Ulla Kulju became a very well-known name in Finnish Road Racing during the year 2016, when she was racing her first season in circuit racing for motorcycles with the Star Service Cup series. Kulju has made history by being the first disabled female road racer, who has competed in the world championships and won gold in the women series.
During these three years Ulla Kulju has been a center of attention in the international medias, she has her own lego-figure made of her, she was invited to the Presidential Palace to attend the Independence day ball with the President Sauli Niinistö, her story is featured in a book called Independent women – 70 Finnish role models by author Elina Tuomi. And last but not least she will continue to improve her Engineering studies in the Monlau Repsol Technical School with the Race Motorbike Engineer Master´s degree.
Multi talented Ulla Kulju wants to help Finnish rr-riders with her drawings.
Ulla Kulju has brought a lot of positive attention to disabled sports and most of all to the Finnish road racing. Anyone who has ever raced or even watched road racing as a sport, knows that career in racing and riding isn´t just glitters in the spotlights, but a hard work, battling with technical problems, possible injuries and constant pressure from the financial aspect.
Design Engineer Ulla Kulju is known also as a professional tattoo artist and an extremely talented in pencil drawing. With this gift of hers she has been helping other racers with her “Save the Finnish road racers” – campaign, that is all about her drawing pencil art of racers. Those drawings are then signed by both, the artist and the racer who the drawing is made of, and then auctioned for the highest bidder. All the money from the auction is then handed to the racer to help covering the costs of his/hers racing.
Kainulainen and Kulju met on tuesday when Kirsi signed the drawing. Kirsi was very touched of it.
How did you get the idea of this campaign?
– When I had my first season in Star Service cup, I ran out of money just before the season finale, and I was already decided to skip the last race. When other racers heard that I wouldn´t be racing in the finale they started helping me by covering my entrance fees, being my team as my own team didn´t make to the finales etc. That was the moment I decided that I want to pass that good deed forward and help others. This way, by doing something I love, drawing, I can help other racers who are battling with same financial stuff that I had back in my first season. It has been amazing to see how other racers have bid the drawings from their last pennies just so that another racer can have some ease on his/hers payments and continue through the season, says Ulla Kulju.
Kirsi Kainulainen is racing this season in OW-CUP motorcycle race series with the Dutch Oosterveen´s Racing Team. In the end of July during the second qualification in Dijon, the engine in Kainulainen´s bike blew up ending the race weekend before it had even properly started. Oosterveen´s Racing Team´s team Chief Chris Wienen has asked all of Kainunlainen´s “fellow Finns, friends and supporters” to support and help Kirsi to finish the racing season.
At that time we contacted Ulla Kulju and asked if there would be a possibility to get a drawing of Kirsi for auction as a part of her campaign. Before we even got to ask, Ulla Kulju said that a drawing is already in the making.
When nothing is enough
Photo, which Henk Mannes has taken of Kirsi and her bike made impression to Ulla.
– That photo by Henk Mannes was very touching and to me it seemed a very good reference for my drawing of Kirsi, Ulla Kulju told about her choice of photo.
Now the drawing is ready, framed, signed by Kirsi Kainulainen and ready to be auctioned. Starting price for this drawing, as in the previous ones, is 20 euros and the auction is open until 5.9.2018. You can call your bids in the facebook-page of Motouutiset , just by clicking the link HERE.
To get the signature from Kirsi, we contacted her between her busy workday. For her, it was a full surprise to have her drawing made by Ulla Kulju.
With no doubt these two fabulous rr women are talking about riding on the track.
– Wow, I´m so touched. There are a lot of racers battling with the same financial issues, I´m not the only one who needs support. I have made this mess on my own and I have never begged anything from anyone. No matter what it takes, I will finish the season as I have agreed with the Team. There are no words to describe how much I appreciate that the people around me are supporting me. I know Ulla herself need the money too, but still she has the energy to help others first. It´s a big and a wonderful thing. That what´s sure is that if I ever stop racing, I will help other racers even from my last money, says Kirsi Kainulainen with confidence.
– I´m grateful for all those people who has helped me during my career. It includes friends and acquaintances but among those supporters there is also total strangers. Kirsi Kainulainen says to thank everyone.
Everyone who knows Kirsi Kainulainen, knows her determination and she deserves support from all of us. Quoting her Team Chief Chris Wienen: “Let´s all be proud of Kirsi and let´s help her to finish her season properly. She, if anyone, deserves it. Anyone who supports Kirsi with the minimum amount of 50 euros, to her bank account FI 60 5068 06201 87334, will get a small memoir gift by the end of the season”, promises Chris Wienen.
Kirsi signed the picture on Tuesday.