Håkan "carla" Carlqvist unfortunately passed away.

7/7/2017 1:44am Edited Date/Time 7/11/2017 5:42pm
Our Swedish hero Carla have passed away in sickness unfortunately.

For those of you that don't know, the 1979 husqvarna 250cc world champ and the 1983 yamaha 500cc world champ

Also known for his "beer-pitstop" in Namur.Cool

Rest in peace.
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fullfloater
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7/7/2017 1:56am Edited Date/Time 7/7/2017 1:57am
Oh no! Still remember him at Carlsbad in 1983. RIP
speedman
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7/7/2017 2:37am
Sad to hear that. He was a throwback to the big Swedes who wrestled giant 4-strokes twenty years earlier, and he ran up front on bikes that weren't the best out there.

The Shop

aees
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7/7/2017 2:50am
He was a gladiator, and freaking awesome personality.
Hanging upside down between motos in special built stand (like swingers) to decompress his back, riding with broken bones etc.
BobbyM
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7/7/2017 3:19am
Our Swedish hero Carla have passed away in sickness unfortunately. For those of you that don't know, the 1979 husqvarna 250cc world champ and the 1983...
Our Swedish hero Carla have passed away in sickness unfortunately.

For those of you that don't know, the 1979 husqvarna 250cc world champ and the 1983 yamaha 500cc world champ

Also known for his "beer-pitstop" in Namur.Cool

Rest in peace.
Sad to hear...truly a legend. Godspeed
robkinuk
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7/7/2017 3:29am
Godspeed Carla, one of Motocross imortal World Champions!
Always loved the story about Hakan testing his works Yamaha at Lommel sandtrack Belgium, infront of their top Japanese technicians.
What did Carla think of their latest creation? He was so annoyed he got a spade from team Mercedes truck and proceeded to bury the bike to make his point!
Bearuno
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7/7/2017 3:40am
This is so unexpected - he's one of those blokes I'd thought would be around for years to come. I'd not seen a word about any illness.

I remember him riding with, I think, "Still Moving" on the back of his pants, on a privateer Kawi after Yamaha had let him go. They produced the Watercooled YZM500 in '87 after they'd given him the flick. What he could have done with that bike........

He raced here in Australia, after getting his 500 title for Yamaha in 83. I saw him at a Supercross at Penrith Panthers Football stadium, just across the river from where I live. He got involved in a first or second straight or turn pile up, and it was like watching The Terminator rising from the carnage - this enormous man, in the middle of a pile of bikes, throwing them off of his own. All while claret was streaming from his mouth, and spitting out a few teeth. Scott facemasks really didn't offer much facial protection.

The story about him asking for a shovel whilst testing a bike - in Japan I think - and then him digging a hole, putting the bike in it and shoveling dirt on it, saying "this is what we do with shit in Sweden - we bury it" (or something like that) is legendary - perhaps one of the reasons they didn't give him the chance to race the '87 /88 Alloy Framed bike?

Vale' Carla.

Olson
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7/7/2017 3:59am
Very sad to hear this. A true legend!
Turbojez
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7/7/2017 4:03am
Such a badass... Godspeed Carla, ride in peace.
Motofinne
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7/7/2017 4:44am
Devastating news. Ride in peace.
Whitey
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7/7/2017 4:54am
Bearuno wrote:
This is so unexpected - he's one of those blokes I'd thought would be around for years to come. I'd not seen a word about any...
This is so unexpected - he's one of those blokes I'd thought would be around for years to come. I'd not seen a word about any illness.

I remember him riding with, I think, "Still Moving" on the back of his pants, on a privateer Kawi after Yamaha had let him go. They produced the Watercooled YZM500 in '87 after they'd given him the flick. What he could have done with that bike........

He raced here in Australia, after getting his 500 title for Yamaha in 83. I saw him at a Supercross at Penrith Panthers Football stadium, just across the river from where I live. He got involved in a first or second straight or turn pile up, and it was like watching The Terminator rising from the carnage - this enormous man, in the middle of a pile of bikes, throwing them off of his own. All while claret was streaming from his mouth, and spitting out a few teeth. Scott facemasks really didn't offer much facial protection.

