HANNU MIKKOLA

allying arrived in New Zealand in 1973 like a tsunami. It had been only a few years since the sport was introduced here and shortly afterwards Heatway came on board as the sponsor to take rallying to a new level. The 1973 Heatway would be the longest and biggest yet, running in both islands with 120 drivers over eight days and covering some 5400 kilometres. The winner was 31-year-old Hannu Mikkola — a genuine Flying Finn who had been rallying since 1963 before putting any thoughts of a career on hold until he completed an economics degree. The likeable Finn became an instant hero to many attracted to this new motorsport thing. I was one of them, so it was with sadness that I read of his passing in late February at the age of 78. Master mechanic Ray Stone pointed me in the direction of Dave Parton to assist with a tribute, and I’m delighted he did because here is yet another quiet Kiwi achiever on the world stage, now running his workshop in Auckland. For three years from March 1977,