FinlandはScandinavia諸国のSwedenやNorwayと同様に、Hot Rod、Kustom＆Drag Race、とAmerican Car Cultureが盛んな国です。最近はDriftも大人気だそうです。そんなですからそれぞれの国にMOONEYES Dealerがあるのは勿論です。MOONEYES Dealer Finlandは新しい場所に移転し、その他2軒のShopと一つの工場をシェアしていました。
一つは”Primer Magazine“というFinlandのHot Rod＆Kustom Magazineです。今まではFinland語でしか発行していませんでしたが、最近英語版も発行し、にわかに注目を浴びている雑誌でもあります。
From left to right
Primer Magazine, Marco / Hersti Auto Shop, Timo / MOONEYES Finland, Jani
もう一軒はHot Rod＆Kustomを製作するShopで、そのオーナーは2004年 我々がSwedenのRat Fink Reunionに行った際、MOONEYES USA Awardを受賞した方でした。また、彼の奥様が車のインテリアを作る部屋もあり、MOONEYES FinlandでPartsを購入し、このShopで内外装を製作し、完成したらPrimer Magazineが取材してくれる、という何とも一石二鳥・三鳥の場所でした。日本にあってもいいかも知れませんね。
今回、GPS付きのVolvoをレンタカーしましたが、この日はFinlandのPinstriperの第一人者で、2004年のYOKOHAMA HOT ROD・Custom Showに来日した事もあるPekkaが、友人のUnu Vinhavaの1949年 Cadで一日中ヘルシンキ市内のShopやCar ClubのClub House等に連れて行ってくれました。
Unn’s 49 Cad
次に向かったのはRoad Pilots Car ClubのClub House。非常時にはシェルターになる半地下のガレージには、数台のHot RodとともにDickiesを履いたメンバーが我々を待っていてくれました。しばらくDickiesを履いた人を見なかったので、この国に来て久しぶりに見るDickies。Finlandで購入するのは高いそうです。
Road Pilots’ Club House
Road Pilotsのガレージ入り口にあった34 FordはWW II 時代 救急車として使われていたという歴史ある車です。そう言えばウチにも赤坂警察が戦前使っていた34 Ford フェートンがありましたが、その後どうしているでしょうか。このガレージ奥にはClub RoomにメンバーがくつろげるBar等もあり、寒い長い冬の間にここに集まり、車を作るそうです。
Road Pilotsを後にし、オーナーのKARI SAARBLAがすべて自分で作ったというKustomed 1949年Buick RoadmasterとCadの2台で、PekkaもそしてCadのオーナー、BuickのオーナーもメンバーのTomahawk Car ClubのClub Houseへと向かったのです。
Kari’s 48 Buick
Tomahawk’s Club House
ボルボ、ベンツ、BMW等 新し目の車ばかり走る道で、2台のKustom USA車は信号待ちで歩行者に記念写真を撮られたり、並走する車からは「ZZ Topと同じ車？」とか質問されたり大変な人気でした。
TomahawkのClub Houseには、我々が行く事を事前に知ったHot Rodder達が月曜日だというのにわざわざ集まってくれて、我々を歓迎してくれました。今更のようにMOONをやらせてくれたDean MOONに感謝です。
Unn’s HD from Russia
Esa’s 48 Cad
Tomahawkのガレージは広大、しかも古い古い建物で、中には商売が出来るくらいの工作機械等が揃い、ペイントブースまであったのです。勿論、Barもあり、我々にとって適度に冷えたビールを頂きました。
彼らのClub Houseの隣にはHarleyのClub KONE MCのClub Houseがあり、こちらも商売ではないのに十分な機械があり、冬の間に色々Projectを進めるとの事でした。暖かい時期は皆Bikeに乗っているので、中がカラになってしまうそうです。勿論このClub Houseにもお決まりのBarがあります。
Tomahawk Car Club
Downtown Helsinki
こんな環境で車やバイクが楽しめたらいいな～、って感じでヘルシンキの街を案内してもらいました。ほとんどの人が英語をしゃべるので比較的不自由なく過ごせ、Finlandは是非また尋ねたい国の一つです。今回、我々のHelsinki Tourに協力してくれたMr. & Mrs. Mikael、そしてPekka、Tomahawk Car Clubの方々に感謝すると共に、Road Pilots、各Shopの皆さん、Fin Toyのメンバーにもお礼を申し上げます。ありがとう！
今回Finlandに同行したMOONEYES Staff GoshuのFinland Reportは週末のMMM（ムーンアイズ メールマガジン）に掲載予定です。どうぞお楽しみに！
Hot Rods & Kustoms in Finland
Finland is part of Scandinavian countries and like Sweden and Norway American car culture such as Hot Rod, Kustom & Drag Race are seen active in Finland too. Now days “D-1 Drifting” is getting popular too. Since the car culture is there, it is only natural to have MOONEYES Dealer in each country. MOONEYES Dealer in Finland has moved to new location, sharing factory with 2 shops.
