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To reader of MMM (MOONEYES MAIL MAGAZINE), how do you do, this is Goshu from MOON GARAGE. This time I like to report on trip to Finland.
The first half of trip is about Japanese Cars Only Event. It is getting popular in all over the world as we have All Odds Nationals in September 30th in ODAIBA Japan, the TOY Classics and JCCA in LA. Shows are also featured in "KOUSOKU-YUEN Deluxe" compared to LA with more later right side steering model, it was full of left side. Genuine dealer imported left side steering Japanese cars from the sixties were still left there.
The last half of report is about Car Club's life style in urban Helsinki. Finland is about same size as Japan, with less than half population, far more spacious than urban cities of Japan. In Finland we saw car culture like dream for us. |
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- 2007. 8. 17 Friday -
So first went to Narita Airport to catch plane to Helsinki on FINLAND AIR AY074 flight. Checked in as soon as the counter Opened at 9am. Hei there is MOOMIN. |
 |  | This was my first flight on FINNAIR but how about that brand new! The first and foremost important issue is the DVD screen build in headrest on all seat and down light is LED. I felt like I was the old car owner who got on brand new car with huge rims but what I have brought in to read was the "KOUSOKU-YUEN deluxe" and evian came in every seat at outside pocket. |
Anywhere I go in abroad I will be interested in car, event and great food. Is it from the MOON Cafe's food tour or may be I am too used to Korean Air's Bibimbab(it's Korean for "mixed rice") and get worried if the food will not come out unless I hear spoon noise of everyone mixing the Bibinba, hey its alright, the in flight dinner is here. "I am ready to take a bite" is the angle I choose to take with my digital camera.
After the unexpected nice in flight dinner the lights went down and thought may be the food in Finland taste pretty good and wow surprise on the screen in front of me was that flight information was 3D. compared to that flying thing over the world 2D map, this airplane is flying over the 3D earth and looks great to know how many more mountains to go over before reaching Finland and then the next in flight dinner came out hey this is pretty good too. |
| After nine hours flight in same day 17th Friday 3:30 pm landed in Helsinki Airport. Surprise to see no paper was necessary for immigrations, but more surprise to see no bag. On the screen, when picture of bags moves, they come out, but the first checked in bags were the last and came out after 5pm. This wait was longer than expected. |  |
 | So finally got to Finland, from the air port we took rent a car Volvo C 40 with mini GPS to hotel at town called Tampere. Outside is blight for 5pm and look like 2pm, the sun don't fall in Scandinavia in summer and even after its peak sun was out for long as 10pm and long summer continues. The wide open view with high blue sky was very impressive. Taking a comfortable cruise on triple lane Freeway with woods of white birch on the side, service area sign came up. |
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I went in to the Franchised gas station "ABC" and tried taste of Double Cheese Burger in ABC restaurant. Hey it was good meat and vegetables are fresh too.Maybe food in Finland is nice... ABC gas stations were every where after this one but this was the only GS we saw old Corolla driving by in ordinary manner. |
 | Left ABC and cruising on freeway again, passed by some cool Japanese cars with something low on right side and sharp Corolla that make you want to ask "Is this new?". It must be right direction to the event! By the way Finland has many lakes as the air picture is full of lakes and many times the road is not facing the direction of where you want to go. |  |
 | Passed town of Tampere and headed to the Hotel, it was already dinner time. Hotel was nice and restaurant was cool design, Scandinavia has cool stuff!. Our order was the wondered grilled reindeer and Hamburg for Boss. We were going on about how the blueberry jam topping was sweet and sour when Mikael showed up welcoming us to Finland. |
- 2007. 8. 18 Saturday -
Next morning on Saturday, plenty of food ! Meat, Hams and Fish (salmon) in so many varieties great for big breakfast eater? Supermarket and department store had amazing varieties of foods too. |  |
 | Before we head to the event, We saw 1967 Mikael's Toyota Crown Van with square tail lens. In Finland, Crown Vans and Pickups were popular company cars as they were affordable and dependable. On freeway we saw bumper sticker on Corolla "Japanese Cadillac", we heard most of the company cars were pressed in 80s and 90s after all working cars were not expected to have chance to become collectable cars. |
| This Crown must have worked too keeping its original condition in abroad. Hitch, mud guard, fender mirror on center, high original height, may call it Scandinavian stock style? Now days we don't see this original height in Japan and its equipped with MOON Disc. |  |  |
| Finally came to an event. Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi owner's clubs gathered 120 cars at camping space by the lake and hosted this show from Friday to Sunday. |
 | Since it was held in camping field, party at night and still sleep in morning was the Scandinavian style. As it is held in different places every year it is hard to maintain its number of entry, 300km away is closer and 400km away wasn't supplies.
