UKSaabs

I know it's a year away but as you know time flies by quickly.
GWS and SWS were at Gartell today showing off their Saabs to the public and while having our lunch the conversation got around to Belgium 2012.
"How about another Convoy?" was the question with a very positive "Yes".
So it was decided that a Saab Friends convoy to Spa would be organised for next years Saab International.

The main things SWS and GWS will do is to agree with a date and a route. Other items like, where to stay and if to stay longer, will be in the hands of yourselves but anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the convoy. We would like to run with rally plates on the Saabs but these would need to be paid for by you, but if a sponsor wants to come on board, the plates may end up cheaper or even free.
The date chosen by us will be the 1st August 2012 and the chosen crossing will be a mid day sailing with Norfolk line.

please contact myself, Robin Morley, Allex Rankin or Dave Dallimore for more information or suggestions.

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http://www.southwestsaab.co.uk
http://www.swedishday.co.uk
http://www.tailored-transport.co.uk/

Just to add to Robin's Really Good Idea post - the planned sailing will be on Norfolkline from Dover to Dunkerque (a 2-hr crossing) - bookable online and very efficient (I've travelled that route a couple of times recently). It also puts us a wee bit closer to Belgium and caters for those with LPG conversions that aren't allowed on Eurotunnel.

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David.
9-3 Aero TTiD SW / c900S Aero Vert / 95 V4 / 96 2T / 260-2 "Saabo"

A couple of points I would wish to make:

Although Robin (South West Saabs) and I (David Dallimore, Great Western Saabs) agreed along with everyone present yesterday the idea of a Belgium Road Run, we would like to emphasise it is open to all SAAB owners and enthusiasts irrespective of whatever club (regional or national) or forum group you may be part of.

Over the coming months I would anticipate there will be regional meeting points set up so you can travel to Dover as a group (perhaps someone from each region can help with a location). If everything goes to plan then we would anticipate over 100 SAAB leaving the ferry at Dunkirk, heading for Spa in Belguim.

Should be fun

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David
www.greatwesternsaabs.co.uk

Norfolkline are currently offering £43 each way (plus £12 fuel surcharge - a standard thing these days, I'm afraid - it can only go up) for sailings on 1st Aug 2012 - that seems pretty good for "high season". The "first class lounge" upgrade is good value too - gives priority boarding/disembarking as well - but it won't hold 100 plus Saabisti, all after free coffee & biccies! Check-in is an hour before sailing, so 11.00 BST at the latest. I've done the trip a few times recently and it's very comfortable, the food and drink are good and the DF prices in the ship's shop are attractive (usually good deals going on wine & beer) - but there's not as wide a range (or as cheap) as in the supermarkets in France and Belgium, so don't go mad on board! There's a very good large shopping complex (with a huge supermarket) between the ferry port (Loon-Plage) and Dunkerque town, just before getting onto the motorway - we could make a pit-stop there, have something to eat and drink and pick up "provisions" for the long haul south-east to Spa .

The event takes place from Friday the 3rd to Sunday the 5th, so the return journey will be at your own choice. I'll probably stay a couple more days, with my friends in Brussels (who will also be at the rally) and head back on Tuesday or Wednesday. Haven't decided which car to take - probably the c900 or the stroker (or maybe both) - plenty of time to think about that! Giving Le Mans Classic a miss next year will free up a few more days' annual leave and a lot more cash to spend on this trip ..... .

http://www.intsaab2012.com/

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David.
9-3 Aero TTiD SW / c900S Aero Vert / 95 V4 / 96 2T / 260-2 "Saabo"

I had an email from Nicolas, one of the Belgium organisers who tells me there will also be a pre-meeting.
This starts on the Wednesday before the meeting. Ellen and Nicolas will organize the group for participants coming from the UK and France.
This group will visit Brugge and Gent before getting together with the 2 other groups on the Thursday afternoon in Brussels, and then all travel together in an even larger convoy to Spa on Friday afternoon.

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http://www.southwestsaab.co.uk
http://www.swedishday.co.uk
http://www.tailored-transport.co.uk/

Well after my coments about old farts and Swedish days and soc meets, I would love to go but I get the feeling I wouldn't be welcome. But I'll try to go anyway.

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Saab 9000
Saab 9000 2.0 Anniversary
Saab 9000 Aero
Citroen xsara 2.0 hdi estate
VW Beetle

Paul everybody is welcome, thats for sure. That wont change.
The great thing about the convoy is that it is just that "A Convoy".
Yes we will happily organise the things that we can but when you get there its up to you how you stay etc.
We have done two convoys in the last year or so and they were great fun. Everybody is there for the enjoyment of the trip and the love of the brand, Saab.

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http://www.southwestsaab.co.uk
http://www.swedishday.co.uk
http://www.tailored-transport.co.uk/

I'll keep an eye on this thread as am very likely to want to attend!

This is something I would love to do as well.I worry that I will be the tail end charley though, trying to keep up in "Dead Slow Doris" . Will be keeping an eye on this thread.

