2004 North American SAAB Owners Convention
Check out the Convention Autocross Results
SOC04 Concours, People's Choice and Special Awards
Attendance Challenge and Best Fleet Results
View an Excellent
Convention Picture Site (thanks Jon Williams)
View the Convention Program
(and see what you missed)
View the Awards Picture Album
View the Autocross Picture Album
CONVENTION PROGRAM
View the Convention Program
(2.5 MB download)
SCHEDULES
View the Convention Schedule
View the Seminar Schedule
SAAB USA
The biggest news from SAAB is that they will be sending a truckload of
parts and accessories from their Allentown, PA warehouse for us to sell
at the convention. Notice I said for us to sell. We will need to staff
the sales table and ring up the sales, but in return, the club will get
to keep 100% of the money raised from the sale! This is a very generous
offer from SAAB, but we will need people to unload the truck, sort the
merchandise, etc. Look for killer deals……..
SAAB will be sending some 9-2x’s and a company representative to do a presentation on the new vehicles, and allow us to take them for a drive. There will also be a limited number of 9-3’s and 9-5’s available for test drives.
SEMINARS
We have a number of excellent seminar presenters lined up this year.
Tom Nelson from the Rocky Mountain SAAB Club is going to show and tell
how their club restored a 1970 SAAB 96. And they are bringing it to the
convention!
Jack Ashcraft is going to make a 2-hour presentation on high performance
tuning tricks for the V-4 engine.
John Moss, SAAB USA’s senior technical trainer is going to wow us with
one of his famous talks on SAAB’s future plans.
Bob McNary from Ventura, CA will be hosting an “Antiques Roadshow”-type
presentation on SAAB collectibles and memorabilia.
A full list of speakers and topics will be posted on the web site soon.
AUTOCROSS
The Autocross Committee is working diligently to lay out a course in the
upper parking lit at Crystal. If you are considering entering, make sure
to check out the convention website. The autocross is one of the first
events to take place on Friday afternoon, so come prepared!
CHAIRLIFT
There is now a reasonable chance that one of the Crystal Mountain Chairlifts
will be available to ride halfway up the mountain, from which point it
is an easy hour’s hike to the summit. Crystal Mountain Resort is in one
of the Northwest’s most beautiful natural settings, and a ride in the
chair could give you exceptional views of nature at its best.
CARS
What is a SAAB Convention without SAABs? We have a number of groups from
around the country bringing their prides and joys to Crystal. We currently
have, among other cars, a 1968 SAAB 95 from Massachusetts, a 1967 Sonett
II from California, and a 1968 “D” Sports racer from Louisiana.
GEAR
The convention T-shirts are now being printed, and they look great! Make
sure to order one, or more from our web site, as quantities at the convention
will be limited, and will cost a couple of dollars more.
POSTERS
The posters have been printed. If you know of a SAAB business who would
like a poster to put in the window, let me know and I will send one or
more along.
REGISTRATION
There are still a number of NWSOC Members who have not registered for
the Convention (GASP!). The good news is you still have time to take care
of that problem, but you need to do it soon. You can register online,
or print out and mail in a registration form from our website www.saabconvention.org.
Please do it without delay. Even if you are already registered, you can
always go back and pre-order more shirts and/or t-shirts.
VOLUNTEERS
If you have not already signed one of the lists circulated at the past
two meetings, please send me your name if you are interested in volunteering
in running the sales or registration tables, working the parking lot,
or just helping where needed.
Good SAAB’n
Jon
Work is moving apace for the 2004 North American SAAB Owners Convention
to be held at Crystal Mountain, Washington this August 20, 21 and 22.
We are expecting an exciting, action-packed weekend at one of the most
beautiful locations in the Pacific Northwest, as we celebrate the independent
spirit of SAAB owners, drivers, and the people who help us keep them on
the road.
SPONSORSHIPS
A number of local sponsors have already been recruited, and sponsorship
packages are now in the mail to SAAB dealers and service providers nationwide.
Carter SAAB, Seattle's oldest SAAB dealer, has signed on to sponsor the
Saturday Awards Banquet, and Scanwest Autosport, Seattle's foremost independent
SAAB repair shop, is sponsoring the Saturday chairlift rides to the mountain
summit, as well as the Saturday parking lot Autocross. The Swedish Connection,
Tacoma's leading independent SAAB service provider, will be sponsoring
Saturday's scenic drive to Mount Rainier.
