One of several convoys in Seattle during international "We are Saab" weekend

On the weekend of January 14-15, 2012, there were about 100 gatherings and convoys around the world in support of Saab. "We are many, we are Saab" was coined as the motto. In Seattle, there were several gatherings.

The largest gathering was organized by the Northwest Saab Owners Club meeting in Fife, near Tacoma, Washington, USA. A convoy then drove two to three hours south to Portland to join a meeting at Atomic Auto. In Seattle, there appears to have been one or two smaller gatherings, of which I participated in one.

As mentioned on Facebook, Saabsunited.com, Outside Saab, and Saabworld.net, there was also a meeting what was described as starting in the Target parking lot, which is a large department store. Upon driving there, I noticed another Saab 9-3 driving in the opposite direction of the street. The driver was looking around as if looking for others. The Facebook and Saabunited comment mentioned driving past Saab of Bellevue to the nearby Arby's roast beef restaurant. Perhaps, that car drove from Target, past the dealer, to Arby's?

I read about the planned drive by Saab of Bellevue several days ago. I then wrote to Ryan Vanderwel asking about hosting a meeting instead of just driving by. He graciously agreed and encouraged Saabs to stop by.

I arrived at Target few minutes late and found a couple in a 1990 Saab 900 turbo convertible. Part of the problem of locating others is that there is no Target parking lot but a multi-level parking garage. It was snowing, an uncommon event in Seattle. After driving around the garage, we began driving as a convoy across the I-90 bridge to the eastern suburb of Bellevue to Saab of Bellevue. While driving there, a green 1994-1998 era Saab 900 got caught in the two car convoy but, despite waving at the car, it exited the highway. I'm sure he had no idea about the Seattle convoy and probably thought I was an axe murderer. Braving through falling snow, the convoy was met by Hunter, the brand manager at Park Place Ltd./Saab of Bellevue, a dealer that also sells Aston Martin and Lotus.


Trying to regroup at the Northgate Target parking garage in Seattle


Start of the convoy during an uncommon snowfall in Seattle


Another Saab unknowingly got caught in the convoy. The red Saab leading the convoy is in front of it. This picture was taken from the silver 9-3 guarding the rear of the convoy.

It was a pleasure to meet Saab owners, H. and C., whose had interesting stories of their Saabs. In particular, they reminisced about the very small dealer in Bangor, Maine, now closed, that sold them the car more than 20 years ago. The motto of this weekend's gatherings hold true. We are many. We like Saab.


Arrival at Saab of Bellevue, near Seattle