| General Information (below) |
WE’RE PUMPED! Charlotte is coming up fast and based on three previous
conventions there (SAAC-12 in 1987, SAAC-16 in 1991 and SAAC-23 in 1998) we know
that everybody likes Charlotte. So we’re expecting that it’s going to be a
big one. As big as SAAC-25? Why not. That convention proved that if you show up,
and you bring your car, you’re guaranteeing a memorable convention.
There are plenty of reasons why Charlotte is so popular. The track itself (now
called Lowe’s Motor Speedway) is one of the jewel’s in NASCAR’s crown.
When you drive through the tunnel and are suddenly on the inside you look up at
that 360° banked ribbon of asphalt you get the feeling that you have just
entered a cathedral of speed. It’s not your imagination - you really do hear
those Winston Cup cars blasting past just like you see on ESPN - WHAH !WHAH !
WHAH ! WHAH ! WHAH !. If it’s your first time, you have to pinch yourself.
This is Charlotte. You’re really here! If you’re an old hand, you’re still
impressed.
The track is only 5 minutes from a cluster of hotels, all first class. The
convention headquarters hotel, the Charlotte Hilton is the biggest. And
restaurants and a shopping center are all within sight.
Within an hour’s drive of the track, in just about every direction, is
something for a race fan to do either before or after the convention. We suggest
you do some homework. There’s the Joe Weatherly Museum at Darlington, the
North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame in Mooresville, the Richard Petty Museum
in Randleman and the Hendrick Motorsports Museum & Gift Shop in Harrisburg.
That’s just for starters. You can also visit any of the major race shops:
Penske Racing, Roush Racing, Dale Ernhart, Richard Childress Racing, Joe Gibbs
Racing - you name the team and chances are they have a pristine facility close
to the track. Some have a glass wall along one side so visitors can walk through
and observe what’s going on. And just about all of them have gift shops -
which is why you really stopped. Admit it.
Charlotte is also the home of Holman-Moody and if you haven’t heard of them
you’re reading the wrong newsletter. Put it down and pick up a copy of
Knitting and Quilting Quarterly. They’re still out by the airport and Lee
Holman is building a series of continuation Ford GT MK IIs as well as providing
all kinds of race prep and restoration services.
After seeing how popular SAAC-25's vintage races were we’ve decided to include
them as part of every convention. So you can expect some wheel-to-wheel racing
with three separate race groups: Cobras and GT40s, GT350s and Trans-Am sedans
(1965 through 1995). And since we’re at Charlotte, we’re going to invite as
many Ford powered vintage Grand National and Winston Cup cars as we can find for
a special race of their own.
Starting with SAAC-26, we’ll be setting aside a parking area near the paddock
for all special cars - Shelbys, Cobras, Mustangs, etc - which will be roped off
and maintained for the entire convention. Look for the signs.
The usual convention activities will consume the
daylight hours out at the track: parts swap, judged concours, popular vote car
show, open track and kids’ rides each day. On Friday night, back at the
Hilton, we’ll be holding seminars, a Shelby Art & Literature Show and
model car contest. On Saturday night we’ll have a buffet dinner and evening
program with guest speakers whose names you will instantly recognize. SAAC-26 is
going to be another good one.
Everyone always wishes they’d made reservations at the headquarters hotel but
it tends to fill up quickly. The Charlotte Hilton, about 5 minutes from the
track, has had a major addition since the last time we were there and they now
have a additional rooms as well as a ballroom large enough to accommodate our
group for Saturday night’s dinner. We’ve filled about half of Hilton’s
rooms so far. When they’re all filled we’ll include details on the secondary
hotels. All are close to the Hilton.
Headquarters Hotel: CHARLOTTE HILTON
704-547-7444
SAAC Convention rate is $109 a night. One night’s deposit is required. Please
identify yourself as a member of the Shelby Club when making reservations.
SAAC-26 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
THURSDAY JULY
5, 2001
8:00 am Fast Track School (Lowe's Motor Speedway)
12:00 pm Early SAAC Registration (Lowe's Motor Speedway)
12:00 pm Early Tech Inspection (Lowe's Motor Speedway)
12:00 pm Parts Swap Set-Up (Lowe's Motor Speedway)
6:00 pm Track Closes
FRIDAY
JULY 6, 2001
6:00 am SAAC Registration (Lowe's Motor Speedway)
6:00 am Tech Inspection
6:00 am Parts Swap
8:00 am Open Track Driver's Meeting
8:30 am Open Track First-Timer's Class
9:00 am Open Track Sessions Begin
12:15 pm Lunch Break / Kids Rides
6:00 pm Concours Judges Meeting (Charlotte Hilton)
6:30 pm Track Closes
6:30 pm Shelby Art & Literature Show (Charlotte Hilton)
6:30 pm Model Car Contest (Charlotte Hilton)
6:30 pm Parts & Assistance Exposition (Charlotte Hilton)
SATURDAY JULY
7, 2001
6:00 am SAAC Registration (Lowe's Motor Speedway)
6:00 am Tech Inspection
6:00 am Parts Swap
8:00 am Concours Entrant's Meeting
8:00 am Driver's Meeting
8:30 am Open Track First-Timer's Class
9:00 am Open Track Sessions Begin
9:00 am Concours Judging
12:30 am Vintage Race Practice by Group
3:00 pm Concours Winners Posted (time approx.)
