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This was a fantastic event. It was extremely well organized. The venue was perfect. The food was incredible, with Salmon dinner for the banquet. It was great to make new friends and put faces to the bulletin board names.
I drove my 99 up I-5. I have working A/C, so that makes it just a joy. Had a smile on my face the whole way. It is a beautiful drive over Mount Shasta then through central Oregon and up the backside of Mount Rainier. I did an overnight in Cottage Grove Oregon. When I woke up, something in my head said replace the battery. It had been cranking the car slower and slower. So I pulled in to Sears in Springfield/Eugene and put in a new Die Hard Gold. Car hasn't fired up that fast in years. My old battery was bulging. Even though the car is turning 4000+ RPMs, it is a fine car on the highway. These cars are made to be driven. We make too much of the high RPMs.
I pulled into Crystal Mountain on Thursday evening and the first person I see is Ken Lawyer, a BASC member and good friend. He orients me and I park my car over by the other 99s in the upper lot. There is a kid (can't remember his name right now) with a beautiful blue 99 he drove from Iowa without A/C. He won an under 21 award, well deserved. Hanging out in the parking lot that evening watching cars trickle in from all over the country was a highlight. Met Greg Cron (sp?) and his 99 16V turbo, Craig R and his 99 turbo, Bob D and his very low silver EMS, a tall, slender, very funny guy (whose name also escapes me) and his lime green 1976 99, and Dennis Lin with his tragically perfect black 99 turbo. "Here comes Minnesota... here comes a slammed red 9000 from Montana. What's with that white primer hood? Oh, it's fiberglass!"
Autocrossing the 99
This was my first one ever and I was nervous. Craig R and Greg C were especially helpful in giving me confidence. I'll probably never
forget that first time through the course. It reminds me of surfing legend Phil Edwards when asked what's the best wave he ever caught - "the first one". I surprised myself in the autocross - I was competitive! I placed 3rd in vintage class out of 6 drivers with 29.3 seconds. Craig R was first in the 99 turbo with 27.?? and Bob D was second with 28.??. No shame in getting beat by those two! I heard that people got a kick out of seeing my 99 with stock springs leaning waaaayyyy over. Stock is fast! I may be hooked.
Saturday was the Concours and group photo. I entered my 99 in both Concours and People's Choice. I came in 3rd in the Concours! First place in 99 went to a 99 turbo that looks like it had been sitting for a number of years. It was very stock. My car has been my daily driver for 21 years. When I told someone that, they asked "why!?" I didn't have an answer. So my car is mostly stock, but it is modified to make it more pleasant. I would say it drives better than the original. I can't remember 2nd place - does anybody remember who came in 2nd?
I am very pleased with my 3rd in Concours and 3rd in autocross. I'm proud that I drove my car there, autocrossed it, then trophied it in the Concours, and finally drove it 1000 miles home. To me, that is the spirit of Saab.
posted by 64.139.3...
, Tue, 24 Aug 2004 18:34:20, Tue, 24 Aug 2004 19:02:36, Tue, 24 Aug 2004 15:41:11, Tue, 24 Aug 2004 18:23:58
, Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:52:37, Tue, 24 Aug 2004 21:36:01, Tue, 24 Aug 2004 19:08:11, Tue, 24 Aug 2004 21:26:41
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