Saab History

Photo Credits: Jim Laman

Jim Laman of the Great Lakes Saab Club, the same club that hosted the 25th Anniversary Saab Owners Convention last summer, has had the great opportunity today, to get the first test drive in North America of the 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo-X.

He was with a handful of other local Saab enthusiasts from Michigan that also got the opportunity to be taken out onto a test track by Jan Magnussen, an accomplished Danish race car driver.

It looks like as part of this Turbo-X test drive event, the 1985 900 SPG that we saw at the Boston Auto Show, was also present for test drives. I will be very interested to hear more about that as well.

It appears that this all-encompassing North American “Black Turbo” test drive event was a great time had by all.

Here is an excerpt from his experience:

Saab Cars and Pratt and Miller (the people who build and campaign some of GM’s race cars) had Gingerman Raceway rented down in SW Michigan for a “Saab Turbo X Intro/Comparison Event”. The weather was great, about 50F and dry and sunny. My wife and I got there just before noon and were greeted by Jan-Willem Vester and John Libbos from Saab Cars, as well as Greg Mull from CAS. Greg was there with the black 85 SPG that they recently restored for the Heritage Collection, and it was beyond perfect! How many perfect 85s ARE there anyway? Many of the parts were NOS, the paint was like a mirror… fantastic job, as we have come to expect from CAS, and he was justifiably proud. He said he is really developing an appreciation for Saabs, so that was nice to hear as well. I also had a tour of the Pratt and Miller race trailer, one of six in the USA, and one of several that are going to LeMans in a few weeks (complete with tractor!) to support GM’s LeMans effort. I have pics of that too, but briefly it was stainless steel countertops, mini- kitchen, lounge with AC, TV, stereo, parts and tools storage… all in 53 feet of trailer. With storage for 2 race cars above! I could live out of it, almost. P&W was there to handle car minatenance, including such things as tire changing (they had a tire change machine and a ton of new tires) and whatever else came up. I offered to clean the trailer out while it was at LeMans, but they didn’t take me up on it.

Not long after arriving, Jan-Willem introduced me to Jan Magnussen, a quiet young man who offered to take me out in the Turbo X. I should note that there was one “X” there along with 2 awd BMWs, one or two Audis and a Subaru Impreza something… most of them some sort of high performance version, one of the Bimmers being an M-Series, and the Subie was something fast too. So “Jan” proceeded to take me on several fast laps in the “X”, averaging about 110 mph while sideways (at times), me hanging on for dear life to the door handle and bracing my knee against the console. I think my hand still hurts, but it was a riot! I later took the car out myself with John Libbos, and was not able to achieve near the speed, but it was still fun. With some practice I think I “might” have been able to come close. I found out later, however, that Jan is a highly accomplished driver with multiple victories at LeMans 24 Hours in Corvettes, as well as some good finishes in things like Formula One. Check out his website… (www.janmagnussen.com)…. and here I thought he was “just some Corvette racer guy”! So much for my racing knowledge. I mainly took pictures after that, but the trucks went out later and wetted the track down to simulate poor traction conditions, and many of the cars were out after that. I assume this was to illustrate how the Haldex XWD system was able to respond faster and better to changing road surfaces than the competitors. Either way, I did not witness anyone spin a car, but one Audi did come in with pretty smoky brakes!

So it was an interesting day, and I think the X will certainly go down as one of Saabs best-ever high performance models. My driving impressions were that it was very easy and light to drive, no noticable turbo lag or torque steer, and when pushed hard, as I tired to do, the handling seemed quite nuetral and easy to control in the situations I was in. All in all, a very impressive automobile that handled all that was repeatedly thrown at it, something at least one German competitor did not!

Jim Laman

Photo Credit: Anton Kempink

Another new private Saab Museum has been built in the Netherlands recently by a Saab enthusiast by Anton Kempink. This museum marks the second private Saab museum in addition to the private museum in Woerden, Netherlands.

This collection is quite comprehensive, especially the display of all of the rare and unique accessories and SAAB branded items.

This place looks like a great museum to visit if you are planning on going to the 2009 Saab Meeting in Doesburg.

Here is is the press release from the owner. I highly suggest you visit his website and take a look at the impressive collection he has organized for the public at his new museum.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen.

