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Reino
Tulonen had no intention of driving a race car when he and his
friend, Ray Hill headed out from Fitchburg, Mass to watch the “big
cars” run at the Chesire Fairgrounds in Keene, NH. Arriving at the
track, they stopped in at the pit area of another friend, Harry
Billington. Billington owned a car that raced under the New
England Big Car sanction. The Big Cars were extremely dangerous,
and Billington’s driver bowed out at the last minute. When race
officials came up and asked Harry who his driver was, both he and
Hill pointed to Reino. Thus began the racing career of Reino
Tulonen, The Flying Finn.
Tulonen excelled at everything he drove, from the big cars to
the midgets to the sprinters. He also drove jalopies, full coupes,
late models, and cutdowns, getting started in stock cars at the
Westboro Speedway, where he drove the #32, which was owned by Custom
Auto Body of Fitchburg. By 1951, NASCAR was in full swing, and the
Custom Auto Body crew purchased a Henry J for Tulonen. The car was
registered, so Reino could race it, then drive it home. During the
1951 season, after successful finishes at Westboro and then at the
Thompson Speedway, Reino pointed the Henry J south, driving down to
Darlington, racing against the Flock brothers, Bill Rexford, and
Sammy Packard. Later in his career, he was successful making the
transition to supermodifieds and NASCAR modifieds. |
