Race results 1999

Season 2000

1. and 2. races, Motopark, Virtasalmi

This was the first time for us to visit Motopark so the track was not familiar. We had a new Opel gearbox (used but new for us) with a much better gearing and a new electronic ignition as well. Dyno tests showed that the engine was running well and gave 127 hp from the wheels. So we expected the car to be pretty competitive.
Well things didn't go as well as we hoped. Already during the first practicing laps the third gear had a bad noise. We opened the gearbox and noticed that one tooth from 3rd gearwheel was loose. We put the box back together and hoped it would last. On the second lap of the first race it broke down. I had only the 4th gear but couldn't stop because I wanted the points I still could get! Also Erkki Heusala had problems. Toyota Starlet catched fire due to broken fuel hose! Simo Ojainmaa was coming behind with NSU Printz but he had problems with engine temperature and couldn't drive as fast as he wanted to. Pekka Ojainmaa won the race with Fiat 127, I was the second and Simo Ojainmaa really close behind the third.
Since the gearbox failure it was impossible to start the second race which Pekka Ojainmaa also won. The second place went to Raine Keinänen who got his Ford Escort's engine changed during the night and morning. Third was again Simo Ojainmaa with NSU Printz.

3. and 4. races, Botniaring, Jurva

It would have been too expensive to fix the Opel gearbox so we had to go back to stock. Mostly because of that the car just wasn't fast enough. In the long curves of Botniaring the car also understeered a lot. The placing was fifth in both races. Sami Lintunen had put some weight to his Datsun 100A-X1 and changed to C-class. And WOW - that thing was fast. He won both of the races Matty O. Suonsivu beeign the second with Fiat 600 SLE.

5. and 6. races, Historic Grand Race, Ahvenisto, Hämeenlinna

The main event of the season Historic Grand Race was a great happening once again. Although saturday was rainy. So the practising and qualifying sessions were driven in wet conditions. That effected so that there were some really powerful A-class turbo cars in back of the grid. I was pretty happy with the fifth position because it was the first time for me to drive in the rain!
The start didn't go very well and I lost a couple of places. Had to look back because the turbos were coming from both sides. After a few laps the cluth started slipping and I had to be careful not to burn it. Still I was fighting with Kari Anttila in Volvo Amazon. I passed him and then his engine broke down. I was fourth but when fighting with Kari I had passed a car when yellow flags were up! Stupid of me but I just didn't see it. Jury gave me 15 seconds so I lost one placing beeing fifth.
The second start wasn't good either. Lost one place but got it back on the same lap. I though I wouldn't finish because of the cluth but it worked fine. I think I just overheated it in the first race. In the end we had really hard fight with Erkki Heusala (Toyota Starlet). I overtook him two laps before the end and kept behind but it wasn't easy. Tyres were melting and it was really slippery. I finished fourth. However now Jyrki Salovuori had made passing with yellow flag. He got 15 secs and I got the third prize. Overall it was a nice weekend and I kept the second position on the Roadsport C serie.

8. race, Alastaro circuit, Alastaro

Last race of the season was a 15 lap race in Alastaro. Because it was one day event there was not much time to make adjustments. After the practise we removed the rear stabilizer and it made the car little better to the qualifying. I was fifth in the grid.
Once again it was hard to get the bimmer moving due to lack of locked differential. Erkki Heusala started better and went over. In two first corners touching between us was really close. After about five laps I managed to pass Erkki but the fight continued till the end. Once again thanks to Erkki for a nice race! For me there was no chance for better position than the fifth. Mika Ahlqvist was fourth with his Fiat twin cam powered Lada. Sami Lintunen was the first once again. So he won all the races he took part! Marko Soisalo with MG Metro was the second and Matty O. Suonsivu took the second place in the serie by beeing third. Season is over and my place in serie's result table is third. Level of the competition was a lot higher compared to last year so lost of one position isn't bad.

Race results 2000

	1st start	2nd start
Motopark, Virtasalmi	2.	-
Botniaring, Jurva	4.	5.
Ahvenisto, Hämeenlinna	5.	3.
Alastaro (one start)	5.	-
Final result	3.	-

Season 2001

Beeing on podium in 6 races of 7 is without doubt a good result. The first victory remained still unachieved. More power is needed to reach that. Plannings for new engine are on the table. Money is the biggest problem in realizing them. Otherwise the car is now really good.

Race results 2001

	1st start	2nd start
Motopark, Virtasalmi	4.	3.
Kemora, Veteli	2.	3.
Ahvenisto, Hämeenlinna	2.	3.
Alastaro (one start)	2.	-
Final result	2.	-

Season 2002

The engine project suffered a set back and got delayed until next season. It was mainly due to the difficulties getting parts. The pistons were ordered well in time already before christmas but they were still undelivered in May! Now, thanks to Trent @ Apex Engineering, I have a shiny set of JE's forged pistons and the project is going on again.

So other than lack of power the car was very good and fun to drive. We had almost no technical trouble at all. That wasn't good enough to maintain the result level we were used to. The competition is really hard nowdays in class C also. Marko Soisalo with his MG Metro was unbeatable and seconds ahead of others. He will be hard to reach. Also Mika Mansukoski got his VW Beetle go incredibly fast!

Race results 2002

	1st start	2nd start
Motopark, Virtasalmi	3.	3.
Botniaring, Jurva	3.	4.
Ahvenisto, Hämeenlinna	2.	4.
Alastaro (one start)	6.	-
Final result	4.	-

Season 2003

Well that's it then. After finishing second in both Ahvenisto starts the final result of the year is clear. Second - once again! After all the work it is a disappointment. Mika Mansukoski with his VW Beetle took the championship.
On the plus side of the season there is the first victory for me in Motopark. After that it all seemed very promising. Then I had to get new tires which are not as fast as ones that are worn out. Also I felt that in hot conditions in Botniaring (30 deg C) I lost more power than others because I wasn't able to compete at all. Then the biggest disappointment was Ahvenisto which is kinda my hometrack and I though I could do better. There was many small things that just didn't go the way I planned. Some of them were small tactical mistakes and some just bad luck.

Race results 2003

	1st start	2nd start
Motopark, Virtasalmi	2.	1.
Botniaring, Jurva	3.	2.
Ahvenisto, Hämeenlinna	2.	2.
Alastaro (one start)	2.	-
Final result	2.	-

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