One is Primer Magazine” publisher of Finland Hot Rod & Kustom Magazine. Up till now it was in Finnish only but now they have English version too and getting popular.
The Second shop is a Hot Rod & Kustom builder shop and the owner was the winner of our MOONEYES USA prize when we went to the Rat Fink Reunion at Sweden in 2004. There was a room for his wife where she makes interior (upholstery), so buy parts at MOONEYES Finland, Have interior and exterior done in this shop, then the Primer magazine can report your car when you are done. So this place is like one stop for two or three good things. Wouldn’t it be nice to have place like this in Japan too.
This time we have rented Volvo with GPS but that day Pekka, Finland’s first Pinstriper who came to Japan for the YOKOHAMA HOT ROD Custom Show 2004 and his friend Unu Vinhava on his 1949 Cadillac had taken us around the shop and club house of Car Clubs in Helsinki.
Next we headed to the “Road Pilots” Car Club’s club house, in the half story below garage where it was made for emergency shelter were some Hot Rod and members with Dickies were waiting for us. I didn’t see Dickies at all in Finland until I came to meet them, Dickies are expensive in Finland.
The 34 Ford in entrance of Garage has a historical back ground as it was used as an ambulance in WW II which reminds me of 34 Ford Phaeton we had before which was used in AKASAKA Police (in Tokyo) before WW II in Japan, wonder how is that car doing now. There was a lounge like bar at far inside their garage and members gather in in Winter at this garage to build their cars in long and ｃold Winter.
After “Road Pilots” we headed to the Tomahawk Car Club’s club house called “Tomahawk Town” on Kustomed 1949 Buick Roadmaster built all by owner Kari Saarbla and Unu Vinhava’s 1949 Cadillac where Pekka, Unu the Cadillac Owner and Kari the Buick owner are all in Tomahawk Car Club. On the road with new Volvo, Mercedes and BMW are all there is to be seen, two of Kustom USA cars were getting so much attention like taken picture by tourist and asked by the cars driving beside “Is this same car as the ZZ Top?”.
At Club house on Tomahawk Car Club, some Hot Rodders has gathered to welcome us even though it was on weekday Monday. I thank Dean Moon now again for letting me inherit MOON. Tomahawk garage was very big and building was very very old, inside was plenty of machines to work on like pro shop and even had a paint booth. Of course the bar was there too and had a cold beer.
In next door to their club house was club house of Harley Davidson Club called “KONE MC”. There were enough shop Machine like pro shop and they spend their winter season to do their projects. When its in warm season the club house gets empty as everyone is busy riding it. And this club house has bar too.
The tour in Helsinki was like how we imagine if we can enjoy cars and bikes. All most every one had no problem with speaking English and Finland is definitely another country we would like to visit again. I like to give my best regards and big thank you to everyone who helped us on touring Helsinki Mr. & Mrs. Mikael and Pekka, Tomahawk Car Club members and Road Pilots Car Club members, Everyone at All Shops visited and Fin Toy Car Club members ! Thank you!
The Finland report by MOONEYES Staff Goshu who went on Finland trip will be on this weekends MMM(MONEYES Mail Magazine). Please look forward to it!
MOON ILLUSTRATED