I bought you Turbin’s diary from Spain last week. This week it’s the thoughts of David R from the UK. Whilst Turbin was fortunate enough to win his trip to Spain, David got there by handing over his hard-earned to purchase a Turbo X SportCombi.

Dave’s stories and happy-snaps follow….but you’ll benefit from reading Turbin’s account once again at the link above.

My thanks to Dave for sending in this account of what really does sound like a brilliant event.

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Elated from having just returned from Spain for the recent trip to the Saab XWD performance driving event, I promised Swade an account of the experience. Having just read Turbin’s excellent and comprehensive account, it is really left to me just to comment on any differences in our trip.

Our group was exclusively from Great Britain, but once again a mixture of Saab personnel, dealers and customers with a guest. As my wife has no interest whatsoever in cars, I took along my friend Mike P. He has already paid his Saab dues in that he has (at last count) seven Saabs: 9-5, 9-3 convertible, a few 96s and a Sonett. Swade has previously met Mike and his wife Hilary at the Scandic Swania Hotel, last year at the Festival (we were co-users of the Swania’s chairs and ashtrays - SW).

Arriving late at the hotel in Barcelona, we only had time for a swift drink in the bar of the well appointed, modern hotel before retiring to our rooms. In my case, this was fortunate as the technology in the room ( why have curtains when you can have motorised blinds) tested my tired mind enough when I was sober.

Next morning, after an excellent breakfast, four coaches arrived to take us to the track at IDIADA. Four coaches for about fifty people? The organisation was already showing itself, for upon arrival at the track we were to be split into four groups (both colour coded and numbered – in case anyone was colour-blind) and each group would need its own coach to be transported around the vast complex.

Like Turbin, we may have been told that we would only see Turbo Xs, but as we waited to enter the site, the unmistakeable noise of a Formula 1 engine being driven at its limit indicated that this was no ordinary place.

We did indeed see some Turbo Xs – around 50 were there, as well as one or two other Saabs, 58 cars in total, looked after by four Swedish mechanics.

After the welcoming speech by Chris McKinnon (how can Swedes, even those of Scottish extraction, speak such perfect English with an authentic American accent?), we were introduced to three members of the Saab Performance Team.

After lunch , we separated into our various groups and went off to the respective tests. Our group started at the Dry Handling Circuit.

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Dry Handling Circuit

Two convoys, three laps for each of the two people in each car. Driving the car behind the lead instructor, I just tried to follow his lines and braking points – without notable success. The idea of the three laps was that the first lap was to be fully automatic, the second in sport mode and the third was to be driven ‘manually’. However, my abiding memory is of having a tremendously enjoyable time finding the limits to supreme grip without any worry of damaging my own car.

Apparently, a Turkish gentleman had gone off the track the day before, his reward being a Saab water bottle filled with the gravel extracted from his car. Entirely in keeping with the laid back, enjoyable nature of the event.

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ABS

Next we moved on to the ABS event. After instruction by Kent Johansson of the Saab Performance Team, we drove down to a strip about 100 metres long made of white ceramic tiles, constantly watered to make it ‘like Swedish ice’. Simply roll up at 60kph, brake at the cones and experience the ABS system working overtime.

Mental note: second time round, close drivers window and put on wipers before arriving at the water sprayers.

Then on to a different course. Slightly higher speed (80kph) , a slightly grippier track, and swerving around three cones. This exercise was done twice, once with ESP on, once with it off. With the ESP off, you could use the power to bring out the back, great fun in this safe environment, but I think I will let the ESP do the work for me in my car, on normal roads.

Overall, I found the ABS exercise particularly enjoyable. It lacked the adrenalin rush of the others, but was an ideal opportunity to discover exactly how all the modern technology works to help us drivers, all done in a perfectly safe environment.

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High Speed Driving

I agree with almost everything Turbin says about this. Just a couple of points, though. My friend Mike and I wondered whether the wind noise at speed was affected by the cable entering the cabin from the ‘taxi’ style aerial stuck onto the roof. The lead driver had the ability to admonish you if he thought you were ‘rubber banding’, or otherwise misbehaving.

The noise levels in the car were relatively low, enough for my colleague and I to discuss the driving style of the gentleman in front of us who touched the brakes on more than occasion whilst going around the banking at a speed of around 180kph.

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Wet Handling

For me, the best part of the event, even though it was the only event were you were not allowed to drive. Whilst waiting for my turn, I noticed that one of the drivers was Kjell Olofsson from the Performance Team. Ignoring totally the rules of ‘queue etiquette’ that we Brits are apparently known for, I somehow managed to get myself into his car when he stopped. Afterwards, when discussing the various merits of each segment, I said that I would have gone all the way to Spain just for that track time alone.

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The Competition

Great fun, both watching and participating. Having seen the high level of driving skills possessed by some of the drivers present, I knew I could not win. So I asked the competition organiser (Kennet Backlund of the Saab Performance Team) if there was a prize for trying to come last. Yes he replied, you get to collect up all the cones at the end. I decided to rethink my strategy and try for an anonymous time.

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Le Meridien Ra Hotel

Afterwards, it was back to the coaches for transport to the hotel, passing around ten Norwegian transporters, waiting outside to pick up all the cars for delivery back to Sweden. The drivers were hoping to leave Spain before the effects of the Spanish ‘fuel protest’ took place.

No such problems for us as we arrived at the four star hotel, right on the Mediterranean beach, suitcases having been delivered directly from the Barcelona hotel straight to each room. Oh, so that was why we were given our own individually printed luggage labels in our original ’welcome pack’. Indicative of the level of organisation throughout the trip.

We were allowed complimentary treatment in the hotel spa. Reading the description of the treatments, I thought I was reading the dinner menu- ‘strawberry emulsion’, ‘chocolate cream’, ‘chocolate splinter’. I feared entering the spa in case of a ’Homer Simpson’ moment as I attempted to eat my way through the treatments. I thought about finding out exactly what was ‘fibromialgy’, but Mike and I went for a beer instead.

Another excellent meal, the prize giving and a firework display. I think our Swedish hosts enjoyed themselves as much as we did, knowing the event was over and they would soon be home.

Overall, a brilliant event, extremely well organised and a credit to all those involved.

If Saab put on an event like this for the launch of the 9-5, I’ll put my name down for one now.

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