| 1934 - "The Red Year", a year of bad luck for Husqvarna
Husqvarna was a big name in racing during the first half of the 30:ies. 1934 was however a year of extreme bad luck. One 250 cc racebike, two 350 cc and four (possibly five) 500 cc racers were built for the 1934 season. In contrast to previous years silver they were now painted red.
During loading to a ship in the harbour of Gothenburg, just before the TT at Isle of Man, the truck was dropped upside down to the bottom of the ship and all six loaded motorcycles were destroyed. Later that year two of the factory drivers were killed. First Gunnar Kalén in Germany and then 14 days later the dutchman Arie van der Pluym at the Belgian Grand Prix. Driving home from that race, the truck cought fire and not only van der Pluyms already destoyed bike, but also three 500 cc and two 350 cc bikes were destroyed.
Many people involved thougt that all these accidents were caused by the red paint, so next year Husqvarna were forced to reintroduce the silver painting.
The idéa behind building replicas of these nonexisting bikes is that they shoul'd not be taken for original bikes. |