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SAAC-33 Trip Report
SAAC-33 Aug. 15-17, 2008 Thunderbolt, NJ Motorsports Park, Millville NJ
Well, SAAC-33 is in the books... and many have rated it one of the best national meets in recent memory. Going into the summer months, there were the dark concerns over the fact that the new facility may not be finished in time, and the SAAC-Shelby legal issues would dampen the fun. But the Octane-Gods smiled on us with a weekend of spectacular weather, a track that delivered all that was needed and an eleventh-hour settlement that made a renewed SAAC and Shelby relationship put fun back into the hobby. All were cause for celebration. NJ Motorsports Park is about a three-hour drive from NYC, so we left Thursday, after traffic, and got in early afternoon. (sorry for the delay in posting on this event... 4-days off and we came back to a ton of problems at work...) I will post an assortment of images to try and give a good flavor for the event. I had a new toy, a little Flip, that records video...so I also will post a few clips of some of the scenery and the action. |
When we got to the NJMP on Thursday, we saw the line of early-birds waiting for the gates to open at 4 p.m. As you see the pictures of the facility, there are areas of recent landscaping and a lot of dirt area...when the grass takes for next season, this all should be a memory.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-1.JPG http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-2.JPG The Ticket House just outside the Main Gate served as Registration central. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-3.JPG http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-4.JPG Pre-registration helps a lot...you just pick up your passes and your goodie bag. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-5.JPG |
It's cool to see the empty and quiet areas before things start....knowing the frenzy of activity that is coming up in the next few days.
This is the main Garage Area. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-6.JPG ...and the Paddock area. This will quickly get crowded by tomorrow. As large as the crowd was, there was still plenty of paddock space available. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-7.JPG Some of the early birds getting the best spots and setting up camp. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-8.JPG The Shelby Autos truck was one of the first ones there, with a load of cool cars. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0814-9.JPG After a walk around, we went back to our hotel at dusk, and found deer on the lawn. Not what I am used to seeing, as a city-boy. :-) http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0814-10.JPG |
Friday, Aug. 15, 2008
The Main Gate and entrance to the Park. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-1.JPG Off to the right is the Clubhouse, exclusive lodging, restaurant and bar...plus nice meeting rooms. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-2.JPG Here's Cobrajeff setting up the main desk for the Car Shows... the Hi-Performance Motors show for vintage cars...and the Shine and Show for general entries. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-3.JPG The Vendor Alley being set up at the crack of dawn. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-4.JPG The full Shelby Autos line-up, with a few owner's cars parking in the area during the weekend. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-5.JPG |
As the day began, attendees settled into their Garage spaces for the weekend.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-6.JPG Almost immediately, the line started to form for Tech Inspection of the cars that would participate in Open Track. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-7.JPG http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-8.JPG At 9 a.m., there was the Driver's Meeting in the Garage Meeting room. Joe Volpe, with Howard Pardee at his side (seated), go over the Track layout and the rules of the road for the open trackers. You can see the crowd that was there, indicating how popular this is at the convention. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0815-9.JPG http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0815-10.JPG |
This building houses the VIP garages...very cool.
Your garage is on the first level...and your residence (hotel room) is just above you. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0815-11.JPG This building, known as the Barn, has the food concession all around the ground level, and a 500-seat banquet room on the second level, where the Saturday dinner was held. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0815-12.JPG You can grab a picnic table and watch the track action while you have lunch. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0815-13.JPG Legendary Motorcars (Dreamcar Garage) brought some beautiful specimens.. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0815-14.JPG http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0815-15.JPG The paddock starts to fill up...and some snack wagons provide easy access. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0815-16.JPG Dan Reiter does some commander-time in the Timing tower, as the Open Track session prepares to start. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0815-17.JPG |
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008
Things are now in full-swing. The weekend attendance was great. Here's Rick Kopec and Gary Underwood planning the open track day. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-1.JPG Mr. Mustang goes thru Tech Inspection... he failed "paint". :-) http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-2.JPG Here's a clip of the entrance to the paddock, coming over one of the bridges, to give a nice scope of the event. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlsGdVxxUsg The Garages are starting to buzz with activity. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-3.JPG If you walked past the garages, this is what you'd see... Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXSnC1UZM_Y The Concours judging was held Saturday morning, and lasted well into the afternoon. I work on the Cobra Team and we thankfully had two 427 cars to judge. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-4.JPG http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-5.JPG http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-6.JPG The Shine and Show judging was all day Saturday, althought the display was open for both weekend days. This is a very popular area. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-7.JPG http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-8.JPG Another shot of the Concours judging line-up. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...c33-0816-9.JPG In the foreground, behind this soon-to-be-a-lake, is the full Hi-Performance Motors Show, where vintage- only cars are judged. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0816-10.JPG |
It's great to see the cars on display, but it is even more fun to see them on the run.
