2013 Saab Festival 31 May - 2 June Trollhattan, Sweden

[Geoff]

The first SOC (SAAB Owners Convention) I went to was in my home state of NH so it was only 3 hours away. The next year I went to the SOC in South Carolina which was an 18 hour drive each way (1000 miles). I flew to one of the SOC's that was in Colorado because that was 2000 miles (about 30 hours each way) but some people from the North East drove there!

I think if I were in your position, I would do the same. Maybe you can put some low rolling resistance 'tyres' on and re-tune the engine for better fuel consumption

[BIRDIEMANGO]

HELLO GEOFF,

JUST BACK FROM THIS MOTORSPORT SHOW.......

http://www.raceretro.com/

IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD OUTING,WITH PLENTY OF TOOLS,AUTOJUMBLE AND STUFF TO LOOK AT........

I BOUGHT A NEW 'POWERVAMP' PVR 25 LIGHTWEIGHT RACING BATTERY,THE SAME AS I HAVE FITTED IN THE CAR,AND I WILL TAKE IT AS A SPARE.I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE MUCH CHANCE OF FINDING ONE HALFWAY ACROSS EUROPE AT MIDNIGHT

http://www.powervampracing.com/race-batteries.htm

I COULD TAKE A 'LAPTOP' WITH ME,BUT I THINK THE POWER INVERTER,WILL GIVE THE BATTERY HARD TIME?

ALSO SPOKE TO SOME CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES ABOUT TRAVELLING ACROSS EUROPE WITH THE CAR ETC....

THE 'EXTRA FUELLING' SYSTEM I HAVE,CAN BE ISOLATED WITH A FLICK SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD FOR MORE ECONOMY.I AM RECKONING ABOUT 25 MPG AVERAGE.

I WILL ALSO FIT FOUR 205/55/15 TYRES, ON THE 7J 15 INCH BORBETS AND HAVE THE SAME SIZE SPARE IN THE BOOT.....

THIS SHOULD GIVE ME AROUND HALF AN INCH EXTRA GROUND CLEARANCE AS WELL.

AND A HUGE BOX OF SPARES,HOSES,WATER,K-JET PIPES,UNIONS,FUEL PUMP(S),HEAD GASKET,C/V JOINTS&GAITERS,HYDRAULIC SEAL KITS,SPARE FAN,ALTERNATOR&TOOLBOX...............



NOW,JUST NEED TO GET A RADIATOR RE-CORED........


AND FIT A MULTIPLE POWER TAKE OFF FROM THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER SOCKET TO POWER SATNAV,PHONES ETC......

IT WILL BE LIKE DOING A VERY LONG RALLY.............

[Crazyswede]

Bring a large bottle of advil

[BIRDIEMANGO]

ADVIL? AKAVIT...?

[Geoff]

Bring a large bottle of advil

That's a good point. I used to drive my 99 rally car to/from rallycross events, many of which were over 3 hours away - so 6 to 7 hours of driving a day with a rallycross in the middle. A few notes from my experiences that could help:

Bring a tennis ball - you can use it to stick between you and the seat to massage your shoulders, back, legs, etc.

A shirt or a small towel can be stuffed between your lower back and the seat to give more lumbar support if needed.

The vibrations and heat will dehydrate you quickly. Drink lots of water and try to keep cool.

Advil = Ibuprophen
Avoid the Akavit until you're well hydrated

[BIRDIEMANGO]

HEJ.........

WE ARE ''GO'' FOR TROLLHATTAN......... ALL FERRIES BOOKED!!!!!!

HERE IT GET'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED!

WE LEAVE SUNDAY 27 MAY AT 20.00 HRS FROM LANCASHIRE,NEAR LIVERPOOL.
MEET UP WITH THE 3DR TURBO,THAT IS ALSO COMING(THE ONE THAT WAS FEATURED ON TOP GEAR )

WE SHOULD BE ON THE FERRY CROSSING OVER TO BELGIUM AT 04.00 FROM THE UK....ARRIVING 07.00 DUNKERQUE MONDAY MORNING 28 MAY.

THEN A MAD DASH WITH 2 99 TURBO'S ACROSS EUROPE.......ALL DAY

I HAVE BOOKED A 'BED&BREAKFAST' IN DENMARK MONDAY NIGHT 22.00 ETA ,NORTH OF 'AARHUS'

3 DR TURBO CARRIES ON TO TROLLHATTAN GRENAA-VARBERG.......

NEXT MORNING(TUESDAY) WE DRIVE NORTH,TO 'HIRTSHALS' AT TIP OF DENMARK,AND GET FERRY TO, 'LARVIK' NORWAY......AND STAY WITH FRIENDS FOR A DAY OR TWO&WHY NOT.....?

PICK UP TWO MORE SAAB LOONIES IN SANDEFJORD(NORWAY),SO FOUR HEADS IN THE CLARION 99T......



THURSDAY MORNING WE LEAVE SANDEFJORD(NORWAY) FOR STROMSTAD(SWEDEN) ON FERRY,THEN DRIVE ACROSS DALSLAND(SLOWLY,ON FULL BOOST!) TO MELLERUD,THEN TROLLHATTAN........DOWN TO LILLA EDET.

WE MEET UP WITH THE 3DR 99 TURBO AGAIN FRIDAY MORNING& SHOULD HOPEFULLY SEE SOME OF YOU GUYS FRIDAY MORNING OF THE FESTIVAL,AS LONG AS THE OLD TUB GETS THERE.....?

