Photo Credit: Saab-Scania of America, Inc.

As part of one of the films recently provided, I found some footage at the end of one of them with an unknown to me, Saab-Scania of America, Inc. office.

This office facility and the prominently displayed address, did not resemble any of the facilities in Orange, Connecticut, so I have to ask, where was this facility in the United States and when did it operate and what was the full address?

I would like to add these details to the Saab History in the United States.

The Rocky Mountain Saab Club (RMSC) will be hosting the 2009 Saab Owners Convention and are well on their way to planning this event, 2-years in advance just like they did 10 years ago with the 1999 Saab Owners Convention.

This will be an event that we should all look forward to. The RMSC is quite a devoted and organized group of individuals that were responsible for the “http://www.rockymtnsaabclub.com/SOC09/index.html

2009 Saab Owners Convention

For those who have attended past Saab Owners Conventions, you also know how much fun it can be to visit new destinations alongside others who share your appreciation and enthusiasm!

For many reasons, we like to think of Colorado as the “Saab Capital of the West”. For decades Saab has enjoyed strong sales in the region thanks to the car’s exceptionally strong performance in snow and high altitude. Where large displacement, high-dollar über-coupes gasp for air, turbo charged Saabs more closely resemble their aeronautical counterparts. And, as the Saab Owners Convention is a true motoring event at heart, Colorado is host to 25 National Scenic Byways as well as dozens of other breathtaking drives that could equally qualify. For those able, the 2009 event will again conclude with “Saabs Run the Rockies”, a 5-day road rally that will travel many of these spectacular routes and will tour four National Parks.

In 1999, the Saab Owners Convention hosted in Keystone, CO attracted some of the highest attendance figures ever. Without detracting too much from this year’s convention, we see big potential for an even greater turnout in ‘09. Planning is well under way. With the enthusiastic membership of the RMSC and strong, local business support, we look forward to a memorable week uniquely Colorado and quintessentially Saab. Mark your calendar and stay tuned!

Please visit both the 2009 Saab Owners Convention Photo Archive and Promotional Video as well.

What: 2009 Saab Owners Convention

Where: Copper Mountain Resort, Frisco, Colorado

When: August 13-16th, 2009

Growing up around the Seacoast area, Saabs never seemed to get the respect and admiration from the press that one would see as befitting of such a magnificent marque. I would be so excited to see some press about a new Saab in the newspaper, only to be disappointed by buzzwords like “quirky” or “torque steer”. Over time, I became jaded and just stopped reading the automotive section all together.

So the other morning, Ryan was by my place for a quick visit and saw the Portsmouth Herald on my kitchen table. Well sure enough, there was the picture you see above with a great article by Gerry Miles, a local correspondent for Seacoast Media Group. Gerry, a Saab enthusiast in his own right, had this to say in a quick email to Saab History about his own Saab history:

“…I’ve owned 2 Saabs, a 900S 4-door and 900S hatchback. I miss them both, notchy gearbox and all. The 900s Hatch lost its drivers window during a winter storm on a trip to LL Bean and the passengers in the back got buffeted with brisk air. We borrowed some cardboard in Maine and blocked the driver’s window. The local dealership laughed like hell when I told him how I went to put the window down at the York Toll’s and the window stuck and then twisted on an angle and sank slowly before I could grab it. I appreciated the heated seat like heck then!”

And now, without further ado, here is Gerry’s take on the tantalizing Turbo-X:

Turbo X goes back in time to Saab’s future: “Black is back”

ANDOVER, Mass. – In a nod to the past with a keen eye on the present, Saab Cars USA showed off its latest, and greatest, way to fight the snow since they standardized heated front seats here last week with a national press introduction.

Cross Wheel Drive, or XWD for acronym aficionados, is the best adaptation of front and all-wheel-drive in a tidy package produced for the limited edition retro version of the old Saab s now found in the a retro version of the classic black 1985 Saab 900 SPG. Saab, which made its international intro of the vehicle last fall at the New England International Auto Show in Boston , returned to the northeast because 40 percent of its stateside sales are derived from the six-state region and the firm was headquartered in Orange , Conn. , for 37 years.

