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15 Facts About Kjell Qvale

1.

Kjell Qvale was a Norwegian-American business executive.

2.

Kjell Qvale became the first distributor for Jaguar on the West Coast.

3.

Kjell Qvale was one of the founders of the San Francisco Auto Show and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

4.

Kjell Qvale was credited with the concept of the Corkscrew signature corner of Laguna Seca.

5.

Kjell Qvale was born in Trondhjem, Norway, and was the son of a Norwegian sea captain.

6.

Kjell Qvale attended the University of Washington and was a US Navy pilot during World War II.

7.

Kjell Qvale decided to import MG cars into the United States, believing that since he found the car so appealing other people would too.

8.

Kjell Qvale established a business near San Francisco and diversified by adding other car brands including Austin, Morris, Jaguar, and Rolls-Royce.

9.

BMC's announcement that it would end production of Austin-Healeys created a problem for Kjell Qvale, who stood to lose sales.

10.

In 1970 Kjell Qvale became the majority shareholder in Jensen Motors.

11.

Kjell Qvale was an independent Italian car manufacturer founded in 2000.

12.

In 2003, Kjell Qvale sold the rights to the Mangusta to MG Rover Group.

13.

Kjell Qvale was president of the Pacific Racing Association at Golden Gate Fields and served as chairman of the board of Bay Meadows Racetrack.

14.

Kjell Qvale headed the board of directors at Golden Gate Fields for 25 years and his breeding farm in the Napa Valley was the last home of the legendary Silky Sullivan.

15.

Kjell Qvale died at the age of 94, still racing his horses.