Many 80's were seen with Toyota Levin, Toreno, Supra, Celica, |
| Nissan Z, Pao, 330, 430, Laurel... |
| year and style are like Japan and LA with various styles like original low Mileage, Full restored, Street racer, Gymkhana, D-1(Tunecar), Right side import can also seen but left side steering cars were more than both places. |
| The most surprise must be this left steering Nissan Skyline 2400GT 4 door. Now its world famous "Hako-Ska" and same model as "GTR" but could n't believe the rumor before I saw this one. |
| Eye catching truck with flag and some strange sticker number for race or show registered cars. But most illusion was this huge Crown emblem from dealer display on Crown sedan with round tail lens. Owner Timo with PC did this swap 18R Turbo EFI motor. |
 |  | | This '50 sedan had fender mirror in center of fender too. Hard top '60 Crown was clean too. |
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 | Taking picture of food continue in event space. This was typical FIN dish. Warm vegetables and lazania like fish dish, Thick local beer. The FIN sweet SALMIAKKI was at shop, same black material as battery but taste unique. Please try one when you visit Honmoku Area-1 shop. |
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| Award is nice to have in event, Original Restored Award went to blue Celica, Modified Award went to blue Carina which I saw on freeway. |
| In award time we were introduced as MOONEYES came to see this show. Boy asked for signature on EYEBALL stickers and signature time started for BOSS. |  |
| Went to say hi to the event host from Tampere and headed to next destination Helsinki. But according to the GPS its rough and winding road! |  |  |
| In Helsinki with two and half hours drive, tram car was running by. Japanese Beer and dinner in restaurant "Kabuki" rare open Sunday and full of local customers. |  |  |  |
- 2007. 8. 20 Monday -
Monday was last day, walked around Helsinki, VW, Fiat 600, C300, Volvo, WC, cool DESIGN DISTRICT HELSINKI sticker for designer area. "Design Forum Finland" with cool Scandinavian design products plus cake & coffee. The base floor of the department store, biggest "Stockman" had Sushi pack lunch, nice! |
 | The long story comes in last half, am I talking too long like Wildman's Blog?
Next with attend of Finland first Pinstriper PEKKA, will report on Hot Rod & Kustom scene of urban Helsinki. Starting with Custom scene history of Finland by PEKKA's at his student times favorite cafe "Tarvaspaa". |
| Regulation in FIN was strict as imported US cars had to be bone stock to get registered and with recent change of regulation Custom scene had expanded with more modification can be made to ride the old cars. Plus Summer is time to ride and winter is time to build at Car Club garage. So tour of urban Helsinki Custom scene started by visiting shop. 2004 Rat Fink Reunion in Sweden MOONEYES USA award winner '50 Cadillac builder and owner Timo Hersti's Hersti Auto Shop. I wasn't expecting to see Zephyer first in Finland but of course its Timo's. |  |
 | and Timo's wife's interior decorating shop.
The shops interior with paint and ideas are interesting and Scandinavian sense is very eye catching. Guess interesting cars be made if made as imagined. |
 |  | Then we headed to next stop by '48 Cadillac owned by PEKKA's car club member UNU, on the way '49 Buick owned by Kari same club member joined. Behind the apartment building and into the basement garage. |
 |  |  | | '34 Ford Phaeton was former ambulance during WW II, club name "Road Pilots" appears on back. SARI is the owner and driver and she does clothing shop too. |
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SAMI, HOIST, SARI's husband wears Dickies and ride Model A.
Below pictures are HARI KOSKI's Model A. just like being in California, nice Hot Rod. HARI has NOS Mustang side marker. |
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 |  |  | | YARE LEHOJOSKI wears Dickies and had '55 Cadillac and Mercury in 15 year project. |
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 | Isn't this what we call "deluxe" to enjoy car life? Club house lounge was originally shelter room and furnished by bar, bill yard, couch, TV, tons of model cars, posters and MOON parts and Hot Rod parts. In winter, club members enjoy making cars and lounging in this rented space by 15 of them. Comfortable lounge space like cafe bar and pro level equipment to build cars was just amazing life style in urban places and wish we could do the same. Oh thank you for the coffee! |
 |  |  | Signed on Guest Book and take picture with every one. Thank you "Road pilots" club members. |
 |  | That was amazing car club! Next, arrived at TOMAHAWK club house, the club house of the three. This club house has big space in front of the building and soon it will be full. |
| Bar in club, there! Every club house has one, makes you want one but this garage is big. From Red Fairlane, five cars are lined up and 2 more on side, HD is from Russian. Equipped with paint booth and wall is decorated too, cool. |  |  |
| Lets say Hi to the HD club next door, Samuel Heikkinen, KONE MC with machine shop like equipment and bar were urban Helsinki standard equipment. |
| Outside more members gathered. '55 Chevy had Big Block narrowed x racer, MOON finned air cleaner on Dual Quads. |
| So how many people were there? Picture was full of members more then 30? Thank you all members! |  |  |  |
| Then we were on UNU's Cadillac again to cruise to downtown Helsinki. Looks little tight as in front seat were this three guys UNU, KARI and ESA in the middle. |
| Parked car in underground parking lot in Helsinki to have dinner, talk goes on about cars, Sweden, Finland, Germany is major place to go for the show. Finland has some big events through out the year. The Tomahawk club host event called DODAS with weekend show for Hot Rod & Custom. Another drink at out side terrace. Saw a lot of scene like this, Finland guys can drink! UNU bought a case to drink for himself and was asked if he was going to party when he was in USA. But UNU was drinking soft drink for designated driver, Cool! |
 |  | Finally dark in Helsinki, Thank you guys!
Can't believe how long I wrote! To taste FIN sweet or check out the Primer Magazine or even just to flip through more pictures, please feel free to visit MOONEYES AREA-1!
Goshu | | |