Saab historical fans may know, or know of former CEO Ralph Millet displaying the first Saab at the New York Auto Show where the car was meant only to generate interest as a static display. It drew so much interest than when a man pressed him on the price, he hesitated, walked away for a bit, came back with a price and thus the first Saab was sold in the USA .

Imagine a new 9-3, swathed in deep rich black paint and matching black interior – like the black 99 and 900 Turbos – and you’ll find the retro turbo boost gauge on the right side of the instrument panel, in its white/yellow/red curved stripe, all the better to show how much of the 295 foot-pounds of torque at 2,150 rpm are churning through the turbo-powered four-cylinder mill to generate a peak of 280 horsepower from the 2.8-liter V-6 engine.

Sitting behind the wheel of the fastest Saab ever produced – yes, it’s quicker than the torque-steer ridden Viggen that wore out tires and nerves wrestling the steering wheel – zooming up to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, it’s every bit a Saab, swift and sedate.

Driving up to the test site from Boston , we zipped through Storrow Drive , up the Big Dig ramps and onto 93 North where the expansion joints every 25 yards or so gave the suspension a real world test that even a marketing guru had not experienced but likened to the cement roads of Detroit . It was there that we surmised the Turbo X, which crossed the suspension joints but didn’t jar our fillings loose, had passed its first real world suspension test.

At the test site, we discovered just how good the car was – especially for its given mission – staying planted in slippery conditions.

With sand spread on a parking lot, I first pushed the automatic Turbo X through a slalom and then hammered the apex of a corner, trying to push the rear end out of control. No dice.

Just when the sand flew and the back end started to feel a tad light and slide, with my foot still on the gas, the X corrected and moved out towards the next set of cones.

The magic comes from a proprietary fourth generation Haldex unit that mates to either the auto or 6-speed manual transmission. What happens next is an alphabet soup of techno wizardry but it works all the time and at high speeds in dry-land zipping through cones or repeated passes through the sand in the apex of the sweeper.

First, consider that XWD can send up to 100 percent of the power to either the front or rear wheels if needed. Under normal conditions, expect no more than 10 percent to be sent to the rear wheels. Then, consider that the cross-over features allows up to 40 percent of the torque to switch to the rear wheel with the most grip.

“If you had two front wheels on ice, say, and one in wet snow and one wheel on gravel or something with better grip than the other three,” described Saab engineer Tommy Sundin, “this XWD would get you out. It’s as simple as that.”

What sounds simple is really a neat interaction of new systems. Chiefly there’s a version of electronic limited slip differential called eLSD. It also works in dry or wet weather to help cross deeper than expected puddles or with cornering aggressively.

How it works

When you select a gear, the PTU (Power Take-off Unit), which transmits power through the prop shaft to the rear axle and the RDM (Rear Drive Module, which includes a TTD (Torque Transfer Device) and the eLSD (electronic limited slip differential).

At the gear selection, the systems synergize whereas previous systems needed to detect any wheel slippage before engaging the backside. This also means one will no longer find the snowflake symbol atop the auto gear shift. Pressing this button on past models in winter started the vehicle in third gear to prevent wheel slip at takeoff.
Underway, the TTD , RDM and eLSD “talk” back and forth – literally – depending upon traction or lack thereof for sure-footed driving.

Torque between the axles is handled by the TTD, depending upon “slip.” The RDM and eLSD perform similar functions by laterally and in concert with the ABS/ESP programs that monitor yaw ratio, steering angle, speed and other factors.

Retro-fit

Sundin explained that getting the systems to fit underneath, without becoming bulky was a trick that was mastered. Just six tiny brackets were needed to hang the Haldex. The gas tank was modified, but is still a one-piece unit with a sending unit to keep pressure taut and steady.

The rear suspension got reworked and has a self-leveling feature Sundin said was necessary, as is a big anti-roll bar.

Why they did it

Saab, according to marketing guru Roger McCormack, is hoping to become more of a premium niche player and a graphic showed that it’s all new money for parent firm General Motors. Saab released a starting price last fall of $ 42,510; the SportCombi wagon is priced at $43,310 according to trollhattensaab.net.

The move to all-wheel-drive, along with most of the premium import segment, was a natural, especially after the failed experiment with the 9-2X Saab-aru variant from Subaru.

