14 replies to this topic

[Darren Galpin]

It was reported in Autosport this week that Harry Kallstrom has died, but it failed to give a date. Does anyone know when exactly he passed away?

[glyn parham]

It was reported in Autosport this week that Harry Kallstrom has died, but it failed to give a date. Does anyone know when exactly he passed away?

I saw that too and was quite surprised that a two time winner of the RAC Rally and works driver for Lancia etc received such a short and uninformative obituary. IIRC he was also nicknamed "Sputnik" as a result of his rapid rise to the top echelons of the rally world in the late sixties.

Glyn

[sterling49]

How sad, no recognition for a great driver, I was going to recall his nickname, but Glyn has already done that, he had some great drives.

[alpine]

Only thing I could gather was from the Swedish wikipedia, which says

Harry Sputnik Källström var en svensk rallyförare född 1939 i Södertälje, död den 13 juli 2009 i Strömsund.

Han bodde sedan mitten av 1970-talet i Södra Öhn, Strömsund, gift med Sonja Lindgren.

Han körde VW, Cooper, Lancia och Datsun.

Bland hans meriter: fyra SM-titlar, den första 1959. Vann RAC-rallyt 1969 och 1970. Blev Europamästare 1969.

Almost two weeks ago, then, and as of yet completely unnoticed ...

Edited by alpine, 24 July 2009 - 12:19.

[Nanni Dietrich]

Oh what a sad news!

[HEROS]

RIP Harry, thanks for the good job.

[RS2000]

A second place for BMC on the RAC Rally in a works Cooper S with a standard camshaft is another outstanding achievement to add to his two RAC wins for Lancia. I'd like to think I made one of the latter possible by taping up his broken distributor cap when he spluttered to a halt alongside us immediately before entering the Kielder complex. He also seemed to be involved in some of the more outlandish servicing incidents such as having the main bearings replaced in situ in a wet car park with some used ones robbed from another team car. Those were the days...
Overshadowed then and now by more familiar Scadanavian names, he had far better results than many who are now held to have been superstars. I too am horrified if there was only a brief obit in the specialist press. Journos now all too young to remember no doubt...

[Nick Wa]

Oh dear......So sad.

Harry was a quietish chap but as we were celebrating his birthday I think the good Czech beer was helping his speech. So much so that Simo remarked "Harry's English is greatly improved, perhaps next year he will learn to speak Swedish!"

On the last night of the '69 R.A.C in South / central Wales I tagged on to the back of his Lancia and let Jim Bate have a nap. After a bit dear old Jim woke up, seemed a bit confused and then asked "Is that a row of elephants on the back of that car?" Anyway we continued in procession and shortly after dawn started the Forest of Dean stages. On the second stage start I asked if I could have a extra minute gap. The marshal agreed and inquired if he was holding me up! I only wish I had been that quick, I just wanted the sun to creep a little higher.

Good bye Harry, you've left me many happy memories.

[glyn parham]

In light of alpines post perhaps I should apologise to Autosport for at least acknowledging Harry's passing, but I do agree with rs2000's sentiments that he achieved much more and that seems to have gone unrecognised. I suspect that as he only won one rally in the "championship" era of world rallying todays journos are simply not bothering to check for results earlier than 1973.

glyn

[ReWind]

Some Swedish obituaries:
Classic motor
Aktuell Motorsport
Svenska Bilsportförbundet
and a LINK to a nice picture.

BTW: When I googled for these sources I learned that legendary SAAB technician Rolf Mellde had died in March 2009 at the age of 86. Another passing that has been overlooked by the motorsports media.

[Carles Bosch]

In light of alpines post perhaps I should apologise to Autosport for at least acknowledging Harry's passing, but I do agree with rs2000's sentiments that he achieved much more and that seems to have gone unrecognised. I suspect that as he only won one rally in the "championship" era of world rallying todays journos are simply not bothering to check for results earlier than 1973.

glyn

Harry Källström's main results, according to my database:

'60 Svenska Midnattssolen Rallyt, H.K. & Gunnar Häggbom, VW 'Beetle' 1200, 11th o/a & 1st in class (special touring, 1001-1300cc)

'63 RAC Rally of Great Britain, H.K. & G.H., VW 1500 S, 2nd o/a & 1st in class (class 3)

'64 Svenske Rallyt till Midnattssolen, H.K. & Ragnvald Håkansson, Morris Cooper S 1275, 2nd o/a & 1st in class (group 1, 1001-1300cc)

'66 RAC Rally of Great Britain, H.K. & R.H., Austin Cooper S 1275, 2nd o/a & 1st in class (group 2, class 4)

'67 Coupe des Alpes, H.K. & G.H., Renault 8 Gordini, 4th o/a & Coupe des Alpes

'68 Rallye di Sestriere, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF, 2nd o/a
'68 Rally 999 Minuti, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF, 1st o/a
'68 Marathon de la Route, Sandro Munari, H.K. & Raffaele Pinto, Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.3, 3rd o/a

'69 Rallye Méditerranée, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 1st o/a
'69 Rallye di Sanremo, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.3, 1st o/a
'69 Rallye Sestriere, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.3, 3rd o/a
'69 Österreichische Alpenfahrt, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.3, 2nd o/a
'69 Rallye Vltava, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 2nd o/a
'69 Rajd Polski, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.3, 3rd o/a
'69 Marathon de la Route, H.K. Sergio Barbasio & Tony Fall, Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 1st o/a
'69 Coupe des Alpes, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 5th o/a & Coupe des Alpes
'69 Rallye RACE, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 1st o/a
'69 RAC Rally, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 1st o/a
'69 European Rally Champion

'70 Sanremo-Sestriere Rallye d'Italia, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 2nd o/a
'70 Rallye Vltava, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 2nd o/a
'70 Rallye San Martino di Castrozza, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 1st o/a
'70 RAC Rally, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 1st o/a

'71 KAK Rallyt, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 3rd o/a & 1st in group (group 4)
'71 East African Safari, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 8th o/a & 1st in class (class A)

'72 KAK-Rallyt, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 3rd o/a
'72 Rallye Elba, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé rallye HF 1.6, 3rd o/a
'72 RAC Rally, H.K. & G.H., Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye HF 1.6, 4th o/a & 1st in class (class 7)

'73 East African Safari, H.K. & Claes Billstam, Datsun 1800 SSS, 2nd o/a

'76 Acropolis Rally, H.K. & Claes-Göran Andersson, Datsun Violet, 1st o/a

'77 Acropolis Rally, H.K. & C.B., Datsun Violet, 3rd o/a

'79 Acropolis Rally, H.K. & C.B., Datsun Violet 160J, 3rd o/a



Carles.

[ReWind]

More results on bilhistorie.no (you have to scroll far down because „Kä“ is put behind “Ky”).

If you compare the extent of Harry Källström’s career to the ones of Ricardo Londoño and Henry Surtees you cannot but wonder at the sizes of the respective obituaries in AUTOSPORT magazine.

[Morris S]

[Z-point]

[Nanni Dietrich]

Motorsport Memorial page:
http://www.motorspor...f...b2=ct&n=922