Maybe you already know, that you can find in Aalten – municipality in the eastern Netherlands, less then two hours driving from Amsterdam our SAAB Oldtimer museum. Since April 2008 you can also find us on the internet

We ask you very friendly to mention our internetsite on your own site. Please look at our website as you will see that our site is a great pleasure for every SAAB friend.

Also we like to announce, that our museum is very close to the city Doesburg, where in 2009 the international SAAB meeting and 50 years jubilee of Saab Club Nederland will be take place. Please tell these to all your SAAB friend en mention also, that all information can be find on http://www.saaboldtimermuseumkempink.nl

Thank’s a lot for all your effort.

Your sincerely

Saab Oldtimer Museum Kempink
Bredevoortsestraatweg 65
7121 BC Aalten.
Tel. 0031543474845
e-mail: anton.kempink@orange.nl
internet: http://www.saaboldtimermuseumkempink.nl

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Photo Credit: Saab History

Don Wollum, a Saab Enthusiast who presented at the 2002 Saab Owners Convention, and a former Saab Master Technician, is now researching the development of Saab engines.

It looks like quite the project, and I am very interested in his findings:

Read below:

Wollum traces development of Saab Engines. A popular seminar at the convention was led by our own Don Wollum, Saab Master Tech who, in a well-researched talk with two dozen slides presented the history of Saab power plants from 2-stroke to 4-strokes.
Don reminds that Saab, of necessity at first, adopted the 2-strokes engine because “In resource-scarce Sweden after World War II, less materials wand machining were required and costs were lower.” By ‘64 Saab was hunting seriously for a 4-stroke.

Among those considered were the Alfa Romeo Guglia, Lancia Appia V4, Volkswagen, Opel, an aluminum Imp engine, a Goliath-Hansa opposed 4-cylinder and some Triumph and Renault engines. None of them proved satisfactory. But then German Ford introduced its M-12, V4 power plant and Saab bought some of them for installation in the Saab 96. [Ed note: It should be remembered that at this time Ford was toying with the idea of producing a subcompact front-wheel drive which it dubbed the Cardinal and was to be powered b y the V4. So when Ford dropped the subcompact the V4 was readily available to Saab.]
But before the V4 appeared publicly there were machinations, secrecy and intrigue worthy of a cold war spy novel within the Saab organization. Because there had developed in a management group (including Tryggve Holm, the top man) a cult loyalty to the 3-cylinder, 2-stroke, only an engineer team of seven insiders shared the secret of the V4 project. In ‘64 Per Gillbrand was hired away from Volvo. Shortly after coming aboard he was granted a leave of absence, presumably to manage some family business. Instead he was shipped off to a secret shop in Northern Italy to help adapt the Ford V4 to Saab.

Read more »

Saab Club of North America (SCNA) officers, Linnea Krajewski and Stephen Goldberger, former editor of Nines Magazine, share their thoughts on the Saab Automobile brand today with Ward’s Auto.

The SCNA is the organization that is responsible for the organization and managing of the annual Saab Owners Conventions in the United States. I understand we will be in for quite a treat this year at the 2008 Saab Owners Convention in Devens, Massahusetts.

Please read this piece by Wards Auto below and enjoy the comments made by these two SCNA officers that volunteer their time to contribute to a great organization catering to the Saab community.

Saab 9-X Concept Leads GM Geneva Lineup — WardsAuto.Com

By James M. Amend
March 3, 2008

General Motors Corp. unveils an impressive array of global brands at the annual Geneva auto show today, led by a concept car from Saab Automobile that demonstrates its intention to produce a premium compact car.

The Detroit auto maker shows a 3-door Chevrolet Aveo, which signals GM’s intent to grow the model’s range beyond 4- and 5-door variants, while Cadillac, Chevrolet and Hummer brands offer European premiers of previously shown products. Additionally, GM says it will make a major hybrid technology announcement tomorrow.

The 3-door Aveo arrives in Europe in June from the Warsaw-based joint-venture plant of Polish auto maker Fabryka Samochodow Osobowych S.A. and GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co.

GM says the model makes a bolder design statement, upgrades its interior and offers more efficient 4-cyl. gasoline engines. Motivation comes via a 1.2L mill rated at 84 hp or a 1.4L generating 101 hp.

Meanwhile, GM’s German unit, Adam Opel GmbH, shows an Opel Meriva concept that demonstrates future potential for the monocab segment; a refreshed Opel Zafira 7-seater with new engine choices; and the Agila monocab that launches shortly after the show.