SO DO I WASH IT IT,OR LEAVE THE 'PATINA' OF THE 1000MILE TRIP FOR FRIDAY MORNING?

THIS IS NUTS, A 33 YR OLD CAR, FOUR SPEED 'BOX&I AM LEAVING THE 16 INCH BORBETS ON,IT'S GONNA DRINK FUEL@3100RPM AT 65MPH.......


I HAVE BEEN DREAMING OF DRIVING THE CAR IN SWEDEN FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW.........

[gmreider]

Of course you and the SAAB will make it. Think Positive
Of course you should carry lots of money and credit cards too!
That's part of being prepared.
Wsh I was going to Trollhattan. Have a great time for all of us that can't go and take looks of pictures to post.

[Geoff]

Sounds like a ton of fun!!

[paulh]

HEJ.........

WE ARE ''GO'' FOR TROLLHATTAN......... ALL FERRIES BOOKED!!!!!!

HERE IT GET'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED!

WE LEAVE SUNDAY 27 MAY AT 20.00 HRS FROM LANCASHIRE,NEAR LIVERPOOL.
MEET UP WITH THE 3DR TURBO,THAT IS ALSO COMING(THE ONE THAT WAS FEATURED ON TOP GEAR )

WE SHOULD BE ON THE FERRY CROSSING OVER TO BELGIUM AT 04.00 FROM THE UK....ARRIVING 07.00 DUNKERQUE MONDAY MORNING 28 MAY.

THEN A MAD DASH WITH 2 99 TURBO'S ACROSS EUROPE.......ALL DAY

I HAVE BOOKED A 'BED&BREAKFAST' IN DENMARK MONDAY NIGHT 22.00 ETA ,NORTH OF 'AARHUS'

3 DR TURBO CARRIES ON TO TROLLHATTAN GRENAA-VARBERG.......

NEXT MORNING(TUESDAY) WE DRIVE NORTH,TO 'HIRTSHALS' AT TIP OF DENMARK,AND GET FERRY TO, 'LARVIK' NORWAY......AND STAY WITH FRIENDS FOR A DAY OR TWO&WHY NOT.....?

PICK UP TWO MORE SAAB LOONIES IN SANDEFJORD(NORWAY),SO FOUR HEADS IN THE CLARION 99T......



THURSDAY MORNING WE LEAVE SANDEFJORD(NORWAY) FOR STROMSTAD(SWEDEN) ON FERRY,THEN DRIVE ACROSS DALSLAND(SLOWLY,ON FULL BOOST!) TO MELLERUD,THEN TROLLHATTAN........DOWN TO LILLA EDET.

WE MEET UP WITH THE 3DR 99 TURBO AGAIN FRIDAY MORNING& SHOULD HOPEFULLY SEE SOME OF YOU GUYS FRIDAY MORNING OF THE FESTIVAL,AS LONG AS THE OLD TUB GETS THERE.....?

SO DO I WASH IT IT,OR LEAVE THE 'PATINA' OF THE 1000MILE TRIP FOR FRIDAY MORNING?

THIS IS NUTS, A 33 YR OLD CAR, FOUR SPEED 'BOX&I AM LEAVING THE 16 INCH BORBETS ON,IT'S GONNA DRINK FUEL@3100RPM AT 65MPH.......


I HAVE BEEN DREAMING OF DRIVING THE CAR IN SWEDEN FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW.........

Sounds like my kind of trip, constant driving . We're actually staying in Aarhus the night of the 26th, so a day earlier than you, we'll keep an eye out for you on the road. If you see 7 crazy americans at the festival, that'll be us, flag us down so we can check out your 99t, or if you need help fixing something on it .

Paul

[aireeca]

I vote patina. Nothing says roadtrip like dirt, bugs and snack wrappers from many different countries. See you in Sweden!

[Mezzanine]

I vote to wash it. The road trip patina isn't like rally race patina. There's a difference between covered in mud filthy, and just road dirty.

[Geoff]

Yeah, catch some eyes with all your hard work. Dirty cars get overlooked.

[BIRDIEMANGO]

HMMM,FUEL BILL JUST CALCULATED AT £675,THAT IS OVER -ESTIMATED!!!!

[BIRDIEMANGO]

DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHERE TO PUT THIS LINK.......?

SO THOUGHT I WOULD TAG IT IN HERE,AS IT DOES HAVE SOME RELEVANCE......

DO ANY OF YOU GUYS GET PRACTICAL&PERFORMANCE CAR MAGAZINE,OVER THERE?

IT IS A UK PUBLICATION,FEATURING TUNING FOR GROWN-UPS......

FEATURES, LIKE A MATT BLACK ROLLS ROYCE WITH A TURBOCHARGED MOTOR,ROVER SD-1 WITH THE ENGINE FROM A CHIEFTAN TANK IN IT ETC,THAT SORT OF THING,AMONGST SOME PRETTY GOOD FEATURES ON ALLSORTS OF 'MAD' PROJECTS,ALL CLASSIC MAKES AND MODELS...

NOT JUST IN THE UK EITHER,QUITE A FEW MONTHS BACK,THEY WENT TO SWEDEN AND FOUND A GLOSS BLACK 96 WITH A 16V TURBO ENGINE&BOX,PUSHING OUT 320 BHP.....

ANYHOW,IF YOU DO GET THE MAGAZINE........?

http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic. ... 2&t=113618

[gmreider]

Was that a european version of an auto salvage yard? Thats the cleanest storage operation I have ever seen.
And yes those 99's were to die for. Really quality cars.