View the Sponsorship Program
Guide
View the Available Sponsorship
Summary
WEBSITE
The official convention website www.saabconvention.org
is now up and running.
REGISTRATION
Convention registration will open on May 1. After that date, attendees
will be able to register directly via the website, via surface mail, or
by calling our club registrar Denise Camus at 360-654-9107. Remember that
registration will be strictly limited to 350 attendees, so early registration
is strongly advised. We do expect to offer a limited number of 1-day registrations
for local residents wishing to attend the Friday and Saturday events.
However, day-passes will allow attendance at daytime convention events
only, and will not include any meals or participation in the evening receptions
or the Awards Banquet.
Although the official convention timeframe is August 20-22, lodging and
meals will be available for early arrivals starting with lunch on Thursday,
August 19. In order to take advantage of the early meal option, however,
please keep in mind you must include it in your order at the time of registration.
LODGING
Hotel registration is now open, and many people planning to attend the
convention have already reserved lodging at one of Crystal's hotels or
condos. Because of our excellent reputation with the Crystal Mountain
staff, their lodging office has offered to serve as a central clearing
house for all convention lodging options, including other area hotels
and local campgrounds. They have also offered to work with persons attending
alone who are interested in saving money by sharing condo or hotel space
with fellow conventioneers. To make your registration today, or to obtain
more information, call Crystal Mountain Lodging at 1-888-ON-THE-MT (888-668-4368),
or visit their website at www.crystalmtlodging-wa.com.
Please keep in mind the cost of lodging is NOT included in the convention
registration fee.
Understand Special Site Considerations
Read an article
in Ski Magazine about Crystal
SEMINARS AND TECH SESSIONS
We are currently taking applications for seminars and technical presentations.
Nationally known SAAB expert Jack Ashcraft has already signed on to host
a presentation on high performance tuning of the V-4 motor. Ed Abbott
of Abbott Racing will present a program on their 12-year motorsport involvement
with Saab and their 18 years of SAAB tuning experience.
Heed the Call for Presentations
THE MISSION
The goal of the Northwest SAAB Owners Club is to make this convention
one of the best ever staged. We hope it will help motivate other small,
regional SAAB clubs to host similar gatherings in their respective parts
of the country in the years ahead. We have a dedicated convention staff
of club members who are meeting on a regular basis to plan and iron out
all of the details beforehand in order to make your convention experience
as hassle-free as possible. We also have the benefit of working with and
receiving advice from the SAAB Club of North America and previous convention
chairmen such as Skip Schott, Tom Nelson, Phil Lacefield, and Marc Fails.
QUESTIONS
If you have questions regarding any aspect of the convention, please contact
Convention Chairman Jon Kjaerulff at president@nwsoc.org.
One of our dedicated planning members will respond as quickly as possible.
We look forward to welcoming you (and your SAABs) to the beautiful Pacific
Northwest this August.
Jon Kjaerulff
Chairman
2004 North American SAAB Owners Convention
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| Northwest SAAB Owners Present the 2004 North American Owners Convention | ||||||
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The Northwest SAAB Owners Club has been selected by SAAB Club of
North America to host the 2004 North American Owners Convention.
In an area home to many serious SAAB aficionados, this year’s
gathering will focus on the heritage that first brought SAAB fans
together locally and nationally. The sprit of the SAABs themselves
and their loyal owners will be highlighted. From simple 2-stroke
engines to complex computer controlled engine management systems-to
driving rapidly down twisty forested roads, to simply “getting
there” in the worst winter storms-the spirit of SAAB remains
the same. More information will be available soon, so stayed tuned. |
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NWSOC Plans to Host 2004 National Convention | |||||
| The NW SAAB Owners Club Board of Directors met on December 6, 2003, in Seattle, and decided to offer to host a national SAAB owners convention next August at Crystal Mountain Resort. This was the location of the 1991 convention, and is located 76 miles southeast of Seattle overlooking Mt. Rainer. The SAAB Club of North America board has been provided a preliminary proposal and the NWSOC has requested that organization officially recognize our planned event as the 2004 SAAB Owners Convention. The NWSOC is putting together a more extensive proposal, including a budget and other details. The national board will review it and vote on it. The NWSOC's offer to host the convention is still in the planning stages, and has not yet been officially "sanctioned" by the National Club. The NWSOC decided on a three-day convention, starting at noon and Friday August 20, 2004, and concluding at noon on Sunday August 22, 2004. |
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