But the Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept arguably represents the highlight for GM in Geneva and is a signal the Swedish brand soon will offer a sporty compact hatchback to answer the BMW 1-Series, Volvo C30 and Mini Cooper.

Read more »

Kaj Zakrisson, a professional skier sponsored by the Saab-Salomon partnership, who I interviewed recently at the 2008 North American International Auto Show has been included in a press release some years back that as far as I am concerned, is as applicable today as it was back then.

Please enjoy what he has to say on the topic of ski equipment to the right driving equipment:

2004-11-16

Winter fun - on and off-piste

Picture someone racing down a snow-clad mountain in a swirl of powder, effortlessly carving his initials as he sweeps from side to side through the untouched snow off the prepared slopes. Suddenly a bare rocky crag looms up in front of him. He jumps clean over it and continues his journey down at breathtaking speed through the deep snow. That, basically, is freeskiing. Just as windsurfers ride the crest of the waves, so freeskiers ride the crest of the mountains as they carve their way through the powdery virgin snow.

One of the world’s top freeriders is the 31-year old Swede, Kaj Zackrisson. He skis, for example, in the Big Mountain races, which, with their trails bristling with craggy rocks and almost impossible mountain slopes, are regarded as the crème de la crème in freeskiing. Powder rather than prepared pistes, mega-fun rather than mass tourism, action rather than après-ski. With his eye-catching dreadlocks, Zackrisson is rather unconventional – just like his car, a Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon.

He drives about 50,000 kilometers in it every winter, and a roof box helps with stowing his skis and camera gear. Whenever he hears a report on the radio that a lot of fresh snow has fallen somewhere, you can bet that Zackrisson is already behind the wheel on his way there.

“Last March, I had a truly amazing week shooting photos,” says the Swede with a smile on his face. “We looked on the net to find the best snow, then loaded my 9-5 Aero Wagon and took off. We drove through some intense blizzards, but ended up at five different ski resorts in five days.”

Anyone who travels around in winter as much as Zackrisson does knows a lot about safe driving on ice and snow. There are, after all, a number of parallels between driving on a snow-covered road and skiing off-piste: “Choosing your line, control and technique – these are the three main aspects with freeskiing… and with driving.” On the next few pages, Zackrisson has put together some tips on the right equipment and driving technique in the winter months.

Read more »

Film Credit: Saab History

On Sunday, January 13th, 2008 during the North American International Automobile Show, I got the opportunity to interview Kaj Zackrisson, a professional Skier from Sweden who is sponsored by Saab Salomon.

This interview explores Kaj’s response to the new Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept as well as some nice demonstations of how this integrated ski system works.

I really like this system and hope to see it continued as-is directly to the production version, of course with a snowboard option as well.

A thank you to Kaj Zackrisson for the nice interview, Saab Automobile & General Motors getting me to the auto show and of course my sponsor enabling me to film this interview, Saab Colorado, Inc..

Film Credit: Saab Automobile Ab

As I mentioned earlier, the media were given a press kit that included photographs as well as press releases, but I was also provided copies of promotional footage that included among others, Kaj Zackrisson, a professional skier from Sweden.

This particular footage showcases him in the design studio of the Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept where it was being built. Great footage once again.

Photo Credit: Saab History

Kaj Zackrisson is a Swedish born professional skier who is sponsored by Saab Salomon and was on hand at the 2008 NAIAS.

Here is his biography and a little more about him. Stay tuned for more information as to why he likes the Saab 9-4x BioPower Concept.

Höj! I am Kaj founder and owner of Kask together with Sverre.

I am happy skier that is travelling the world looking for the best snow possible. Its a dream come thrue for me to live this life. When I was seven years old I decided to be a skier, since then most of my choices in life has been to fulfil this dream.

I grew up skiing and learned to ski in my wonderful hometown Rättvik which is located in the heart of Dalarna/Sweden.
I travelled all over Sweden with my family to ski on all small and big mountains. It was a lot of competitions but I did a lot of freeride. I was always finding the nice treeruns and jumps for daffys and back scratchers.