Of the 2,000 Turbo X’s produced, a limited number that may well establish it as a “Classic Cult Car” too, but 600 are to be sold stateside and it’s estimated that half of that allotment is already sold.
As the only premium European brand in the GM family, XWD gives Saab another quiver in its all-weather versatility perception and reality. XWD will migrate to the 9.3 2.0t and the 9.3 Aero this fall and the rest of the Swedish portfolio, including the 9.4 that was shown off in Detroit this winter.

Exclusivity

The Saab Turbo X will be limited to 2,000 production units worldwide. Known market allocations are as follows:
US - 600 units
UK - 500 units
SWEDEN - 175 units
CANADA - 125
SWITZERLAND - 120
GERMANY - 90
AUSTRALIA - 30
FRANCE - 50

Model: 9-3 Turbo X
Body style / driveline:
Sport Sedan : 4-door, 5-passenger, all-wheel drive;
SportCombi: 5-door, 5-passenger, all-wheel drive
EPA vehicle class: premium compact sport sedan and sport wagon
Engine:
Type: 2.8L V-6-cylinder high-output turbo
Displacement: 170 cu. in.
Horsepower: 280 @ 5500 rpm
Acceleration 0-60: 5.4 seconds
Chassis/Suspension
Front: MacPherson struts, gas shock absorbers, anti-roll bar, hydroformed sub-frame
Rear: independent, 4-link (including toe-link), coil springs, self-leveling shock absorbers, anti-roll bar, sub-frame, Re-Axs rear-wheel steering system
Steering type: power-assisted rack and pinion
Brakes
Type: 4-wheel disc, hydraulic, dual-circuit with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), mechanical brake assist (MBA), vacuum booster, anti-lock braking system (ABS), traction control system (TCS) and electronic stability program (ESP), ventilated front discs and rear discs
Rotor diameter x thickness
front: 13.6 x 1.18 in.
rear: 11.5 x 0.8 in.
Wheels and Tires
Wheel size and type (in): 18 x 7.5-inch alloy
Tires: P235/45 R18

Photo Credits: Saab History

I must say that while I spent most of my time at the Saab stand througout the 2008 NAIAS in order to maximize the experience, the Scandinavian influence was clearly present. This presence communicated through the semi-transparent ice-block inspired flooring to the electronic displays integrated into curved partitions was unlike any other automobile manufacturer’s showcase and clearly got people’s attention.

This being said, I also must admit that the consistency was clearly also apparent from Saab Automobile’s global marketing department and I wonder if this will be showcased even more in the North American market like it was here at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.

This consistency from the global brand image to the North American brand image in my opinion should also continue in not only the auto show events like this one, but also the advertising area as well. I believe that much like this stand, the “Born From jets” campaign in the United States can be continued as a more subtle tagline while elaborating on the brand pillars such as Safety, Efficiency, Performance, Design, Practicality, and individuality in a more “intelligent” way.

Having the opportunity to meet with Saab Automobile USA’s new advertising & marketing company, McCann-Erickson briefly, I did get the idea that this was the direction that the new campaign would be heading. I hope that with more input from the Saab community, we can seriously provide some input into ensuring that this new advertising campaign is bulletproof.

Consistency & Communication while Connecting to the Community of perspective Saab owners both new and existing are Critical in this new opportunity for Saab Automobile USA’s advertising campaign.

The 2001 Saab Owners Convention took place at Vero Beach, Florida between July 12th and 15th.

If you have any other material that should be included in the 2001 Saab Owners Convention posting here, please contact Saab History for that material to be added.

I am currently looking for the official “group photograph“, and any video footage to include in this posting. A thank you to Rich Chuma for providing the official brochure below.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

SAAB CARS USA, INC.
For Immediate Release

SAAB CONVERTIBLES. SUN AND FUN TO HIGHLIGHT ANNUAL OWNERS’ CONVENTION IN VERO BEACH. JULY 12-15

Norcross, GA - Each year, hundreds of Saab enthusiasts gather for a celebration of Saab spirit, camaraderie and automotive innovation at the national Saab Owners’ Convention.

This year, owners are invited to gather in Vero Beach, Florida July 12 - 15 for the national convention, themed to celebrate 15 years of the Saab convertible.

