Where will SAAC 32 be???

daltondavid, Yes, I was at the banquet also. Actually, it wasn't as boring
as many have been in the past. Some of them have been real snoozers. This was my 26th SAAC convention in a row, and it was refreshing for a change
not to have the the anal-retentive Ford exectutives ( who don't have a clue as to what a Shelby or Cobra is ) rambling on for what seems to be hours
over corporate strategy for the future. ( who cares? )

As far as sponsorships go, I don't see a "takeover" of SAAC. The leadership has too much time and effort invested to rollover and play dead. Besides,
just to set the record straight: Technically, SAAC is not a club, but a private enterprise owned by Rick Kopec and Ken Eber. They were granted full
permission by Carroll Shelby at the 1987 SAAC convention in Charlotte to take it private. At that banquet, Shelby stated, "if Rick and Ken can find a way to make a living out of SAAC, they had his blessing". And so it has been
a private business ever since.

Sponsors are important to help underwrite the up front costs of producing
a major event. Also, they may have some important contacts that can help
cut thru the stumbling blocks or open a door or two that is helpful to SAAC. At the next SAAC convention, Utah or where it maybe, take a few moments
away from having lots of fun and talk to some of the volunteers. Get to know them. Question them on their participation and how they got involved. It may not be as hard as you think to get "inside". You might have a great
experience working in an area of your interest.

Guess we will all have to wait out the definitive word as to where next years
SAAC convention will be conducted. Probably we will hear the choice in the not too distant future. It does take a lot of planning and leg work to get one of these events nailed down. Hope you had a great time at SAAC-31, as I sure did.
shlby66

 

I agree. I would suggest that if they asked for more help/volunteers they would get an overwhelming response. I've never heard the call.
Tim

 

I remember a string of conventions on July 4th, Lime Rock (SAAC21), Nashville, Charlotte, Michigan (SAAC 24), it absolutely hosed rain, washing out least one of the track days, so spring time isn't that much of a crap shoot, nor is Fall. Agree about more State chapters having events. I don't know if they still do it, but SAAC Wisconsin-area would rent Road America, but when I looked into attending a few years ago, they told me since I wasn't a member of their chapter, I would not be welcome, unless I wanted to sign up on a waiting list, and if the club membership didn't all attend, they'd start to "invite" people off that list. I thought that was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever head of, and said no thanks. For Labor Day, is anyone attending the MCA's 30th at Barbers Motorsports Park? It's a fantastic facility, great museum, and they're having 3 days of open track, $150/DAY, not session. The track layout is challenging, very smooth with ample runoffs, and the change of elevation is terrific.

 

The first Pocono track event (Great Gorge, what was it SAAC 7?) we shared the weekend with the Indy cars. We ran on like a Thursday or Friday and when we were done they praticed. When we were tired and done for the day, the Indy cars came out and we got to see them go 200+ MPH average laps. I am sure that made it inexpensive, and fun for us in a different way. Mom saw AJ Foyt for the first time. It was great!

Of course there were maybe a total of 75 cars entered in the open track back then. My car got its first picture in the Shelby American back then. It was a pit lane photo. That was the most relaxed track event I have ever run. It was great, the track was big enough that it never filled up and we just ran and ran until we were tired and came in and took a break. Then went back out whenever we wanted. No run groups, or sessions, it was just open track all day....

Boy have times changed.

 

Gosh Calvin that sure sounds like a perfect event....man times have sure changed. Although at Willow Springs for our Shelby club event last May on Sun it was kinda like that. A lot of the guys left to be home on mothers day and we had sessions 30-35min long and you could go out back to back....in any group...was way cool.

July Snakebite says Miller Motorsports Park July 6,7,8. Guess we're heading to Utah....well at least some of us are. Will be interesting to see the turnout there.

 

Sunday afternoon was good at SAAC 31. It was so hot that everyone was done after the morning sessions. People I know who ran in the afternoon said they were never held up on the track at all. That was definately the time, but I was also too hot and finished for the weekend. We spent that time putting the car on the trailer to go home and packing up the awnings, etc. That ended up being the hottest, most humid time of the weekend.

 

Wow!!!# 7 was the first convention that I had ever gone to and got me hooked ever since!!!!Boy have times changed.Looked through my old convention shirts the other day ,and can only fit into about half of them!!!!Been to all of the MIS events ,and also Atlanta and Charlete.Hope to have my new car,67 GT 289 Hipo Coupe,done by the time the next convention come to the east coast. My son is 7 now and he just loves the convention track events! Been a member since close to the begining,looking forward to many more!
Greg

67 GT 350 [Clone with 70 Boss 302 and 5 speed]
67 GT 390
67 GT 289 Hipo Coupe
67 GTA Convertable
67 Prostreet Coupe