Offered from The Forshaw Speedway Collection, c.1931 Husqvarna Dirt Track Racing Motorcycle

Frame no. 7SMx115?1 (see text) Engine no. 7SM 117

• Acquired by Richard Forshaw from Lennart Olofssen in Sweden in 1991
• Restored by well-known Swedish restorer Olof Johansson
• A rare survivor

Established in the 18th century as a munitions manufactory and diverting first into bicycle making it was in 1903 Husqvarna started to produce motorcycles. The factory often used proprietary engines, initially FN and Moto-Reve but notably JAP from the Prestwich factory in Tottenham, North London. By 1926 the chief designer, Harold Toller designed a 730cc OHV v twin and increased the production range in 1928 with their own single cylinder models, whilst at the same time using JAP engines with factory modifications.

In 1928/9 former FN design technicians, Folke Hannerstedt and Calle Heimdahl designed a new 498cc v twin racing machine. Other manufacturers favoured OHC single cylinder engines but the new Husqvarna racer was a push rod variant, the legacy from the factory use of JAP engines became all too evident. This racing machine became very successful becoming well known in Britain when ridden by Stanley Woods.

The dirt track model was introduced in 1930 and once again, the influence from Prestwich is very obvious. The engine in this machine looks so much like the first JAP 'Dog Ear' dirt track engine with exposed pushrod and rocker assemblies. The coil valve springs are another confirmation of an early engine, all later Husqvarna engines of this type equipped with hair spring valve springs.

This early Husqvarna machine was acquired by Richard Forshaw from Lennart Olofssen in Sweden in late 1991. The machine had been found in Norway before arriving in Sweden in the early 1970s but was not restored until much later by well-known Swedish restorer Olof Johansson with the intent of including it in a museum. This museum closed and all the exhibits were to be sold including the Husqvarna.

It is certainly a rare machine, little known to British speedway. It remains an excellent example from this renowned Swedish manufacturer with a reputation steeped in motorcycle sport. Accompanied with the correspondence, photographs and a description of Husqvarna speedway machines in Swedish. It should be noted that it has not been possible to discern the penultimate number in the frame number sequence and the mechanical condition is not known and therefore we recommend re-commissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent.
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