The Saab convertible was introduced in 1986, and the first production of 400 vehicles for the U.S. market sold so quickly that many prospective buyers did not even realize that sales had begun. The 1987 model was sold out on preorders before production began. In Europe, one out of every three buyers of a convertible in the premium segment chooses a Saab 9-3. In the U.S., one out of every five Saabs sold in 2000 was a convertible.

‘’What better place to celebrate the Saab convertible than on the sunny beaches of Florida’s said Jay Campana, dealer principal at Saab of Vero Beach and convention committee member. ‘’The community of Vero Beach welcomes the opportunity to host Saab owners and their families for this annual event.”

The convention is being organized and hosted by a collective effort from Saab Cars USA, regional dealers, and a committee of volunteers from various Saab Owners’ Clubs around the U.S. Several corporate partners are supporting the event through sponsorships - Castrol, Garrett Turbochargers, Pirelli Tires, harman/kardon, CAT Logistics, and Interstate Batteries.

Convention activities include a mixture of traditional events such as educational and technical seminars, scenic road rally, and the opportunity to test-drive the latest Saab models, along with outdoor recreational offerings for the entire family. One highlight is the Concours de Saab, where owners display hundreds of carefully maintained vintage and current model Saabs, competing for awards.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet several VIP guests at this year’s convention. Honorary guests will include defending Pikes Peak champion and European Rallycross driver, Per Eklund - along with his winning Pikes Peak Saab Viggen, legendary rally driver Erik Carlsson, Saab Cars USA president Dan Chasins, former Saab Cars USA president Robert Sinclair, and Saab Museum Manager Peter Backström.

Enthusiastic Saab owners have been gathering annually since 1962. Interested owners can find out more information and download a registration form at httn://www.saabusa.com.

Saab Cars USA, Inc. is the importer of Saab 9-5 and 9-3 automobiles for Sweden-based Saab Automobile AB and is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, near Atlanta.

4405-A International Blvd.
Norcross. GA 30093
Phone
800 GET-SAAB

Please click add to cart to download this official brochure.

Photo Credit: Doug Chadwick

The 2003 Saab Owners Convention took place in Hershey, Pennsylvania between Sept 4th-7th.

Another special thank you to Douglas Chadwick, the professional photographer that was hired for this event for the panoramic group photo pictured above. If you are interested in obtaining a high resolution print of this panoramic group photo of the convention for framing, please contact us here at Saab History and we will forward your e-mail to him for such request. It’s a true piece of Saab history memorabilia.

If you have any other material that should be included in the 2003 Saab Owners Convention posting here, please contact Saab History for that material to be added.

I am currently looking for any video footage as well as the original “official” Convention booklet as well at this time to include in this posting.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

9/02

PRESS RELEASE: SAAB Owners’ Convention 2003
For Immediate Publication:

The SAAB Club of North America, Inc. is please to announce its selection for the 2003 SAAB Owners’ Convention to be held in Hershey, Pennsylvania, September 4-7th, 2003. The host hotel will be the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, located in the heart of Hershey. Recently undergoing a five year, 35 million dollar expansion, The Lodge features 635 rooms and was the proud recipient of the J.D. Powers & Associates 2002 Award for Upscale American Resorts.

Hosting the 2003 convention will be the Central Penn SAAB Club. Marc A. Fails, President of the Central Penn SAAB Club for the past 3 years; and organizer of SAABs @ Carlisle for the past 4 years; will serve as Convention Chairman. Additional club support will be provided by members of the New England SAAB Association, The New Jersey SAAB Owners Club, the Washington DC SAAB Club and the recently formed New York SAAB Owners Club.

Hershey is the home to both Hershey Chocolate and The Reese’s Candy Company. Besides candy, the area is noted for its golf courses, lush countryside and being a haven for the automotive enthusiast. Hershey is also the home of the Antique Automobile Collectors of America, and their new museum.