After years of doing competitions I started to get curios of skiing in some other ways. The spring of 98 me and Sverre went to Riksgränsen to try out the Scandinavian bigmountain comp. It was superfun, jump around on cliffs and make nice turns in the corn, we loved it.
It was what I’ve been doing all my life after and before the racing training, play around on my skis.
I was for sure hooked and since then I have been competing filming and shooting photos around the globe.

Check out our Swedish posse movies and enjoy the ride!

This winter has been really good with a lot of powder skiing in BC canada and Japan. I also did two pretty cool comps this year, bigmountainpro and Xtreme Verbier, I finished first and second so I was more than happy.

I cant wait for next season, I just visited Chamonix and this summer has been much better for the glaciers, a lot of new snow on them. Hopefully we´ll get a wonderfull season.

My partners is and click on them to find them on the Web
Salomon
Swedish Posse
Swatch
Hemavan Tärnaby
hestragloves
SAAB

Inteview & Facts

A : First, can you tell us some classical details about you : age, where you were born, where you live, years of skiing, and name of all your sponsors.

Kaj Zackrisson :

Born 1973 in march

I grew up in a small town called Rättvik in central part of Sweden, it’s a lot of forest, lakes and rolling hills.

Now I live in three homes in summer and fall I live in Oslo Norway with my girlfriend and I still have a place in Rättvik I love to go home to my roots.

In the winter I live in Chamonix, its wonderful to have such mountains just outside the door.

I started skiing when I was 3 so that makes 31 years of skiing

Sponsors: SALOMON SAAB SWATCH KASK POC HEMAVAN & TÄRNABY TELE2

A : How did you start skiing ?

KZ :

My mother has been skiing all her life and was in the national team in the 60’s so she has taught me how to ski. She taught me how to ski very playful so that’s why I still love to ski every day.

A : Tell us about the place where you grew up in Sweden. Was it a ski-resort ? Was it easy to go skiing ?

KZ :

It’s a small town but all the sport arenas is really close to the town. It was very easy to get to around even as a small kid on the bike or just walking. The skihill is super small. 500 meters long and vertical meters is almost a hundred meters.

A : How did you start your ski carreer ? Wich discipline did you practice first ?

KZ :

Freeride of course for the first years but then I started in the skiclub and I did racing in all disciplines.

A : How did you become pro skier ? Was it something you were dreaming of, or did it just happened without ever thinking about it ?

KZ :

I decided to become a pro skier when I was 7 years old, so since then my life has been focused on skiing.

A : Then, why did you chose freeriding more than alpine or freestyle skiing ?

KZ :

I did alpine skiing until I was 22 but I was always playing around in the powder or in the trees.

A : For somebody who doesn’t know ski, how could you describe freeriding in short words ?

KZ :

It s a wonderful sport, you get so many sensations. In one run you can get so many feelings, happy scared surprised satisfied. The mountain environment is astonishing as well so that makes life beautiful to be right there.

A : In your opinion, what makes a good freerider ?

KZ :

The rider who is out there having a good time with his friends in the mountains.

A : In big mountains riding, what is the part of fear and what is the part of control ? Wich one is the most important ?

KZ :

I have a big respect for the mountains and often for the lines I choose, often when I’ve chosen a line I have a feeling of respect/fear for what I am going to do. This feeling makes me on the top of the game and I get very focused and I get control in my skiing.

Without respect its easier to make big mistakes.

A : Is freeriding a more dangerous sport than the average ?

KZ :

Not physically but sometimes of course its dangerous with avalanches.

A : What pleasure do you receive from the practice of your sport ?

KZ :

For me skiing is the source of life.

A : What kind of relationship do you have with mountain ? Is it just a playground that allows you to practice your sport, or do you feel something more than that ?

KZ :

The mountains is something very special I think. I am feeling very privileged to be able to make my sport in the mountains. They offer a new side of themselves every day, it’s exciting.

A : How would you compare the Alps and the Scandinavian mountains ? Is it a different way to ride ? Is the approach different ?

KZ :

I always approach in the same way. Humble with respect is my approach to understand the conditions at the moment since they change in all mountains from day to day. You never know how it is out there.

Then of course it is a little bit different everywhere that’s why its so wonderful to travel all around to try out new mountains.

A : What is the part of your job you prefer the most : making freeride contests, shooting photos for magazines, shooting for ski movies ?… (and explain why).

