The perfect combination of racing, having fun and doing business
For Kenneth Holmberg drag racing only has positive sides. As a racer it is fun and gives the competition he is looking for, as the owner of Swecomposite drag racing is for testing and research and to show customers what carbon products can do, and finally the track is the place to meet his customers and find new ones.
Kenneth Holmberg’s bright orange Swecomposite Pro Stock Motorcycle is a real eye catcher, as it should be when you also want to promote your business with it. Kenneth started Swecomposite, a company specialized in advanced work in carbon fibre and aramid, way back in 1982. “It started with some bodies for Anders “Charley” Karling many years ago in drag racing. We have done parts and repair for many teams, like Ian King, Fredrik Fredlund, Hans Olav Olstad , Lindberg Bros, Leanders Bros, Fast Freddy, Mats “Green Goblin” Eriksson and a numbers of other teams in Europe and the USA. We make race parts for all kind of racing, but also for hospital care, industrial parts, most common car repairs of sportscars in composite and small aircrafts. From design to finished product, we can do it all. I use racing for test and research. Most interesting part of carbon fibre is less weight and aerodynamic benefits. With the racing program we want to market ourselves in racing, because we mainly work there. Interest in racing is huge and the promotional value is worth a lot”, Kenneth says. And as you’ll understand, most parts of the body of his Pro Stock Motorcycle are built by….Swecomposite.
After many years in boat racing, motocross and enduro, Kenneth started drag racing in 2006 in Super Gas Bike and Pro Twin Bike. “I’m still glad I started drag racing, the friendship, atmosphere, helpfulness and cooperation between all teams is great. After five years in Pro Twin Bike with a turbo Harley V-Rod engine and winning the Scandinavian Championship in Pro Twin Bike, something I’m still very proud of, it was a difficult decision between Super Twin and Pro Stock a few years ago. I had always raced 2-cylinder bikes, but I choose Pro Stock and I’m now pleased I did. The small margins and the knowledge of tuning the bike and the riding skills make Pro Stock very challenging.”
The now 49-year old Kenneth raced the EDRS Pro Nordic MC and FIM European Championship last year and ended up seventh and fifth in the title race. “I’m proud of the improvements and progress we made last year as a team. The last race of the season, the Santa Pod European Finals, was also our best race and I ended the season with new personal bests, 7.29 seconds and 293 km/h, that was great.”
Over the winter the bike lost some weight again after using even more carbon fibre parts and Kenneth updated the Vance & Hines engine. “We will race both EDRS Pro Nordic MC and FIM Championships. With our improvements from last year and the experience we have after two years in the class, we have the chance of good results. We hope to continue our progress as a team in 2015 with top 3 positions and low 7 seconds. In EDRS Pro Nordic I see Kalle Lyrén, Kenneth Vik and Elvira Karlsson as our main rivals and in FIM Fredrik Fredlund, Gert-Jan Laseur and Karl-Heinz Weikum.” Kenneth will be supported on his Scandinavian and European tour by Swecomposite AB, Bilglasdesign AB , Texstar AB , ProService, Swedol, Backman Info , Sjö/Landservice and his club FHRA Feringe.
Like all racers, Kenneth has a favourite track, but the man from Norrtälje has no less than three. “Santa Pod for its atmosphere, history and of course the good track, Tierp Arena because it’s our home track and Alastaro.” Well, with all these tracks on his calendar again in 2015, it must become a great season for Kenneth and his team.
