Toivonen, Finland`s Fastest Family

Toivonen, Finland`s Fastest Family by Book

The project that became this book originally started in 1986 and was to have been a biography of Henri Toivonen, the author meeting with him to discuss it before he left for Corsica. Over twenty years later work began again, with the full support of the family particularly Henri’s wife Erja and the woman who had seen it all with two generations, Ulla. It was Ulla’s husband Pauli who started rallying in the 1950s and within a few years he had built a reputation for speed and versatility, circuit racing as well for Porsche and Alpine Renault. Eldest son Henri started with karts and moved on to circuit racing, usually in Chrysler products from Pauli’s dealership. A class win on the 1977 1000 Lakes in an Avenger was a defining moment and rallying became the main focus, as is Henri’s rally career for this book. Finally we follow younger brother Harri, whose rallying career was cut short due to lack of sponsorship and saw him switch to sports cars. This chapter is frustratingly short in an otherwise very detailed book. The text is offered in German and English and the book is lavishly illustrated throughout with photos selected from the McKlein and Toivonen family archives.