Over the centuries, the Finnish people have created countless sayings, many of which in one way or another relate to survival in the harsh northern wilderness: ‘Better a mile the wrong way than a handspan of danger’ or ‘He who reaches for the spruce will land on the juniper’ and so on.
The idea of ‘ojasta allikkoon’ – falling from the ditch into the pond is closely tied to the same heritage. As a saying, it warns against making hasty decisions in times of trouble that only lead to even greater difficulties. This has always been something to avoid throughout Finnish history, and it has required even more caution since the nation gained its independence just over a century ago.
Large corporations are, at their greatest, like small states, even if their failure is not quite as catastrophic as that of an entire nation. In business, risk-taking is often required—something that would never be acceptable to responsible state leadership. Thus, automotive history is full of examples where mighty corporations, once thought eternal, have stumbled or sunk entirely in the storms of time. Every vehicle manufacturer in the world has found itself in such a situation at one time or another. Sometimes they have managed to climb out of the pond, but such cases are rare. The list of manufacturers that have survived for more than a century is short.
Pride comes before a fall, yet sometimes challenges — or even misfortunes — are actively sought. Extreme hobbies connected with overcoming natural obstacles have gained popularity in this millennium, but ditches and ponds have long been confronted for purposes such as wilderness exploration or warfare. Thus, one may end up in the pond through careful deliberation as well—or at least want to ensure that even in such a case, there is still a card left to play.
However one interprets the theme, it can certainly be reflected in the special exhibition of Classic Motorshow, taking place next spring on the weekend after May Day at Lahti Fair Centre.
(PHOTO: Donald Baxter MacMillan, 1928)