We met at the Preem filling station at 5:30 PM. Some of the guys have hotdogs already to sustain them for the evenings trip. 11 of us are travelling 75 miles to the speedway to watch local teams Elit Vetlander and dackarna battle it out. We are not hanging around. It's late enough and we need to get there. It is always special when so much hot iron takes to the road in a gang. None of us are small. There are some seriously large machines on the road tonight. We travel with the traffic, not in it, if that makes any sense. We do not move like cars. Why would we? We thread our way through the busy parts, and blast along the (almost) empty Swedish highways in formation. Outside left, followed by an inside wingman. Tight. Free parking for bikers has to be right.
It is years since I went to a speedway meeting. It is wonderful. The smell. The noise. Following the home teams fortune and shouting at them. Hot dogs and improving Swedish (??) "Dubbel korv med brod snalla". Another hot dog on its way with lashings of mustard. Laying on the hill side in a gang watching the heats until 9 ish was a great way to spend a weekday evening. These guys have to work tomorrow, so as soon as it's over and Elit Vetlanda have their victory we are saddling up and heading out through the snarl up. Filtering comes naturally if you ride in the English Midlands. Soon enough still in day light, we are heading north for home, fast. The gaint double Swedish timber trucks slow the light traffic, and overtaking is into the setting sun. Thing is, if you are used to English overtaking, and can see 1.5 k of clear road as the monster truck the only vehicle blots out the sun with it's massive, slow bulk. Hell you can shut your eyes, gun it, and go!
The riders peel off one by one as we get into the suburbs of Jonkoping. Big Janne and Eva barrel on alone as I am the last to turn off onto the 26. Sugary Sex as Jane calls the road leading to the 195 and home. It makes me smile to hear the satnav losing her English again. Did you think Sugary Sex was anything else? Shame on you! Back at the cabin at 11 PM and it is not fully dark yet. I love this latitude. Summer in the north is magical. I cannot imagine not being in the north at midsummer. It calls to my soul so strongly.
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