Some things will always stay with you when you attend a SAAC convention, for me, one highlight was seeing my friend Allen Cheng, it could not of been scripted any better in a Hollywood movie. A group of Shelby Mustangs arrived on Wednesday from Washington state. As it worked out I was mentioning one thing I would like to do was to re-live what we did in the 1980's and the SAAC members did before us in the 1970's. This was to let the sun go down, the California temps would still be very comfortable and just talk about out mutual enjoyment of the cars from Shelby American. All the owners of the Shelbys were present in our group, so it was natural to let each person talk about their car. A few other people who were walking by joined our group, they also hung onto every word each owner was saying. Ever Shelby has a story to tell. As this wrapped up around 10:30pm we walked back to entrance of the Embassy Suites and there was a black 1966 GT350H with Cragars and one very special owner, Allen Cheng.
Now our club knew of Allen's exploits in the past at SAAC 35 but could he do it again, 15 years later?
When we both saw each other, he said "17 hours!" I just shook my head. He did it, Allen, The Crazy Canuck, drove 17 hours straight from Abbotsford B.C., Canada to the convention headquarters hotel. He had been there for about 15 minutes before we saw him. He only stopped for the three essentials; bathroom, gas, food. In a black GT350 with temps in the 90 to 100 range and the windows rolled down caused him to loose a little of his hearing from the wind buffering for all those hours. For those people who got to meet Allen, you probably walked away laughing or shaking your head wondering who would try this.
If you thought he was finished, he did it again, on the way back home. He got into traffic in Portland Oregon ,but he made it through well in Tacoma and Seattle, reaching home exactly in 16 hours. A.I. had it as 15 hours, 43 mins, but A.I. probably did not take into account doing it in a 59 year old black GT350H in the middle of the summer.
Way to go Allen, SAAC 35 and SAAC 50 !! 8)
What a Great story. This is what it is all about!!!
That's awesome!!
The bugs on the windshield and grille are badges of honor! Well done!!
Congratulations - mission accomplished!
Mr Cheng sounds like my kinda guy
That is what these cars are for. I remember at SAAC 40, when my KR was being Concours judged, and a persnickety judge harrumphed in shock as he noticed some water spots and a little mud in the wheel wells: "Well, it looks like this car has been driven......."
Quote from: Mikelj5S230 on August 27, 2025, 10:39:37 AMThat is what these cars are for. I remember at SAAC 40, when my KR was being Concours judged, and a persnickety judge harrumphed in shock as he noticed some water spots and a little mud in the wheel wells: "Well, it looks like this car has been driven......."
if you can't feel it, drive it and enjoy it, it truly has no purpose in your life
and now there's a guy that thinks he can take it with him once he checks out....LMAO
Allen and I talked on Saturday. When he told me he drove 17+ hours straight to get there, I about fell over. Awesome story.
Allen's GT350H is one of the first Shelbys I saw as a teenager in the 70's right here in Missoula, Montana. I had told the previous owner that I would love to own the car if he ever decided to sell it. Somewhere around 1978 he brought it to my parents' house so we could look it over as he had decided to part with it. Unfortunately, he had promised it to another acquaintance, so he had to contact him to see if he still wanted it. As luck would have it he did, so it slipped away. The sad thing is the guy who bought it was a car dealer, so it got sold again right away. Took me a few more years to find a Shelby, but in '82 my wife and I purchased '67 GT500 #589, we still own it. If I would have ended up with Allen's car I'm sure I'd still own it! It was good to see it again at SAAC 50! Saw it at an International Mustang Meet a few years ago too. Still looks as nice as it did back in the 70's!
Congratulations Allen....no small feat.
I can relate.... Edmonton, Alberta to Ramona, CA non-stop 19 hours in a 1955 Thunderbird.