6:30 pm Track Closes
7:00 pm Saturday Evening Dinner (Charlotte Hilton)
8:30 pm Saturday Evening Program (Charlotte Hilton)
SUNDAY JULY
8, 2001
6:00 am SAAC Registration (Lowe's Motor Speedway)
6:00 am Tech Inspection
6:00 am Parts Swap
8:00 am Driver's Meeting
8:30 am First-Timers Class
9:00 am Open Track Sessions Begin
10:00 am Popular Vote Balloting Begins
12:00 pm Popular Vote Balloting Ends
12:15 pm Vintage Race Warm Up by Group
2:00 pm Vintage Races by Group
3:00 pm Popular Vote Winners Posted
6:30 pm Track Closes
THURSDAY is arrival day. Registration and tech inspection will be open
between 12 noon and 5 pm. We strongly suggest cars which are running on
Friday go through tech on Thursday. Cars and trailers may be left inside the
track at night - there will be security. Swap vendors will also be able to
set up beginning at 12 noon. Track Time driving school will be providing
instruction and hands-on experience for SAAC members from 8 am to 5 pm. They
will also conduct rides with instructors taking passengers for 3 white knuckle laps. Only those who have signed up for this school will be allowed
inside the track before 12 noon. The track will close at 6 pm and no one
will be allowed to remain inside.
FRIDAY - the track opens at 6:00 a.m. Registration and tech inspection will
be open at that time. The driver's meeting is at 8:00 am sharp. Everyone driving that day must attend or they will not get out on the track. At 8:30
there will be a First Timer's Class for everyone who has never driven Lowe's
Motor Speedway before. The object is to keep novices out of trouble. Open
track sessions begin at 9 am. Each of five different run groups are on the
track for 15 minutes; two sessions before lunch and two after lunch. During
lunch all cars which have passed tech will be allowed on the track to give 50 MPH kids rides. The Swap Meet will run all day. The last run
group,
composed of wives and girl friends who want to drive without all the
pressure created by a full field of cars, will wind up about 5 pm. This will
be the only Ladies' Session of the convention due to the race schedule. The
track will close at 6:30 pm. and will be secured overnight for those leaving
their cars at the track. A Shelby Art and Literature Show will take place at
the Charlotte Hilton starting at 6:30 pm and running until about 11 pm.
Artists and literature dealers will have a large assortment of items for
sale. A Model Car Show will also take place, as will a Parts & Assistance
Exposition. Representatives for many manufacturers, parts dealers and
service businesses will be on hand to answer questions, as will SAAC's
individual Registrars.
SATURDAY is a repeat of Friday morning, as far as the open track and swap
meet go. Concours judging will begin at 9 am. Winners names will be posted at 3 pm. The open track
will run between 9 am and 12:15. At 12:30 practice
for vintage race groups will begin and will run until approx. 5 pm. The track will close at 6:30 pm. Back at the Charlotte Hilton, at 6:30 pm the
buffet dinner will begin with cocktail hour. At 8:30 pm the guest speaker program will begin. It
will run until about 10 pm.
SUNDAY is a repeat of Friday and Saturday morning, as far as the open track
and swap meet go. The popular Vote Car Show will take place with balloting
beginning at 10 am. At 12 pm voting stops. Winners will be posted at 3 pm.
At 12:15 warm-ups for vintage race groups will take place, followed by
15-lap vintage races for each group beginning approx. 2:00 pm. The track
will close at 6:30 pm.
CONVENTION QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Please contact SAAC HQ for a Pre-Registration form:
SAAC/26
P.O. Box 788
Sharon, CT 06069
860-364-0449 phone
860-364-0769 fax
saac@discovernet.net email
No. Entry fee is included with your registration. On Sunday morning you will be directed to the car show location, inside the track. You will be given a windshield card and an envelope for the ballots and told where your class is parked. Once you’re parked, fill out the card and place it under your windshield wiper. Tape the envelope to your car’s windshield and between 10 am and 12 noon, people will vote by placing ballots into the envelope of the cars of their choice. At exactly 12 noon all owners must turn in their envelopes to Car Show Central. Winners are determined by the largest number of votes in each class. Winners’ names are posted at Car Show Central as soon as the results are determined. Trophies will be custom engraved and mailed out following the convention.
