R.I.P. Pentti Airikkala

Rest in Peace, Pentti.
I met him only once at 1987 Rocky Mountain Rally, in Pincher Creek, Alberta. 1st round of Canadian Championship.
A crazy Canadian had arranged to fly Pentti over to do a little school and then drive this guys own car with the normal driver co-driving.
Let us be nice and say the car was pretty rough for a piece of crap Mazda RX3.
Pentti was very cheerful, very polite when I asked about the car (Holy sheeet poiki you're driving THAT????!!!) and FLEW. Killed the car, blew everything up and flipped.

I saw the owner later and he said he had cramps from smiling so long and hard "2 gears higher everywhere than I can drive, sideways everywhere, I can't co-drive, winning stages till we killed the car. Best time rally I ever had!!!!"
Maybe now that he has infinite time somebody can explain to him why "motor-bike gearshifts" are so nice.

Bye bye.

Godspeed, Pentti!

RIP Pentti!

It was great having you on the forums here!
You will be dearly missed by us all.

Pentti you were great to have around on the forums and were willing to answer any and all questions. You had a successful rally career and you will be dearly missed!

Rest in Peace Pentti.

So long, Pentti.

Well this is hypocritical to bash crash.net before and post this, but this is the interview I could find on Google of Pentti. I remembered he said something about race drivers vs rally drivers that may be controversial, but is also a really great point that earned my respect even more: http://www.crash.net/World+Rally/New...exclusive.html

Rip :(

Sad news :(

I`ve been off line for a few days, and I just logged on to this....... RIP Pentti, I`m stunned.

:( Very sad news. R.I.P.

Very sad news indeed. I always enjoyed reading his anecdotes and insights. And sometimes great discussions. Discussing rally with a WRC-rally winner, how cool was that.

His stories about the Pepsi-Yamaha group B car, and how spectators would lose their fingers on the air-intakes of the Peugeot 205t16, how Mikkola said that he will drive the tractor if Audi want to pay him for that, how Markku Alen stole his set-up in Finland 1985. These were just some of the great anecdotes Pentti shared with us on this forum. For that I'm greatfull.

He will be sorely missed, R.I.P. Pentti and condolences to his family and loved ones.

RIP Pentti. My condolences to friends and family.

Great video Pentti's first year with Chevette

part I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L022omgZrWU

part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuVdGFQFk8o&NR=1

Very sad news, he was a very skilled driver and a very friendly character. A great loss for his family and motorsport. RIP

A tribute to Pentti on Italiaspeed which is written by a forum member here (MartiniLancia)

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2009/moto...kala/0110.html

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

Great video Pentti's first year with Chevette

part I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L022omgZrWU

part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuVdGFQFk8o&NR=1

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Thanks Don, great videos of an artist in his natural element. Brings back many memories, saw the video at a rally night (remember them?) when I was a pup. Maybe produced by Barry Hinchcliff. Edit - Yes it was.
Thanks Pentti.

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Originally Posted by morganmilan

RIP Pentti. For me a whole rallying legend with his old Vauxhall. Very sad news. I was very intrigated with that picture about Pentti and Hannu at 1979 RNZ at Western Springs. I´ve never seen it. Would it be possible in this thread to be published as hommage to that spectacular driver? Many thanks anyway

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RIP Pentti. Sure is a spectacular shot going around the outside of Mikkola at Western Springs Speedway track, ss1 of 1979 RNZ.

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Originally Posted by francocunico

...un vero grande pilota...
un compagno di squadra stupendo
un umile che si è seduto più volte al mio fianco per imparare a guidare meglio sull'asfalto...
a me ha insegnato molto su come affrontare i dossi finlandesi e le foreste inglesi...
...un vero grande pilota...
Franco Cunico

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...a true great driver...
a wonderful team-mate
an humble driver whom sat many times side by side with me, in order to improve his skills on tarmac...
he was the one whom teached me how to drive on the finnish jumps and in the english forest...
...a true great driver...
Franco Cunico

I have been abroad for a few days, just came back this night. I read this terrible news just now. I remember him especially from the times he drove in Belgium with the Pepsi Escort MK2 and from the early RAC days with the Mitsu, what a generous driving style. Also appreciated him very much for his comments here on the forum. They were allways clear, interesting and full of humor. He will be sorely missed by so many people.
R.I.P. Pentti and my toughts are going to his family and friends all over the world.

R.I.P. Pentti. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Pentti,

I had the privilege of being taught left foot braking and the Scandinavian flick by the master himself.
I met with him on a few occasions to chat about rallying and loved the immense detail he could recount about so many rallying incidents.

A great talent and rallying personality.

Pentti - you'll be missed.

My thoughts and prayers go with you and your family.

RIP Pentti, a real legend...

R.I.P Pentti

One of my oldest rally memories is Pentti driving Isuzu Bellet, just like one my cousin did those days.

R.I.P Pentti, i have awesome memories of our times together, your jokes, your talent, your willingness to share your experiences to help develop others. I learnt more with you than can be imagined. My thoughts are with your family in this sad time.

I hope it's OK to post this but I did get it in a press release (it's also been posted on other websites) so assume it's OK for public posting.

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For the family of Pentti Airikkala and his many friends who
might wish pay their respects, the funeral will take place at
14:30 on Monday 19 October at the Chiltern Crematorium,
Whielden Lane, Amersham, Buckinghamshire HP7 0ND
(tel 01494 724263).

Flowers should be sent to: E Sargeant & Son, 61 St.
Leonards Road, Windsor, SL4 3BX before 11am on 19
October.

Donations should be sent to Swan Life Line (a charity
which Pentti supported), or online at
http://www.swanlifeline.org.uk/donate

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Rip Pentti