(Originally published in Jan/Feb 2006 issue of NINES, the magazine of the Saab Club of North America.)

2005 International Saab Clubs Meeting

Zollverein, Essen, Germany

The 2005 International Saab Clubs Meeting was held at Zollverein, a former coal mine in Essen, Germany, that is now a museum and convention center. Saab owners from throughout Europe converged on the industrial area of northwestern Germany for a weekend of Saab immersion.

The mine itself is open to tours, provided you meet the criteria of small stature and age. I spoke with someone about my size (XXL) who tried to take the tour and gave it up because the tunnels were small and the temperature was quite hot, about 30C. The retired industrial buildings now house museums, galleries, and restaurants.

But of course, I am here to hang with my Saab buddies from around Yurp. Friday was registration day, sort of low key to allow travelers to settle in. Right off the bat I ran into a familiar group from Austria. Then I encountered Iain Hodcroft and his clan from England. Though it had been eight years since I had seen many of these Saab hobbyists, friendships were quickly renewed, much like running into the friends I have made over the years in the SCNA. We all just look a bit older.

As I approached the parking area to look at the cars as they arrive, an older gentleman walked up and said "Hi." I was taken aback because I did not expect to see any other Americans, much less one from Barnes, Wisconsin, about 50 miles from my home in northern Minnesota. Ingemar Ekstrom owns a restored Saab Sonett V4 he purchased from Bob Adams, the former Saab dealer in Albert Lea, MN, about 10 years back. He played host to a German couple at the 1999 U.S. Saab Owners National Convention, so they were returning the favor.

Saab of Germany took advantage of the meeting of Saab-heads to officially introduce the 9-3 Sport Combi. As a compare-and-contrast to the Sport Combi, the last Saab 95 to roll off the assembly line was also on display, a piece of Saab history owned by the Saab Car Museum. It reportedly was driven straight from the assembly line to the museum, and now has only 60 kilometers on the odometer. The 95 was towed to Germany in a covered trailer by a Saab 9-5 wagon. None of this trusting precious, rare machinery to a commercial hauler for the folks at Saab.

Another old friend to Saab conventioneers is Erik Carlsson, legendary Saab rally driver. Despite the ravages of advancing age and aching knees, he participated in most of the weekend's festivities, visiting with the Saab faithful, signing autographs and having his photo taken with many groups. Peter Backstrom, curator of the Saab Car Museum, was also on hand. The above mentioned Sport Combi is his company car, and he had nothing but praise for the new model.

Throughout the day the Saab faithful arrived and were signed in, and then most headed off to their motels or campgrounds. At the Welcoming Dinner on Friday evening, all gathered in the dining hall for … pancakes? Yes, pancakes, though they are not like the fluffy buttermilk variety we are used to at roadside diners all over the Hew-Hess-Hay, but more like crepes. The fillings would also be considered odd to Americans; a choice of bacon and onion or sausage and sauerkraut, with apple or cherry filled pancakes for dessert. Apparently it was meant to be a "Coal Miners' Dinner", the type of fare the miners at Zollverein carried with them for sustenance during their shift.

I was fortunate to catch a ride back to the Jungendenberge (Youth Hostel) in Werden with a British family that was camping nearby. (It would have taken a tram, a train, and a bus ride otherwise, since I was without a car.) Mark and Trudi Hodges were among several dozen Saabists who chose to travel on the cheap by tenting along the way. Their early 900 5-door was packed with two adults, two adolescents, and everything they needed for a couple of weeks on the road.

There were also several "caravans", camping trailers pulled by all manner of Saabs. I chatted with a Dutch couple who pull a tent-style trailer behind their Saab 96-V4. The 96 has been modified for hauling the additional load by punching the engine out to 1800cc (from the standard 1700cc) and installing a Weber carburetor for more power. House trailer style caravans up to 20 feet in length are towed by newer Saabs without a problem.

Saturday was the Grand Display, with hundreds of Saabs from all over Europe on view. Models ranged from 92s through the current offerings by Saab. The variety is much like we see at the SONC, with plenty of original and restored Saabs to admire. Several cars got the honor of display in the meeting hall: a beautifully restored SAAB 92, a red Sonett V4 and a Saab 900 Turbo race car campaigned in Europe by Gasparatos Automobile Gmbh out of Hamburg (web site www.saabservice.de).

Though it is billed as the "International" Saab Clubs Meeting, it is better described as the European Saab Clubs Meet. The British, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Netherlands, and other clubs from the European continent were well represented, with only Ingemar and me from beyond Europe's borders. Other than that, it was much like the SONC, though without the dozens of tech sessions that consume so much time at the U.S. meets. There was a "Farmers' Market" of Saab parts and accessories, with the emphasis on "collectible" goodies like miniatures and posters. I brought several posters that have been gathering dust in my basement, and most went to new homes to be posted on European walls. Of course I had to spend a little of what I made from poster sales on some Saab items that I must have for my shelves.

Intermittent rain put a damper on activities throughout the weekend, but the rains were generally short and the sun dominated most of the time. Those who took a test drive in one of the new 9-3 convertibles usually got to drive with the top down. And this being Germany, I heard that a few of the test drive cars exceeded 200 kph on the Autobahn.

A German brass band entertained the Saab visitors for awhile in the afternoon, though I found their first musical choice to be rather odd… Anchors Aweigh.

On Saturday afternoon there was a meeting for representatives of all the European clubs and I was invited to observe as the U.S. rep. Since I am no longer active in the SCNA, I couldn't really speak for the club, but listened in and offered some ideas. They have scheduled their annual events through 2008; the 2006 event is in place for August 11 thru 13 in Ljungbyhed, Skåne, in the south of Sweden.

The grand dinner and awards were on Saturday evening, with a two-piece combo called "Piano Cocktail" playing light jazz for your dancing pleasure. The evening ended with the traditional presentation of gifts to the chairman of this year's meet, Klaus Weissbauer, by representatives of the other clubs.

Sunday was reserved for tours of the Essen area, with several routes available, each with a different theme. Since I was without car, I visited the Red Dot Design Awards museum on the Zollverein grounds. It is full of remarkable design and engineering items that make everyday living a little easier. Among the items on display are kitchen appliances and utensils, computers and associated devices, cell phones, furniture, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, power tools, and machines for particular industries.

One more lunch of a hearty German soup, and it was time to say our good-byes. There were plenty of the usual "until next year" and "you must come visit" before parting.

That evening I was invited to the home of Klaus Weissbauer and his wife Anna. Klaus asked me to drive his Saab 96-V4 to his home near Recklinghausen as he would be driving his Sonett-V4. I was apprehensive, after all the car was not familiar to me, nor were the local rules-of-the-road. We got there without incident, thankfully. Several couples were invited for a light dinner and socializing, and we had a lovely time. My thanks to the Weissbauers, the Hodges, and others who made my trip a little easier. Hope to see you all at another International Meeting soon!

[For more on my adventures in Germany, read my blog:
http://winktimber05.blogspot.com/.]