KZ :

The most fun part is to shoot for ski movies I think. Because then you ski big lines where no one ever skied before. You choose the line with binoculars and then you ski it like you visualized it, super cool feeling. Takes years of experience to be satisfied.

A : Where will you spend your next winter ? Where will you live and do you plan any trip ? What will be your goals for this season ?

KZ :

I live in Chamonix during winter so when I am not travelling a ski with my friends there. My big goal will be to go to Alaska and film this spring. Then I will try to follow up my good results in the Verbier Xtreme and bigmountain pro.

A : On the everyday life, what force do you get from your relationship to the mountain, and from your activity of freerider ?

KZ :

As a sportsman and a freerider I make some sports activity every day all year around. This gives me a good feeling and keeps me on the happy track in life.

As a freerider I push myself and try to improve every day that is of course helping me out when I am working at my beanie company, Kask.

A : What do you think you would be doing today if you wouldn’t have been a professional skier ?

KZ :

It’s never been any doubts, skiing was the only goal.

A : What do you prefer the most in your actual life ?

KZ :

Activity, making sports also begin with new sports and try to improve in them. I just tried out downhill biking it an awesome sport.

A : A special word to finish the interview ?

KZ :

When I am not skiing or making sports I work with my beanie company Kask. Me and my friend Sverre Liliequist started Kask in 2001. The first year we had two models of handmade beanies, since then we doubled our line every year and this year we are launching a helmet. It feels great and we are having a lot of fun running a small business.

Check it out on www.kaskofsweden.com

Source: http://www.kask.info/friend/599/en

Photo Credits: Saab History

The Turbo-X Debut at the Boston Auto Show

On Tuesday, November 27th, 2007 I participated in the 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo-X North American launch at the Boston Auto Show thanks to Saab Automobile USA & General Motors as an extended guest, reporting for Saabhistory.com for the event.

Upon my arrival from Washington, D.C. to Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, I was picked up my longtime friend and Saab enthusiast, Carl Levine of New Hampshire. Carl Levine is the genius behind the Audio Troll and was also invited to the Saab Automobile USA Turbo-X Media launch event reporting for Nines Magazine where he recently provided a very well-written review of the event.

We proceeded in Carl’s 1999 Saab 9-5 Sedan that just recently hit 222,222 on the odometer and running strong which got us over to the Westin Hotel adjacent to the new Boston Convention Center after a few stops en-route.

Shortly after we arrived, we were invited out by Saab Automobile USA to dinner nearby at Rocca Kitchen & Bar, thanks a very kind tip from a local Bostonian of Swedish descent, Kirsten Amann, a wine blogger extraordinaire who joined us for the the evening. It was at this dinner where I also got to meet the founder of Gaywheels.com, Joe LaMuraglia who recently participated in a road rally called the fireball run with a Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible loaned by Saab Automobile USA.

The following morning was was the the media event which began especially early. I got up extra early along with Carl Levine to get outside to take some photographs as well as some time-lapse footage of the beautiful ice blue 2008 Saab 9-3 Convertible prominently displayed out in front of the Westin hotel. This display clearly indicated to the visitors and the press that Saab, was the main attraction at this year’s Boston Auto Show, and appropriate given that just about 50 years ago in the same city, the first SAAB 93bs were hoisted off a ship as the first port of entry of Hingham, Massachusetts for the Swedish Car Company, Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget or SAAB as it was referred to at the time. Once we were done taking photographs, my Brother arrived who would be joining us for the morning to assist in the photography and filming of the Turbo-X unveiling.

At 7:30am, all three of us picked up our press passes and continued into the main convention all. As we traversed the plush new carpet, I immediately noticed the well illuminated and aircraft inspired airplane hangar structural design of the new Boston Convention Center. This experience of this brand new convention center was a welcomed treat in comparison to my last Boston Auto Show that I attended with Saab Cars, USA back in November of 2001 when it was located at the dark Bayside Exposition Center. As I got over to the Saab Booth, I began constructing the rented professional grade video camcorder that I rented thanks to the Saab dealership, Saab of Hunterdon who joined as a site sponsor of Saabhistory, ultimately enabling the unique rental arrangement so that video footage could be had of the event for the record.

The Saab booth itself was quite nice with backlit boards complete with visual Saab design cues and Scandinavian landscapes that enclosed the area that held the much anticipated 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo-X on the stand, the Aero-X replica as well as the rece