the end , he ran out of spark plugs and retired .
Things did not improve at the next GP in Holland . Kalén had a spill and bent his front forks badly , which forced him to retire once again .
The third race was held at the famous Hohenstein-Ernstthal circuit in Germany . The track was 8.7 kilometres long , winding along some beautiful landscape . However , the surroundings were filled with big trees and other treacherous obstacles . During the first practice session , a German rider lost his life when he went off the track , hitting a tree .
After further training sessions , the track was once again criticized by both riders and managers . Josef Klein , one of Germany ' s best riders , was also killed hitting a tree while his countryman Bauhofer had severe back injuries after a big crash . Ragnar Sunnqvist was hit likewise , he went off the track and suffered concussion as well as pain in his wrist . “ I think our old frames would have been better suited to this track ,” Kalén remarked , as he was jumping back and forth with his new , and shorter , factory frame that was less stable than the longer ones used before .
Shortly after one o ' clock the Nazi flag was waved and the starters were off outside Chemnitz . Kalén was lying third with Sunnqvist
leading followed by a British rider . “ After some time , the two of them
came storming past me and I remember thinking , this cannot go well ,” said Sunnqvist after the race . In a hole going through a lefthander at Badkobe , Kalén lost grip and went off the track into the woods where he met his destiny .
“ Everything happened so fast ,” said Sunnqvist afterwards , “ it was difficult to establish what really went on .” Kalén had lost his life when he hit his head . He died immediately . “ When I passed the crash site on the next lap , Gunnar still lay in the same place and I realized that something dreadful had occurred ,” Sunnqvist told with sad eyes . After 25 laps Sunnqvist was ordered into the pits to refuel his machine .
“ I could see by the tragic looks in the paddock that Gunnar Kalén was no longer among us .”
The 1st of July in 1934 became a sorrowful day and Sweden lost one of their most successful riders ever . Kalén died with a smile on his face . Everyone missed his keen eyes , his calm manners and his firm grip when saying hello . Gunnar Kalén won most of his races during a brilliant career that lasted for 11 years .
VOL . 6 ISSUE 9 - SEPTEMBER 2021 // PAGE 181