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16 - A detailed career interview with 3 x World motorcycle Trials Champion Yrjö Vesterinen |
A detailed career interview with 3 x World motorcycle Trials Champion Yrjö Vesterinen.
1971, 72, 73 - you didn't ride all of the rounds each year was this simply due to financial restrictions or was it something else?
In 1970 and 1971 of course you have to bear in mind that I'm still at school. It wasn't just a matter of not having enough money, it just wasn't possible for me to just walk out of school and they would have kicked me out of school. I couldn't just say, “by the way I'm going to Spain now oh by the way I am going to France now”, it didn't work like that. I did my A-levels in 1972. It wasn't until the end of May 1972 when I have my A-levels and I have my freedom, but up until then I was in school and then in January 1973 I went to do my military service and it is not too easy to get leave from the Military service. I mean I did ask them and they were very good in hindsight. I was pretty much able to do all of the events I wanted to do but I wasn't able to practice because I was stuck at the barracks dusting and marching and learning to handle a gun and learning to dismantle a gun and later learning how to dismantle a Canon. I only ever fired 3 shots of the cannon in a period of 11 months, 3 shots haha
In 1970 and 1971 of course you have to bear in mind that I'm still at school. It wasn't just a matter of not having enough money, it just wasn't possible for me to just walk out of school and they would have kicked me out of school. I couldn't just say, “by the way I'm going to Spain now oh by the way I am going to France now”, it didn't work like that. I did my A-levels in 1972. It wasn't until the end of May 1972 when I have my A-levels and I have my freedom, but up until then I was in school and then in January 1973 I went to do my military service and it is not too easy to get leave from the Military service. I mean I did ask them and they were very good in hindsight. I was pretty much able to do all of the events I wanted to do but I wasn't able to practice because I was stuck at the barracks dusting and marching and learning to handle a gun and learning to dismantle a gun and later learning how to dismantle a Canon. I only ever fired 3 shots of the cannon in a period of 11 months, 3 shots haha
A detailed career interview with 3 x World motorcycle Trials Champion Yrjö Vesterinen.
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A detailed career interview with 3 x World motorcycle Trials Champion Yrjö Vesterinen.
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Some people following their time of military service, develop interest in guns, did that ever happened to you?
No no no. I don't shoot animals. I always say to people who hunt I would suggest you take the camera because I can assure you it is a lot harder to get a nice photo of the animal to kill it you don't need half a brain to kill the animal but to try and get a decent photo of the animal now that's requires some skill. I do it from time to time but I have no interest in killing animals. I do have a hand gun but I only use it for target practice.
Haha I love the way you just came out with that as if it just means nothing.
I also have an air rifle for target shooting. Something my father taught me. I only ever use these things for target shooting. I find it really fascinating that in order for you to be good you have to hold your breath, there is a similarity between target practice and riding trials. I can't describe it well but it's got something to do with a level of concentration that’s required to be good at both, because you cannot easily hit the target unless you concentrate 110%.
So, in 1974 was your first year competing in a full championship?
Yes
No no no. I don't shoot animals. I always say to people who hunt I would suggest you take the camera because I can assure you it is a lot harder to get a nice photo of the animal to kill it you don't need half a brain to kill the animal but to try and get a decent photo of the animal now that's requires some skill. I do it from time to time but I have no interest in killing animals. I do have a hand gun but I only use it for target practice.
Haha I love the way you just came out with that as if it just means nothing.
I also have an air rifle for target shooting. Something my father taught me. I only ever use these things for target shooting. I find it really fascinating that in order for you to be good you have to hold your breath, there is a similarity between target practice and riding trials. I can't describe it well but it's got something to do with a level of concentration that’s required to be good at both, because you cannot easily hit the target unless you concentrate 110%.
So, in 1974 was your first year competing in a full championship?
Yes
A detailed career interview with 3 x World motorcycle Trials Champion Yrjö Vesterinen.