Monday, May 28, 2012

Korppoo Velodrome

In Stora Hastö (Big Horse Island) in Korppoo has been a velodrome. What makes it interesting is the fact that it was build by Hjalmar Mäkelä, great booze smugler in 1920's and 30's. Smuggling was done during the alcohol prohibition times in Finland. Hjalmar Mäkelä was a very wealthy person due his awesome business and he spread his wealth like Robin Hood to fellow islanders. He had sports car and bus in island even though the lenght of the island is bit over one kilometer and there was hardly a road there.

He had Finnish championship on track bicycle, type of race is uknown to me. Looking for more information and pictures or drawings of this very interesting characther and small island velodrome. Have to find out is this a legend or true.

1 comment:

  1. The house that Hjalmar built is right in the center of Korppoo, not in Stora Hästö, it is a restaurant now. I think the velodrome must have been situated there as well, maybe 50 meters from Korppoo's church that was built in 1430's. Hjalmar's house belonged to the Finnish army from 1940's to the 1970's. A very interesting story indeed, I have been lunching at Hjalmar's for a week now.

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