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SOC03 Report [saabnow]
Posted by saabnow (more from saabnow) on Mon, 8 Sep 2003 19:11:42
Message from Thor Carlson - http://saabnet.com/tsn/forms/e.php3?em=182
Subject: SOC03 Report
=================
Arrived Thursday evening and chatted with Duane and Bruce at the bar.
Observed Uncle Bob in the general vicinity wearing his 'Pave the Earth'
t-shirt. Had dinner with Duane, George M and George's sister Marianne who
seemed pleased to be riding in '?', the former George M. SPG.
Friday was dyno day, where the Viking Challenge participants were mostly
disappointed in the horsepower numbers they showed. Stephen P of the
souped up 9000 did well, and Chuck Christ of that darned orange SAAB (at
39 hp) was perhaps somewhat amused. We observed that virtually all of the
older engines: V4, stroker, early Turbo!s, began breaking up before
redline, whereas the late model Viggens and 9^5s were smooth right to the
limit. They also produced HP numbers the closest to their factory
ratings.
Friday night's banquet was followed by the aforedocumented parking lot
gathering. Apparently the resort would not let Uncle Bob set up inside
the building (something about local liquor laws) so Bill Jacobsen
generously donated a tent, table and chairs for the post dinner single
malt tasting. Which, by the way, ran well past my bedtime, with UBob and
galanti still hard at it at midnight, last I looked, and with the bottle
of Glen Keith stood on its head, empty. Reportedly, someone's dinner
ended up on the parking lot but no one has claimed responsibility as yet.
Saturday presented the conventioneer with the choice of attending the
autocross or the concours. I chose the autocross, an exceedingly well run
event in which each car was launched within seconds of the completion of
the preceding run. Steve Church and Chris Moberg were predictably quick
while Stefan Vapaa suffered early mechanical problems with Soneat.
Luckily he was able to bum a drive in Steve's car so that the Church
Sonett ended up with first and second fastest time of day. Jeff P's
lightning blue SPG was expectedly fast, Don Wollum's carbureted '70 99
likewise. The Hemmingsen and Christ strokers added to the overall
enjoyment.
Sour note: The convention organizers implemented a 'no vote, no vittles'
rule for the people's choice award. This was met with such disdain that
the ballot collectors had to post a 'no complaints' sign at their tent. I
know of some folks that made up numbers on the ballot just so they could
get the lunch they'd already paid for. Silly rule.
SOC casualties: Saturday afternoon saw Sean trying to score a new intake
manifold for his 99 rally car and Kevin Quigley staring forlornly at 0
pounds compression is his #2 cylinder. Turbo9 stayed behind in PA when
Kevin went home Sunday to MA.
Saturday afternoon brought what was for me a high point of the convention.
I sat down, tired, in the shade near Vintage Vista around 3PM. The PA
system had been playing '70s and '80's oldies all day (the parking lot
sound system was a very nice touch), when suddenly the music switched to
big band/swing music and the strokers started rolling. From my vantage
point it looked spontaneous which I guess it wasn't but was it ever great.
I sat curb level watching for perhaps 20 minutes as Bruce Turk (restored
96 rally car), Tom Cox (Sonett II), Chip Lamb (Monte Carlo 850 long nose),
Jim Hutchings (Monte Carlo 850 bull nose) and Bruce Billing (long nose 95
wagon) rode up and down the street, giving rides to all who asked. The 95
held whole families with rear facing passengers, kids rode in Bruce's car,
Chip took Debra Kelley Ennis (SAAB USA President) for a spin, and on and
on. Everyone got out grinning from ear to ear, not least the drivers who
had to have had as much fun as the passengers. And the big band music
played over the PA system. This was like American Graffiti with lutefisk
flavoring folks, the best sight I've seen in a long time. If only a video
recorder had been present. Note to future convention organizers: make
this highlight an annual event.
Saturday evening was the traditional banquet and awards ceremony. Note to
future organizers: with the concours, peoples choice, Stroker Williams,
Walter Kern and Crisman awards, and the door prize raffles, there is no
longer time or even need for a keynote speaker! Note to Carl Levine:
your tribute to the Crisman brothers was a class act. What you said
afterward was classier still, in my opinion.
Since there was no post convention 'how did we do?' survey, I'll offer
comments here.
Highs:
I thought the food was a cut above the usual fare, particularly the box
lunches.
Vintage rides
The cars
The people
The dyno
Cars in the banquet hall!
Lows:
No votes no vittles
Excruciatingly, bladder bustingly long Saturday banquet
Concurrent running of autocross and concours
Splitting up of concours and peoples choice show fields
Overall convention grade: A.
Looking forward to next year!
http://home.ptd.net/~carlsont/temp/soc03.html
- Thor
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