Flashback: Paise joka vei potin

I was re-reading some V8 Magazine back-issues when I came across this 1982 issue having feature article about Drag Races for street cars in Hanko Airfield. Our garage-chief Kotten, who at that time was competiting for Finnish Drag Racing championship with his "Hitler's Revenge" Beetle, won the elimination rounds with his '51 Split Window. The '51 was compiled out of left over parts from 5 other Beetles for fun (never missing an opportunity to race) and it got license plates only couple of days before.

The ET, 15.850, doesn't perhaps sound all that fast in today's standards and the fastest muscle car was running 12s in the event, but still win in first "real" organized Finnish Street Race and with 1600cc engine. Knowing Kotten I can picture in my mind his expression when he told the interviewer how he assembled the car and it all costed almost 5000 Finnish marks (which is less than 1000 Euros today) And yes, Kotten still owns the Split :-)

Flashback: EPU-1

This looker licensed "EPU-1" was one of the first "proper" Looker to be featured in magazines, magazine in that case being Street/Race. Dechromed and arse-down it is a perfect example of early 90's Finnish Cal Look dream car.

Later the car received white scallops on the front which in my opinion ruined the look of the car.

Ford Special

Photos of home built racing car.. This happened some time ago, but car is too cool not to be included here, I was sitting with a friend in his garden having couple of beers and suddenly we heard very cool/strange engine roar in the street. Ecce's friend came over with this Ford Special/historical racing car. While Finland was recovering from WWII some roots about post war racing were already grown, this car is very typical home built racing car from that era. Built in late 40's and raced from that on in events like El�intarhanajot. It is composed from various cars, like some suspension components were from 50's EMW (East German Built BMW) and engine/drivetrain combination from Flathead Ford, hence the name Ford Special. Coolest part of the car are those period hop-up parts like Allard cylinder heads and intake manifold. I have always liked Street Rods and in that perspective it is really funny that this car is museum registered and street legal without fenders.