Remembering Juha Miettinen

We have a list of car enthusiasts and interesting people that we are planning to write about in our upcoming Journals. Juha was on the list, and we were planning to interview Juha about his enthusiasm towards classic sports cars. Sadly, we were stopped in our tracks 18 APR when we received the news that Juha had passed away while racing at the Nürburgring.

I learned to know Juha in 2003 when he took part in a track-day at Ahvenisto race circuit. The enthusiasm towards track-driving and Porsches was there from the first outing. The car, a Porsche 964 C4 in Ferrari yellow color, was from that day on always the first on the track and usually the last to leave for a de-briefing of the day´s emotions with other enthusiasts. In 2006 Juha and his wife joined us to the Porsche Parade Europe in Gothenburg Sweden for a few superb days of sports car enthusiasm. I took part in a road rally with Juha, together with 200 other cars, competing in Porsche knowledge, and finally ending up on 2nd place! During that time, we also started to plan for a possible independent Porsche specialist shop in Finland. On Juha´s lead, we then started Elferklassik Oy in 2008 together with Peter Lindqvist and Lauri Aarnio.

The car model that was Juha´s favorite, has to be the Porsche 964 Carrera RS. A car that is so driver focused, that I was also blown away by the driving involvement both on track and on twisty roads. Juha´s first 964 RS was a midnight blue car that was sourced from France in 2008 and it still resides with the family. The 964 RS is also on my bucket list.

We built a Porsche 944 S2 race car together and Juha insisted that I go racing as he was still learning the secrets of track driving. The driving skill side took a big leap ahead after Juha visited the Nürburgring with us in 2006 and absolutely fell in love with the place. The focus of Juha´s car enthusiasm turned almost completely to the Nürburgring and driving there. In 2018 Juha acquired an international driving license and started to compete in the ADAC Langstrecken Meistershaft. The car was a BMW 325, which was fully converted to racing. Juha´s second home was from then on at the Nürburgring, competing in many races throughout the years. If there are race circuits in heaven, I´m convinced Juha will find his way there. Juha´s family and loved ones will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Sebastian