Report on Saab Session Slovakia 2021

The annual Saab Session Slovakia took place for the 10th time and so we were all happy to be able to pursue our most beautiful passion on a larger scale this year for the anniversary. After last year, due to the situation, the Saab session could only take place on a smaller scale, it took place again this year in Vrsatec, but all fans from 9 different countries who were willing to participate were able to arrive again.

Saab fans from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Romania, one car each from Switzerland, Germany and Ukraine met over the weekend of October 15-17. As always, Friday is basically the day of arrival, because some have a very long driving distance. The journey from Vienna went smoothly, even at the border there were no more delays on the outward journey.

After a little more than two and a half hours drive I arrived at the hotel. This time there were two hotels next to each other for the participants. Arriving this year was particularly nice, as we met many acquaintances that we had only seen virtually for almost 2 years, so the greetings to each other were all very warm.

After dinner we chatted late into the night, reviewing the past two years and looking forward to tomorrow. The next morning started just before 9 a.m.

The first thing to visit was the Vrsatec castle ruins, nestled in the hilly landscape above the village of Vršatské Podhradiec, within walking distance. From here you had a wonderful view over the wide valley.

Then we went back to our cars, where in the meantime some day guests arrived. We lined up in a queue. Organizers drove ahead to block intersections and roundabouts.

Then the first car drove down the valley and the first part of the exit began. The 2-strokes are always allowed to drive first. We drove through Illava in the rising morning sun to the spa town Trencianske Teplice.

We parked in a large parking lot, after all around 70 vehicles had to be distributed in several rows one behind the other. After parking, everyone could stroll through the pedestrian zone of the spa town, past the spa park and the old bathhouses.

Then we had lunch in the restaurant reserved for us. There was also the opportunity to get to know the new participants, with whom great Saab conversations could be held.

After lunch we met again at the parking lot, it was now time to look at the cars of the participants in peace. There were again a wide variety of years of construction, from 96, Sonett, the "Sunday convertible", the cars that are moved every day and a 9-7X, everything was represented again.

As always, the Toppola of the Hungarian participant attracted particular attention.

After the obligatory photos, the participants went back to their cars and waited for the departure signal to the next program location. After a few moments, the signal was given and a beautiful, colorful Saab line was able to form again through the autumnal landscape.

The most important crossings were closed again and so the Saab chain could go to the airport without interruption Celebration to be guided. Some of us were allowed to park next to the historic flying objects, numerous photos were also taken here and we were also able to observe some sports aircraft on the runway and landing approaches.

From there everyone had free time until the evening program in the hotel. So I went with the German participant to the Manínska tiesňava gorge. An extremely impressive gorge, between whose two rocky massifs a small road was formed, which partly leads over wooden bridges. The Manínska tiesňava = Manín Gorge is an approx. 0,8 km long narrow valley between the two towns of Považská Teplá and Záskalie in the district of Považská Bystrica.

The bottom of the gorge at about 380-390 meters is occupied by the Manínsky creek, which separates the limestone formations of the Sulov Mountains (Súľovské vrchy) between Veľký Manín at 891 meters and Malý Manín at 813 meters from the east. With a width of only a few meters at its narrowest point, the Manín Gorge is considered the narrowest gorge in Slovakia.

The road with two-way traffic has only been passable for vehicles since the blasting of a rock in the 1930s made it possible to build a road. Afterwards we drove back to our hotels.
The participants, who were accommodated in the large hotel, could use the amenities of the hotel, such as the swimming pool and the sauna.

Then there was dinner followed by the evening program. The three most beautiful Saabs were awarded, for which we participants could vote. Then there were prizes for the youngest participant, the Saab with the highest mileage and the Ukrainian participant got the prize for the longest journey.

Then it was on to the fun part. Since there is a piano in the hotel, my mother spontaneously serenaded me. Petrol talks continued until late into the night.

Depending on the participant, Sunday was then tackled more comfortably. The participants who had a long journey home left early in the morning, we said goodbye hoping to meet again next year. The remaining participants stayed at the hotel and then split into two groups and each then visited the sights of the program.

I then drove in one group to the place of pilgrimage Butkov. From the parking lot there was a short walk up the mountain. Arrived at the top, at over 700 m altitude, thanks to the good weather we again had a very good view of the valley and the quarry below.

I then said goodbye to the rest of the participants and everyone then made their way home. It was another extremely successful Saab session, where we were able to hold up the Saab flag once again.