Originally Posted by janvanvurpa
Joooo men you know i like languages and names and have been callled all sorts of names inside the family and by all those crazy latinos in my family (OK I was born "John" but to my mom was the deminutive for Juan which is "Juanito", her brother came up to USa and I was "Pineapple" to him, Johnny to my father's family, then I had the bright idea to move to Sweden when I was 17. In Swedish industri in those days it was maybe 75% foreigners---and 40% Finns, lots of Jugoslavians and nobody called be "John", it was Jon or Jan, or something) well I moved to learn moto-cross and when you are trying to learn and try things---and are young ad stupid, you crash a lot---or you stay slow... so naturally if they can't say John the didn't even try vanLandingham---so it was either Johnny Crash, they could say that correctly, but Jan van Vurpa became the name....
When I was based in France doing International events I was finally "Johnny" except to my Italian and Slovenian friends--it was Gianni.. Now when I go to China its Zhang Wei Han, Zhang sounds a lot like John and its also wifey dear's family name..
This fun with names continues with my 2 little girls Anna (7 1/2) and Natasha (5 1/2) who to me are Anoushka and Ninotchka, or Yang-yang and Yue Yue when in China...both speak English, Putonghua (mandarin) and are learning Spanish..
Since you Finns are the indisputable nation producing the most true rally gods and have such great rallies, we Gringos---anybody with brains--and humor---idealize and imagine everything crazy about Finland---and since 1984 when I started, I am the offical "Bestower of Finnish names".. for example the guy I have co-drive for a couple of times in his nice 240 Volvo is Al Kun--his honorary Finn name is Alperti Kunkanen. Dave Clark in his--the ONLY Ascona B in USA, became Doivi Clarkalainenen.
Now what car could be on the cover??
Was it made in Trollhättan by Trolls?
Is it a car I could rebuild the gearbox and build the "värsta sortens" motor for with the parts I have on the shelf?