The story about him asking for a shovel whilst testing a bike - in Japan I think - and then him digging a hole, putting the bike in it and shoveling dirt on it, saying "this is what we do with shit in Sweden - we bury it" (or something like that) is legendary - perhaps one of the reasons they didn't give him the chance to race the '87 /88 Alloy Framed bike?

Vale' Carla.

He rode the Fremantle Supercross same year, or it was 84, i always mix those years up.

RIP Hakan
hellion
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7/7/2017 4:54am
Bearuno, I believe it was Carla who refused water cooling saying it would be heavy and complicated.

RIP Carla, you were a hero and a man among boys
ruy
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7/7/2017 4:56am
Not only was he a world champion, he was a titan.


MudPup545
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7/7/2017 5:14am
I had a poster of him in my room as a kid. Would just stare at it and think, "he is so cool!" RIP
Sidecar
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7/7/2017 5:24am
RIP.... The term legend gets banded around too much I think but in this case the word does not do the man justice.... I shall sink a pint while I sit on my KX500 tonight in his hounor!!!!
doghouse
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7/7/2017 5:50am
Damn, sad news. RIP Beer man.
Wandell
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7/7/2017 6:33am
RIP Carla. A true legend and bad ass. One of the toughest men to ever race motocross!
Crush
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7/7/2017 6:40am
Sad, so young too.

RIP. What a badass.
SCIENCE
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7/7/2017 6:52am
RIP Carla. Feel lucky that I saw him a Unadilla USGP a couple times. Guy was so strong on the bike. Watch those old 500GP vids with him on the Yamaha, wow. To young
PRM31
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7/7/2017 6:59am
He's one of those guys I wish I knew more about when I was younger and racing.

RIP
7/7/2017 7:07am Edited Date/Time 7/7/2017 7:09am
Truely sad, and way too early!

For those not from Sweden I can tell you not only was he an mx legend but a sports legend in general here in Sweden back in the day. Everyone knew who he was, and it was great fun seeing his interviews on national TV.

He swore and spat and studdered, and if he felt something was wrong, even with him self, he let people know. Luckily there were no media coaches back then.

Another cool story about him. I think it was in 83 when be became the 500 champ. Just before the last race or so he broke a couple of ribs. He didn't want to take any pain killers and to ease the pain between moto one and two he stuck his head in an ice bucket, which he felt was more uncomfortable than the broken ribs so he forgot about them! Well, it gave him a world title so it obviously worked Laughing

You will always stay a hero and a legend as long as I live Carla!
olds cool
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7/7/2017 7:14am
RIP Carla. Such a badass. Men like him are what made me love MX so much at an early age.
Prntscrn
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7/7/2017 7:57am Edited Date/Time 7/7/2017 7:59am
This sucks. MX almost never reach the big press here in Sweden but this is all over the front page of the big newspapers, shows what a legend he is. Even our prime minister made a comment about it

Vila i frid Håkan
7/7/2017 7:59am
A tribute to his beer stop (sorry, made quickly on the phone)



Robgvx
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7/7/2017 8:15am
Rest in peace Hakan. (Pronounced 'Hawk-an' as I understand it - is that correct Swedish friends?).

An awesome, hard rider and feared by many. He was a hero of mine, and certainly not someone I would have wanted to stuff out on the track. But he always raced fair.

In my experience he was a really nice guy. Always friendly and chatty, and always willing to help and give advice. He even welded my exhaust once at an international race.

So sad to hear of his passing. Hakan, you'll be missed.

Robgvx
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7/7/2017 8:18am
Robgvx wrote:
Rest in peace Hakan. (Pronounced 'Hawk-an' as I understand it - is that correct Swedish friends?). An awesome, hard rider and feared by many. He was...
Rest in peace Hakan. (Pronounced 'Hawk-an' as I understand it - is that correct Swedish friends?).

An awesome, hard rider and feared by many. He was a hero of mine, and certainly not someone I would have wanted to stuff out on the track. But he always raced fair.

In my experience he was a really nice guy. Always friendly and chatty, and always willing to help and give advice. He even welded my exhaust once at an international race.

So sad to hear of his passing. Hakan, you'll be missed.

Hakan in 2004

BMSOBx2
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7/7/2017 8:22am
True legend. RIP Hakan.

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