Chris

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WED BERRAM EXUM TAE
1975 V4 Very Orange,Dead Slow Doris
Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI,Very very GREEN.

that sounds like an excellent plan to me, count me in

just had a look at google, its only 416 miles each way - so had a play at the same time and realised its only another 70 miles to the nurbergring so maybe worth another slightly smaller convoy

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1991 9000 2.3 Carlsson CD
2001 9-5 2.0 LPT (for the moment)

Unfortunately I won't be able to attend due to the Olympics! There is no leave available as extra patrols and people are required for the transport strategy surrounding this event. I would much rather attend a more important event such as the International than the Olympics. Hey ho I will have to attend the following year's international somewhere nice in the UK.

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Other car drivers just don't know what they are missing!!

Home at last!!

I like this but sod's law dictated I won't look at this thread again until it's too late

Breakfasts on DFDS (as NorfolkLine is now called) are excellent!

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She drives a Golf - Madge
I drive a 9-5 Aero :-) - Dame Edna

You've got plenty of time to get your engine sorted, Chris! I haven't decided "what" to take yet - the 96 2T, the 900 vert, the 95 V4 (if i can get it rebuilt in time) - maybe even Saabo as well . Must get my finger out, although work (which has the benefit of a salary attached to it ) tends to reduce the amount of time I have "free" these days.

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David.
9-3 Aero TTiD SW / c900S Aero Vert / 95 V4 / 96 2T / 260-2 "Saabo"

I might give this a try, just need to renew my passport! Might even have a 90 or 99 to drive down in. I've never been to Spa, is the event at the Racing Circuit?

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Joined the burble, burble, burble brigade, with 3" zorst.

Evening Peops,

I checked the link and have now subscribed to the newsletter. I Google mapped the address and know now where the venue is, the circuit is nearby.

Please excuse my lack of europe knowledge, but I've only been to france twice, and that was when I was was very young!

I've never driven in Europe, so its all new for me.

I'd welcome any advice, regarding camping, but I'm thinking of booking the ferry that we are all thinking of targeting, so that we get as many Saabs on one ferry, sounds fun.

I will want to visit the racing cicuit, not sure if I can afford the hop to the Nurburgring, that may have to be a separate excursion.

I've noticed that the le-mans classic is before this event, but methinks, this is more important.

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Joined the burble, burble, burble brigade, with 3" zorst.

Unfortunately, the Le Mans Classic 2012 is about 3 weeks earlier than this - can't take an extended holiday . I've taken the plunge and booked the ferry (£40 each way, no fuel surcharge - book soon if you want cheap fares for the 1200 sailing on 1st August 2012!) and a hotel in the Spa-Francorchamps area. Hotel rooms in the area are already getting scarce for that weekend so, if like me you don't want to camp (too old!), get your bookings done asap. I'm planning to do a little bit of "touring" on the way home - extend my holiday - seems like a good idea .

What's the plan for the trip south-east from the ferry (1pm Wednesday) to Spa? I know there's an idea to do a "Saab Tour of Belgium" with one group of cars starting in the north, but details are yet to emerge. I might break away from the Brits' convoy and visit my friends in Brussels for a day or so. I'd originally thought we might arrange a visit to the Mahy Mobiles museum in Leuze-en-Hainaut (east of Lille, just off the M-way to Brussels) - one of the largest automobile museums in the world - but we'll be too late to do that on the Wednesday afternoon. I'll get there one day - it was closed the last 2 times I was over there.

I guess it's a case of "watch this space".

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David.
9-3 Aero TTiD SW / c900S Aero Vert / 95 V4 / 96 2T / 260-2 "Saabo"

I have looked at their website but still cannot find out....

Can someone tell me where exactly is the event being held?
In the town?
At the track?
Somewhere else?



From Dunkirk to the event (assuming the track) is 3 hours, so not as far as I first thought

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David
www.greatwesternsaabs.co.uk

The link on the webiste showed the event in the town of Spa, looks like there is a big open "car parking type" space, if this is right then then its not at the Spa-Francorchamps track. I still want to go, even if I have to go in the NG900. I have a book titled "Classic Motorsport Routes" by Richard Meaden, and shows the 1934-1937 and 1939 route which is off the now modern circuit taking in Burneville and Stavelot, if I go go this is surely a must.

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Joined the burble, burble, burble brigade, with 3" zorst.

As everyone else has said, this sounds awesome!!! Will deff keep checking back on this thread and pencil it in the diary!

Also Robin, we would be happy to pay as a sponsor for the rally plates if the event does go ahead, that is of course if no one else hasn't already put their hand up for that. Cheer - Fraser.

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*Saab 900 Carlsson

*Saab 95 TID

*Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible

What a generous offer from Bagnall Saab . On behalf of the unofficial sub-committee of convoy-plotters, "thank you".

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David.
9-3 Aero TTiD SW / c900S Aero Vert / 95 V4 / 96 2T / 260-2 "Saabo"