The upcoming event will have something for everyone, and will include many changes and improvements. Attendees will be able to pre-select their meals at time of registration, and registration pricing will be pro-rated on the front-end; you will pay a registration fee based upon the number of meals for which you will be present. Lunch will be included on both Friday and Saturday, outside where all the events are taking place. In addition to the Concours judging, there will also be a People’s Choice Car Show, with additional awards and prizes. All SAABs will be parked in a SAABs Only Parking area on the resort property. (No worries about being parked next to a minivan in Hershey). There will also be a featured area for race SAABs and an Under 21 area, where Tuners and sound systems will have their own Concours judging. Of course there will also be an autocross and a countryside tour. For attendees choosing to arrive early, there will be a golf outing scheduled for Thursday afternoon, as well as shopping tours and a trip to the Day Spa, located at The Hotel Hershey.

Photo Credit: Doug Chadwick

The 2002 Saab Owners Convention took place in Cincinnati, Ohio from August 1st until the 4th, 2002. This convention marked the 20th anniversary of Saab Conventions and was a very well thought out and planned convention, led by Phil Lacefield, Jr. The special guests in attendance at the event included, Dan Chasins, President of Saab Cars, USA, Erik “On the Roof” Carlsson (SAAB Rally Legend), Bob Sinclair (Saab-Scania of America 1979-1992), Ralph T. Millet (SAAB Motors, Inc. 1956- 1971), John Moss of Saab Cars, USA and Olle Granlund, of Sweden.

In addition to the special guests present, there were a number of interesting presentations and technical seminars that took place by the likes of notables such as John Moss “Caring for your Turbo”, Jerry Danner “Restoring a Saab 96″, Don Wollum “The Origins of the Saab V-4″, Gary Stottler “History of the Saab 99; The Forgotton Saab”? and Bob McNary “Collecting Saab Memorabilia”.

On Saturday night, David E. Davis Jr., legendary automotive journalist and founder of AUTOMOBILE Magazine, gave a wonderful speech.

The events in addition to the seminars included scenic drives, test drives of new models, a parts and accessories tent and even a rare Saab parts auction.

A special thank you to Douglas Chadwick, the professional photographer that was hired for this event for the panoramic group photo pictured above. If you are interested in obtaining a high resolution print of this panoramic group photo of the convention for framing, please contact us here at Saab History and we will forward your e-mail to him for such request. It’s a true piece of Saab history memorabilia.

Another thank you also goes to Tom Nelson of the Rocky Mountain Saab Club, who has sent a copy of some video footage of this convention. With this footage and his permission, I have tightened it up a bit by adding titles for historical reference, transitions, splicing and dicing, some background music to keep our attention (ie. like professional promotional films), and a nice left to right pan of the official panoramic group photo previously mentioned, a credit roll as well as some other nice additions that I think you will really enjoy. The video totals about 38 minutes, enjoy!

Tom has also been able to provide the official 56-paged brochure in pdf format for us to download here as well.

If you have any other material that should be included in the 2002 Saab Owners Convention posting here, please contact Saab History for that material to be added.

This convention is also listed on the Saab Convention Archive here on Saab History.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

This just in from Saab Automobile USA.

2007-07-26

2008 Saab 9-3 to Arrive at Dealer Showrooms Soon

DETROIT – The distinctively re-designed Saab 9-3 range, expected at North American dealerships in early September 2007, features frontal styling inspired by Saab’s award-winning Aero X concept car and a higher level of standard content. Designed to reinforce the range’s sporty appeal, the styling strategy brings together contemporary and classic Saab design themes in a progressive, modern expression of the brand’s distinctive character.

The new 9-3 range is visually distinguished by all-new bodywork forward of the A-pillar, with new bumpers and light assemblies front and rear as well as new doors and handles for the Sport Sedan and SportCombi. Flared side sill extensions become standard across the range. All these elements combine to give the car a clearer Saab identity and a bolder, more assertive stance. On the Sport Sedan, for example, 70 percent of the external body panels and parts are all-new.

The deeper, more prominent evolution of the Saab grille is complemented by all-new headlamp lenses and light units that now incorporate a thin ‘eyebrow’ lighting zone designed as a brand specific ‘signature’ feature. These wraparound units culminate in an upswept rear edge, introducing a Saab design theme from the 9-5 range and classic 900 model. The grille’s central wing motif, referencing Saab’s aircraft heritage, is, of course, retained.

