SAAC-32 Trip Report

computerworks · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 04:26 PM

...just in from four sunny days in Utah at SAAC-32.

It was a great event at a really nice location, the new Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT (pronounced "two-willa" as I was told by every local I spoke to, as I pronounced it like an AFB in Greenland).

Weather? ....uh, sunny and in the 100's.

Location, though, made up for it... The Convention hotel was in downtown Salt Lake City...which is laid out so nice, it is hard to call it a city...easy in, easy out. Downtown is 10 minutes from the airport.

...and with 75mph Interstates, the track was 20-25 minutes from the hotel.

I am sorry I couldn't post here daily during the weekend; the 'net connection at the hotel was...uhhh...poor...plus the days and nights were full of activities.

I will fill out the thread in two parts...rather than a day-by-day, I'll give you a feeling for the event over the three days, with highlights.
...and then I'll post a portfolio of the Cobras of SAAC-32.

computerworks · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 07:03 PM

The Miller Motorsports Park is first-rate...what an enjoyable facility.

The open-track guys found the circuit tasty... they used the East track for racing and open track...while the West track was for instructional driving and parade laps.

As I mentioned, the track was about 20-25 minutes from the hotel. I decided that I needed something to cut the travel time down some...

I think I saw a Hertz thread last week...I'll post there later.

The ride out to the track passed right by the Great Salt Lake...which was an amazing sight.

computerworks · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 07:05 PM

I am always awe struck by the vistas in this area.... the track was in a flat valley out in nowheresville....but was it ever pretty.

computerworks · #4 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 07:06 PM

The Shelby American Collection was there in force, with some nice cars from the Boulder facility

Larry Miller, as you know, has an awesome personal collection. They have set up a museum at the track's welcome center that rivals the Boulder museum in size and content.

A great photo op was the replication of the famous Cobra Caravan picture...with real cars.

computerworks · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 07:08 PM

The paddock area quickly filled up early in the weekend and it was a treat to "garage-hop" to see who brought what..

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Malone chat it up with Pete Cala

computerworks · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 07:11 PM

Two local companies, Kirkham Motorsports and Racedeck, have year-round garages at the facility...and they had open house all weekend. Thanks for the hospitality...you could always pop over to their garage for some shade and a cold drink.

I had a chance to run down to Provo and visit David Kirkham...who was hip deep in building the "assembly manual" car. He took some time to show me their tube bender.
...and we turned out a set of 427 headers that were one-piece tubes!

Back at the track, one of KM's customers had been side-swiped and had a pretty rough bash in the rear quarter. Saturday was "hammer-time" as the sheet metal was miraculously restored to a condition that you couldn't tell was hit. Magic, just magic.

The Kirkhams hosted a lunch in the Luxury Suites, which had a great vantage point for viewing the track, right over the pits. There's Rich Mason, the owner of the Flip Top guarding my camera gear as I took the picture.

computerworks · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 07:20 PM

Saturday night is banquet night, and there were over 700 people in attendance. We met many original Shelby American employees....Lew Spencer and Chuck Cantwell spoke a bit.

Peter Brock was the keynote speaker and gave everyone interesting insight to life at Shelby American in the early days.

jay bentley · #8 (**permalink**) 07-12-2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by computerworks

The Shelby American Collection was there in force, with some nice cars from the Boulder facility

Larry Miller, as you know, has an awesome personal collection. They have set up a museum at the track's welcome center that rivals the Boulder museum in size and content.

A great photo op was the replication of the famous Cobra Caravan picture...with real cars.

Here is 5R535. I also saw Howard Pardee's 5R095 in a picture from the convention. That would make 3 R-Models so far.

computerworks · #9 (**permalink**) 07-12-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay bentley

Here is 5R535. I also saw Howard Pardee's 5R095 in a picture from the convention. That would make 3 R-Models so far.

Didn't know if 535 was a real R-model...thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay bentley

I also saw Howard Pardee's 5R095 in a picture from the convention.

Was it white?

(...just kidding

)

Jamo · #10 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 08:37 PM

Well done, buddy...you're starting to get good at this.

Unique 289_FIA · #11 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 08:48 PM

More, please.

(BTW, thanks!)

Power Surge · #12 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 09:34 PM

Ron, you know I want to see more pics of any comp or S/C 427 car

.

Question on 3011... what's with the non-comp mirrors? The dash mirror is centered in the car, so doesn't seem like came from A/C like that. Looks great, but seems odd for a comp car.

computerworks · #13 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power Surge

Question on 3011... The dash mirror is centered in the car.

The dash mirror is a generic re-pop.
You can't benchmark many bolt-on's on a Comp car as 'original'.

computerworks · #14 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 09:48 PM

whoops...missed an important one.

While I was off working on Saturday morning, CSX2009 rolled into the Hi-Performance Motors car show at the other end of the paddock.

Thanks to Erik, CSX2009, for the pics...

Johan · #15 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 10:15 PM

Awesome ! Between the event, the museum, and the Boulder cars this is a great set of photos to drool over. More, More! Any swap meet stuff or cars for sale ? It was not all that long ago that a 289 Cobra was 125,000. Now what are they, 425 ?

cobra · #16 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 11:07 PM

Thank you very much for the pictures

Greetings from Switzerland

Walter

Allan A · #17 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 11:15 PM

Ron,

Thanks number 15 is the winner.

Allan

Brent Mills · #18 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 12:15 AM

Simply awesom Ron! Thanks for sharing!

hey,littlecobra · #19 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 06:32 AM

nicely done, Ron.

It almost looks like a photoessay by moi!!!

Saw some Dallas friends at the Banquet. How coincidental that they made your photo.
That little black car with the yellow stripe sure looks nice.

Must make that event sometime.
Kristen

SFM5S159 · #20 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 06:54 AM

Ron,
Hi from Mike in Cincinnati!
So how many coupes made the show? I saw at least two.
I know this is the Cobra forum, but did you get any pics or counts on R-models? I could not make it, but thanks so much for the pics!
MC