Here are a few clips from the Open Track sessions on Friday and Saturday: Friday - Open Track Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMOU8j3q5lg Saturday - Open track Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5XDImYi9KE Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqA8XI5DBtQ ...much more to come in a little bit. need a break. :o |
The Cobras at SAAC-33
There was a nice assortment of original Cobras at SAAC-33.. I actually expected more than we had, given the population in the region, but, nevertheless, there were a few new ones (to me) and that was goodness. CSX2122 - brought down by Legendary Motorcars http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...2-SAAC33-1.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...2-SAAC33-2.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...2-SAAC33-3.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...2-SAAC33-4.jpg |
CSX2329 -Unusual to see Sunbursts on a CSX2000 car
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...9-SAAC33-1.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...9-SAAC33-2.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...9-SAAC33-3.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...9-SAAC33-4.jpg |
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CSX2396 - Unusual side mirrors, hood pins and little consolette.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-1.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-2.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-3.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-4.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-5.jpg |
CSX3011 - original Comp car, in the Concours judging. I spent a lot of time with this car last year at SAAC-32 doing a photo shoot.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...1-SAAC33-1.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...1-SAAC33-2.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...1-SAAC33-3.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...1-SAAC33-4.jpg |
CSX3165 - the other 427 in the Concours judging.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...5-SAAC33-1.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...5-SAAC33-2.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...5-SAAC33-3.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...5-SAAC33-4.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...5-SAAC33-5.jpg |
CSX3176 - a favorite for many, remembered from SAAC-31 at VIR. No other way to say it: "he raced the piss out of it all weekend" :p Nice to see that!
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-1.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-2.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-3.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-4.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...6-SAAC33-5.jpg |
CSX3318 - our good buddy, Jay Bentley. He was on the go all weekend with his car...I only saw it standing still once.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...8-SAAC33-1.jpg |
CSX3354 - a quite original street car with an interesting hood lock
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...4-SAAC33-1.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...4-SAAC33-2.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...4-SAAC33-3.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...4-SAAC33-4.jpg |
Here's a quick stroll down the lane of Vendor Alley
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leHaDJe2Umo The Newgen Shelbys were out in force, with an endless line up at the car show, including SGT, GT500 and SVT examples. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_chpmSCgjAw |
One of the most exciting parts of the Convention is the Vintage Race on Sunday. You can't go home early...this is the main event on the track.
Wheel-to-wheel racing between vintage GT350, Cobra and GT40 participants. Here's a taste of some of the practice runs that were prior to the big race. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGfhvjQFMvY Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-qUibaCQ0Y Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcYq0jRoWA4 |
Sunday, August 18, 2008
The linup of Newgen cars on display. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...-33-0817-1.jpg Lots of other Ford muscle shown in the car show area http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...-33-0817-2.jpg Sunday morning, I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Sam Feinstein, the pilot of CSX3009 after the SAI days of racing and well into the 70's http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...-33-0817-3.jpg Sam showed up in his Cobra replica, painted in a reminiscent fashion after "Ollie the Dragon" http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...-33-0817-4.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...33-0817-4a.jpg Sam had a crowd around him all day as he told one story after another... Great that he showed up! http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...-33-0817-6.jpg |
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