Yes. However it is possible to join the national club at the convention (annual dues are $47.00). Don’t get your hopes up, though. Most of the open track spots are filled by those who have pre-registered. Occasionally there are last minute cancellations and these openings are filled at the Driver’s Meeting, first come - first served. If you want to drive, you’ll have to attend the driver’s meeting at 8 am (in the Tech Garage) and find out if any spaces are available. All cars must be Ford powered and must pass a strict technical inspection. In some cases the technical requirements are very specific (roll bars for all convertibles, dual throttle return springs, radiator coolant overflow catch can, Snell SA 95 or newer rated helmet) so for this reason we strongly suggest pre-registration. Driving on a race track at high speeds is something that should be planned for in advance - not to satisfy some spur-of-the-moment urge. Most would-be drivers who decide to participate at the last minute can’t get their cars through tech inspection. You need to plan ahead to avoid disappointment.
In the past we had allowed drivers to take passengers in the last session of the day, but due to the demand that we offer open track participation in half-day increments the schedule no longer allows it. A second consideration against rides is that in the event of an accident resulting in the injury or death of a passenger, it is almost certain that the club and its officers would be sued, and we’d rather not, thanks. Our risk just isn’t worth your reward.
Yes. If dinner tickets are available you can get them at registration on
Thursday, Friday or possibly Saturday morning. We must give the caterer an
exact number of the dinners we will require in advance, and tickets are usually
sold out by the morning of the dinner so we can’t make any promises. But
occasionally we get last minute cancellations. If you have not pre-registered
and would like to join us for dinner, check at registration, just outside of the
tunnel, to see if tickets are available.
Of course you can. Dinner tickets are collected as each person is served. Usually there are slightly more tables set up than will be needed, and those who do not have a dinner ticket can take these vacant seats after dinner has finished. Additionally there is plenty of standing room around the perimeter. The evening program of guest speakers usually lasts about two hours.
The SAAC national convention is a perfect place to do some first-person
research. There is always a large selection of parts for sale at the swap
meet, and this provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate or confirm prices
(whether you are buying or just wondering what something you have or need might
be worth). Many of the Shelby parts suppliers who advertise in national
publications are there. You can talk to them and also compare parts side by
side. If the part you are looking for isn’t there, chances are you can turn up
a lead on where to find it.
You can look at a wide variety of cars, comparing them for details and examining production deviations. Talking to their owners will provide information that is simply not obtainable through books or video tapes. You can also take pictures or videos of your own, capturing specific details which then become invaluable aids in restoring your car when you get back home. You will be able to talk to owners and get references for people and businesses who did the bodywork, paint, mechanical work or detailing. In many cases they will also be there, and if so, you can talk to them in person. You can see examples of their work and then make your own judgements. You’ll also be able to pick people’s brains for restoration tips, car care methods and automotive products. Concours judges will be there and nobody knows the cars better than they do. They are always happy to share their knowledge.
A national convention will probably have at least one of the year and model you are looking for (and usually a lot more) for sale right there. Instead of answering individual classified ads and traveling long distances to look at one car at a time, you’ll be able to see several cars and compare them, side by side. You can also talk to owners of cars which are not for sale; they will be happy to provide you with their opinions as to condition, price and value of the cars which are. And you can compare the cars for sale with dozens of others just like them to help you determine if they are fairly priced.
The convention is the perfect place to expose it to a large number of potential buyers. A fair number of convention attendees are there to buy a car. It’s also not uncommon to find dealers selling cars. There is a minimal charge to park a car in a special area of the swap meet where it will get maximum exposure. Otherwise, you can put a sign on it, park it in the general parking area, cross your fingers and hope the right person sees it.
There are usually a half dozen vendors who specialize in this area of the
hobby and they have a wide selection of things. Stuff you never dreamed existed.
Instead of responding to a classified ad, you will have the chance to hold an
item in your hands and examine it before you buy. Again, if you want to sell,
this is the perfect place. Bring your stuff along with a comfortable lawn chair
and a canopy or some sun block. If you just want information about literature
and collectibles, the convention attracts the
most knowledgeable Shelby memorabilia collectors in the country who will be
happy to talk about this stuff until long after sundown. A Shelby Art and
Literature Show is scheduled for Friday evening at the Charlotte Hilton. It runs
from 6:30 p.m. to about 10:30 p.m. and several of the larger literature dealers
will have a good selection of items for sale.
No. All spaces are parceled out on a first-come, first-served basis. You do not have to be a SAAC member. Spaces cost $10 per frontage foot for all 3 days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday, payable on Friday. You can get a good spot and set up beginning at noon on Thursday.
Mr. Shelby plans to attend this year’s convention and he always makes himself available to sign autographs. The trouble is, we never know when or where - and usually neither does he until he gets there. Shelby American will have a large tractor trailer in the paddock area. Just ask someone with him. They should know.
Lowe’s Motor Speedway does not allow overnight camping inside the track. There is lots of room outside the track but there are no electrical, water or sanitation hook-ups for campers.