwegian racing legend Arvid Johansen.

Arvid Johansen's 1930 Ford Model A roadster and the Greger Strøm Special No. 1 at the start line at Leangen in 1937. This was Greger's first race with his new race car, and he beat racing legend Arvid in front of 7000 specators. Photo courtesy of Right On Magazine.

Johansen never caught up with Greger, and the young mechanic won his debut race in front of 7000 cheering spectators at Leangbanen. In 1995, Greger told the magazine Right On that right then, it felt like he had won the Indianapolis. The helmet belonged to Sverre Gjørmesli, a member of NMK Orkla, and it had the letters ORKLA on the forehead. Photo from The Greger Strøm Photo Collection.

In 2023, Christian Strøm still had the award his dad won at Leangen in 1937. Christian started working for his dad in 1964, building race engines for Ford Norway. While Greger had a stint career racing automobiles, Christian became a professional luger, representing Norway at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo and the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.

Greger and John Tobiassen fighting for the lead position at Leangbanen in 1938. Greger took off from the start, quickly securing the lead position. Tobiassen turned out to be a confident and daring competitor, and Greger had a hard time maintaining the lead. Spectators kept their breath several times as the fierce competitors passed each other by on the dusty track. Photo from The Greger Strøm Photo Collection.