The new look sees the adoption of another Saab signature feature: a ‘clamshell’ hood, closing across the top of the front fenders. The hood pressing incorporates a sweeping, U-shaped styling line, which echoes the curvature of the windshield. The swept-back frontal lines are complemented by a front bumper and splitter assembly with a deep, trapezoidal air intake, even more pronounced on Aero versions. This is flanked by deep black vents which are framed, like the grille, in a matte chrome finish.

At the rear, all new 9-3 models now feature smoked white light clusters. The new bumpers are much deeper with curved, uninterrupted surfaces. The trunk lids of the Sport Sedan and Convertible are also altered to accommodate a new matte chrome lift handle trim with an integrated badge, similar to that on the SportCombi.

Other external enhancements include the introduction of flat wiper blades, for reduced wind noise, and new alloy wheels. Two new colors are added to the range, including a Snow Silver metallic paint finish similar to that seen on the Aero X. In addition to the already high-level of standard equipment, Saab adds OnStar, XM Radio, rain-sensing wipers, tire pressure monitor, ‘quiet package’ to reduce road noise and remote open for the convertible top for the 2008 model year.

The Saab 9-3 2.0T Sport Sedan, a three-year running (2005, 2006, 2007) Insurance Institute for Highway Safety top safety pick, is competitively priced at $28,385, while the Aero V6 model takes off at $35,365. Drivers attracted to the best-in-class capacity options of the SportCombi can get into a 2.0T or Aero V6 SportCombi priced at $29,630 and $36,265 respectively. The Saab 9-3 2.0T or Aero Convertible, which was named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2007, is priced at $39,710 and $45,665 respectively.

The Saab 9-5 range begins at $37,205 for the sedan, and $38,300 for the Aero Sedan. The 9-5 SportCombi provides cargo diversity starting at $38,455 and $39,550 for the Aero variant. The Saab 9-7X 4.2i and the 9-7X 5.3i V8 are attractively priced at $39,935 and $42,035 respectively.

Saab is a division of General Motors Corp. Saab Automobile USA is the importer and/or distributor of Saab 9-3, 9-5 and 9-7X automobiles for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden. In 2007, Saab celebrates 60 years since first being introduced to the automotive scene as the vision-turned-reality of 16 aircraft engineers. Visit www.saabusa.com for more information.

Starting the late Eighties throughout the Nineties, Saab-Scania of America, Inc. who later became Saab Cars USA, Inc. hired a company called “Cramer Productions” in Boston, Massachusetts to do a number of promotional videos ranging from product launches to informative technical training videos.

I have recently come into contact with one of the set designers that worked with Cramer Productions & the Saab Training Team during some of those years who was responsible for the design of these sets in addition to the interior of some of the training centers as well. He has kindly provided us both a rendering as well as a final product that has was personally responsible for designing and setting up.The rendering below is simply a work of art and the photograph below of the set design helps clarify that the two “SAAB” report videos in the film archive, are from 1990 and 1991 representing model years 91 and 92 respectively.

An enthusiastic thank you to Geoffrey Hall for donating his time and materials to Saab History.

Photo Credit & Caption: Geoffrey Hall Saab Dealership & Garage Facility rendered in 1989

Here is a video showing the “SAAB” report done in 1991 for the MY92 product launch that shows the Saab dealership set created for Cramer Productions back in 1989 by Geoffrey Hall.

Photo Credit & Caption: Geoffrey Hall The “SAAB” report studio set

Here is a video showing the “SAAB” report done in 1990 for the MY91 product launch with some good angles showing the set design pictured above also created for Cramer Productions in Boston, Massachusetts. Enjoy.

Photo Credit: Saab Aero Academy

This just in from the Saab Owner’s Convention committee:

If you plan on attending the 2007 SOC, and have thought about entering in the track event, now is the time to sign up for it and register for the convention as well. A special thank you goes out to the SOC committee as well as the Saab Aero Academy in Atlanta, Georgia for providing a great track photograph with a moment’s notice.

You will be in for one incredible time around the track with your beloved Saab, so please sign up today.

Here is the recent press release from the SOC team regarding the Saab Autocross event at the 2007 Saab Owner’s Convention in Troy, Michigan.

