Pentti Airikkala
Discussion
As if things weren't already bad enough in rallying some sad news about Pentti ( who as we all know, gave it plenty!)
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79077
I have the pleasure of attending his left foot braking school a couple of years ago, it was a top day and a real priveledge to be tutored by a WRC winner. He had some interesting comments about Mikko Hirvonen.
The highlight for me though was when he asked me to left foot brake the training car around the hairpin at the school, which I did spot on, then did the same again on the second lap - too which he was moved to say " Ok, not Luck" in that famous clipped finnish style of talking English...
I hadn't the decency to tell him that I had had some previous 1:1 tuition at another school a few years earlier
RIP Pentti!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79077
I have the pleasure of attending his left foot braking school a couple of years ago, it was a top day and a real priveledge to be tutored by a WRC winner. He had some interesting comments about Mikko Hirvonen.
The highlight for me though was when he asked me to left foot brake the training car around the hairpin at the school, which I did spot on, then did the same again on the second lap - too which he was moved to say " Ok, not Luck" in that famous clipped finnish style of talking English...
I hadn't the decency to tell him that I had had some previous 1:1 tuition at another school a few years earlier
RIP Pentti!
Edited by stockhatcher on Thursday 1st October 22:11
I had the pleasure of spending a week with Pentti in Cyprus for the 2003 WRC event. He was there for a holiday and to watch the rally, my friends rally tour company was asked to be his driver and i was out there helping out so we spent the week driving him to the stages and having fun in the evenings. What a great guy he was, the stories he could tell were hilarious about his days as a works driver, some of the things that went on were real eye openers too. He talked about writing a book on his life in rallying but i don't know if he managed to put pen to paper, it would make a fascinating read based on the things he talked about.
I've got a series of great photos of Pentti during that event, when we would meet up with Carlos and Colin at the stage starts you could see the respect and admiration everyone had for him.
Later in the year we went to the Finish Rally and Pentti made us very welcome there, he introduced us to Mikko's management and we went for a nice meal with them and met up at the stages for a laugh. It was great to then see him take to the wheel again at the Rally GB for one last time. I last saw him at the motorsport show last year and he was wearing his usual big grin, he was a larger than life character and is a great loss to the Rally community.
RIP Pentti, one of the greats both as a driver and as a personality.
I've got a series of great photos of Pentti during that event, when we would meet up with Carlos and Colin at the stage starts you could see the respect and admiration everyone had for him.
Later in the year we went to the Finish Rally and Pentti made us very welcome there, he introduced us to Mikko's management and we went for a nice meal with them and met up at the stages for a laugh. It was great to then see him take to the wheel again at the Rally GB for one last time. I last saw him at the motorsport show last year and he was wearing his usual big grin, he was a larger than life character and is a great loss to the Rally community.
RIP Pentti, one of the greats both as a driver and as a personality.
stockhatcher said:
I have the pleasure of attending his left foot braking school a couple of years ago...
I remember a report on the school, and its the twin-control car. Pentti's preference was for deciding you weren't going fast enough and hitting the loud pedal for you.Says it all really. A sad loss.
I have vivid memories of watching him on the RAC in 1990 in his Cosworth - no wonder he only had one victory, he was a total loon (he binned it spectacularly on a forest stage subsequently) but what a driver and absolutely breathtaking to watch. Great driver that went balls out all of the time and great entertainment. RIP Pentti.
RIP Pentti.
I attended his rally day about 5 years ago and had a great time, even the pub lunch with Pentti clearly enjoying regailing us with stories of old school rallying was brilliant.
Personal highlights for me were when he had to test out out reactions, I was driving an old Mondeo with Penntti next to me, without warning at about 50mph he pulled the handbrake and yank the steering wheel hard left and without even batting an eye-lid watched as I just about recovered.
The other was when he saw one of the attendees had turned up in an Evo FQ300, which he promptly asked for a go in and took on a full on rally demo' 180 degree Scandanavian flicks, handbrake turns etc etc, the paint on the car was ruined but the owner couldn't stop smiling.
Legend. Sadly missed.
I attended his rally day about 5 years ago and had a great time, even the pub lunch with Pentti clearly enjoying regailing us with stories of old school rallying was brilliant.
Personal highlights for me were when he had to test out out reactions, I was driving an old Mondeo with Penntti next to me, without warning at about 50mph he pulled the handbrake and yank the steering wheel hard left and without even batting an eye-lid watched as I just about recovered.
The other was when he saw one of the attendees had turned up in an Evo FQ300, which he promptly asked for a go in and took on a full on rally demo' 180 degree Scandanavian flicks, handbrake turns etc etc, the paint on the car was ruined but the owner couldn't stop smiling.
Legend. Sadly missed.
RIP. Another of The Greats taken by that terrible disease, cancer.
Last saw him many years ago when I was helping man the start line on one of the stages of the Snowman rally.
Pentti was driving the course car and before running the stage got out and thanked everyone for their help.
Bit gutted by this news TBH.
MoJo.
Last saw him many years ago when I was helping man the start line on one of the stages of the Snowman rally.
Pentti was driving the course car and before running the stage got out and thanked everyone for their help.
Bit gutted by this news TBH.
MoJo.
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