The trophy and laurels are all business, but the headgear and glasses say let's start the party in Monaco.
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You'd have to wonder if it ever get's old being introduced as one of Europe's greatest drag racers ever? We suspect not, and Sweden's Michael Malmgren may as well make his peace with it, because he just got even greater. How's that saying go, some men are born into greatness, while others race consistently great all year long to achieve it.
Winning the FIA Championship for a third time was an incredible experience according Malmgren (Malmgren in red)
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At the beginning of the season Malmgren listed winning his third FIA Pro-Stock Championship at the top of his "goals" list. His first championship came in 2002, and he followed it up with his second the next year. Of course he also listed doing the Haute Route, skiing from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland in just seven days, and learning to ski as well as Swedish ski legend Jon Olson. To his credit he did admit the Olson thing as being kind of unrealistic. We're guessing though that's only because he was too focused getting the championship thing done.
In his press release Malmgren wrote "I am very proud to confirm that we did clinch the 2010 FIA European Pro-Stock Championship," adding, "and we are invited to the FIA Awards in Monaco."
Malmgren came up just a tick behind fellow countryman Jimmy Alund in the final at Santa Pod, but he locked up his third FIA Championship.
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"To get up on stage and get your trophy, and stand there looking down, and you see Bernie Eccelstone, Michael Schumacher, Jaen Todt, Kimi Roikenen, Jacob Solberg and the Royal family of Monaco, well then you really feel special," said Malmgren remembering his first award ceremony in Monaco in 2002.
In his office Malmgren is ready to get-it-on and do some business.
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Malmgren says that having the most elite racers in the sport applauding him made him feel as though he had indeed achieved something very special. "I was very proud of that, proud for my team, my family, and my sponsors like K&N."
And now, after his final race at Santa Pod Raceway in Bedfordshire, England, against yet another Swede, longtime protagonist Jimmy Alund, Malmgren will once again get to experience the adulation from the other greats of racing - clearly his peers.
In the end, Alund was never a real contender for the points race, even though he qualified at the top with a 6.726 ET at 205 mph. By all counts Malmgren pretty much just had to show up and get a few runs in to sew up the title. But Malmgren faced off with Alund in the final, coming through as runner-up with a 6.731 at 205 mph.
"Jimmy was the faster car this weekend, but I got the hole-shot on him with six-hundreds on the lights, and I had him, but lost traction, too much second gear and that hurt us," said Malmgren. "But four straight final round appearances is something we are very proud of too."
When asked if anyone of the three championships stands out Malmgren says "Well, when I did win the first time that was of course a truly strong memory, and a real highlight, but winning again in 2010 also feels very, very good." Then, after giving it some thought he adds, "I must say I may have been even more thrilled and excited about winning it in 2002."
"After the awards presentation we all got together to party at Jimmy's nightclub, which seems to be a tradition, and that was pretty cool, and then around midnight Jaen Todt from Ferrari brought out a big red cake the size and shape of a car, and that was pretty awesome. For sure a memory that lives forever."
During his 2002 championship run Malmgren did slightly out do his performance of this year, logging two wins, two runner-ups and one semifinal, but it appears it all comes down to the after-party in Monaco. So, based on that, an assessment of which championships stands out the most might be more accurate after the 2010 FIA award presentation.
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