The SOC07 track event is now going to be a one-day event, held on Thursday August 23rd at Waterford Hills (same setting as before). Due to the low response so far, we had to make a decision for the track, so took a more realistic approach of offering a lower-cost one-day event for $175. Based on some initial responses, this may go over well, as some people have expressed a concern about getting additional time off to attend this. We still need more people to sign up for it to be a “go”, however, as we cannot subsidize this for a handful of people. However, the overhead is much lower, so it will take less than 30 for it to fly… all good news for those of you who want to or are considering attending.

We hope this appeals to everyone, but if its not a “go”, please understand we are doing our best to offer reasonably-priced competitive events to those interested among the Saab community. Continue to watch www.saabconvention.org for updated information. Registration is available at http://soc2007.eventbrite.com

Where: Waterford Hills Road Racing facilities which are located on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club, 4770 Waterford Road, Clarkston, MI 48346.

When: August 23rd, Time: All Day - 9am-5pm

Who: Anyone can participate, but they must pre-register asap.

Photo Credit: Saab Automobile

Vail, Colorado, the ski resort town that has had a long history with Saabs, most notably the Saab as the Vail Police department vehicle of choice for over 25 years. Recently, Vail Trail, a lifestyles magazine for the region has published an article about their experience test driving the 2007 Saab 9-3 SportCombi.

This writeup decribes the 2007 Saab 9-3 SportCombi in detail, that by the way, is apparently being heavily discounted now by Saab Automobile USA because the 2008 models will be hitting dealership showrooms in September followed by fully equipped models with XWD in January, according to a recent posting at Trollhattansaab.net

As one who has had the opportunity to experience the 2007 1.8t Saab 9-3 SportCombi this past June in Sweden first hand, I must say that this is an incredibly comfortable yet firm ride that keeps you connected to the road at every turn without fail.

This past week, Minnesota ran an ethanol promotion in celebration of flag day where prices of E-85 were in some places as low as .85 cents per gallon. While this is a very low price in comparison to today’s prices, dating back to gasoline equivalents before the millenium, it would be interesting to see how low ethanol prices would normally be once the infrastructure throughout the United States was deemed fully ethanol E-85 capable.

Here is a direct quote by the communications director of the American Lung Association of Minnesota.

It was the most successful E85 promotion I have ever seen.
- Bob Moffitt
Communications Director
American Lung Association of Minnesota

Here is their press release describing this promotion:

Five Coops Offer ‘Flag Day’ Discount on E85, Some Sell the American-Made Fuel for Eighty-Five Cents a Gallon

TRUMAN, Minn., June 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Five Cenex(R) locations in Minnesota will offer special prices on E85 in celebration of Flag Day. E85 is a cleaner burning blend of up to 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline that can be used by an estimated 150,000 flex-fuel vehicles now in use in Minnesota. Flex-fuel vehicles can use either E85 or gasoline, or any combination of the two fuels. The American Lung Association of Minnesota is a strong supporter of E85, which is sold in more than 300 outlets in Minnesota, including many Cenex(R) locations.

The following Cenex(R) locations will offer special prices for E85 during the dates and times listed. Offer is valid while supplies last. Some limits on gallons purchased may apply:

Day: Location Time Offer
June 13: NuMart-Cenex 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 85¢ per gallon
2237 N. State St.
Fairmont

June 14: NuMart-Cenex 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 85¢ per gallon
302 N. 5th St.
Truman

June 15: NuMart-Cenex 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 85¢ per gallon
620 2nd Ave. S
St. James

Cenex Mid County 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 40¢ off per gallon
409 Paul Ave. S.
Cologne

Harvest Land Coop 4 - 7 p.m. 85¢ off E85 or biodiesel
710 Front St.
Morgan

“Offering E85 is good for the environment, good for our ag economy and a good strategic fit for CHS with core businesses in both grain and energy,” says Chad Pistulka, product manager for Cenex Refined Fuels.

The E85 promotions are sponsored by Cenex(R) and the Minnesota E85 Team: Minnesota Corn Growers Association, General Motors Corporation, National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, Minnesota Department of Commerce, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, US Department of Energy Clean Cities and the American Lung Association of Minnesota. For a complete listing of other stations that sell the fuel, call 800-LUNG-USA or visit http://www.cleanairchoice.org/