SAAC Forum

Welcome to the first thread of our Retrospective Spotlight series...

We have picked an outstanding event to commemorate and solicit your memories, anecdotes, photos and any remembrances of...

SAAC-5, Dearborn - July 3-4-5, 1980

Yes, 40 years ago....sorry to say.

Let's hear from the folks who were there... and you can tell the youngbloods here about how you had a blast at a SAAC event... "back in the day."

We'd like to hear and see accounts of the street races, speeding tickets, fireworks...and unspeakable shenanigans like that.

I'll start with a reprint of the "Graybeard Chronicles" that described this event....after that, it's all yours to fill in...

Outstanding  thread

Great read and memories of a much simpler era.  I didn't make it to that Dearborn SAAC event, but was there for the '83 Convention.

I knew Paul Preuss from Ford PR, and he was a great guy. 

maybe   Bill Collins will chime in about his ride in 2148 on friday nite on the street hahaha 

My first convention. I was s poor I stayed in a room in the residence of the University of Windsor where I had been attending school and drove across the Ambassador Bridge every morning to attend the convention.

This convention literally changed the course of my life. I saw a real Cobra for the first time. Stayed up late each night and tried to absorb every speck of the whole experience. I talked to Lary Zane about a 1966 Hertz car he had just restored. $10,000. Out of my price range at the time, but not to worry; he was in the midst of restoring another one. Greg Longberger's  427 cobra up on jack stands, wheels off so you could see the mirror stainless inner fenders. Standing about 2 feet off the asphalt on the straightaway at Utica  as cars roared by at nearly 200 mph.

I look at the world today. Ever been back to the Hyatt site?

We have tons of good times left, and I still wait all year for those 4 days at the SAAC convention, But if you missed SAAC 5, you can never see how it was for us.

But at least now they make movies about it.

 Does anyone have any photos of SAAC 5 they can post on here? I'd like a few thank you.

Benny,

Navigate yourself over to my website and click on the SAAC 5 page: http://www.s-techent.com/Shelby_Web_Pages/////Galleries/SAAC_Conventions/Conventions.htm.  And then enjoy.

That was a great Convention. The fireworks firing at the cars or trucks going by was crazy. Had to of had over 1000 people standing on the hill watching the few firing them off. They hit a truck going by, and the guy actually pulled over and got out with his buddy yelling. But with the crowd they had no chance got back in their vehicle and took off. Crazy and fun times.
Oh and who remembers the swimming races between the regions in the pool?
Craig

Quote from: Side-Oilers on May 28, 2020, 04:43:39 PM
Great read and memories of a much simpler era.  I didn't make it to that Dearborn SAAC event, but was there for the '83 Convention.

I knew Paul Preuss from Ford PR, and he was a great guy.

Simpler Times? You're working on your 67 Shelby: you drop the 1/2" drive ratchet and 13/16 socket and it breaks the ammeter connector. Go to the Ford dealer, the parts guy says, "you want a what for a what?" Luckily you got the catalog from Tony Branda at SAAC 5, fill out the form and mail it with cash or M.O. and maybe you'll get it in two weeks.

Now you go online type in 1967 Shelby ammeter connector. Pages of available parts show up. Overnight delivery, no problem.

Quote from: S7MS427 on June 14, 2021, 08:06:21 AM
Benny,

Navigate yourself over to my website and click on the SAAC 5 page: http://www.s-techent.com/Shelby_Web_Pages/////Galleries/SAAC_Conventions/Conventions.htm.  And then enjoy.

Hi Roy, thank you for the link to your website, I really appreciate it.

The perfect location. Exit the parking lot make a FAST pass behind the hotel then innocently back into the parking lot. Pop bottle rockets chasing cars on the freeway and bouncing them off passing Corvettes. The cops finally showed up and escorted fireworks man and his box of goodies away from the crowd. They kept the fireworks but not him. The shopping center was still fairly new and a monorail ran there from the hotel. And................the debut of the Howard Pardee ring toss game. Use your imagination.


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dearborn,+MI/@42.3113431,-83.2188968,681m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x883b3506c9c0d86b:0x70fd341efca36c0!8m2!3d42.3222599!4d-83.1763145?hl=en

My favorite photo of my KR .

Car wash

Drive to and evening program.

Good times

Few more

Last one , I'm done boring you with this  ;D

I don't think you are boring anyone. I think there great!

      Roy

Quote from: TA Coupe on October 11, 2023, 06:39:38 AM
I don't think you are boring anyone. I think there great!

      Roy

Thank you , it was fun looking back after all those years , I do think it was the best convention ever , what surprises me is that more people on this site didn't comment , I'll bet some of them did attend ? Maybe just a different crowd nowadays I guess ?

Still have this  :)