Four Wheel Drift-Internet

Volume 2 Number 3
Summer  2002

By Don Mallinson, President

Another Summer has come and gone.  This summer saw well over 130 SHO enthusiasts converge on Frederick, Maryland for the landmark Tenth Annual SHO International Convention.

Thank goodness we were there well before the crazed pair of killers that terrorized that area just a few months later with cowardly attacks from shadows.  All we had to contend with was heavy traffic, good weather and a mild drought that had us doing a "dirty" car SHOw (we didn't require people to wash their cars for the SHOw after they got to Maryland, but most found a way to make them sparkle!).

Check out the "Best of SHOw" winner, a 1991 Generation I SHO that is seriously nice:

That was worth the download wait, don't you think?  Also, this is a perfect example of a 1991 that is NOT a Plus, but it has the desirable Plus hood.  This car belongs to Michael Mackner of Ohio.

There was racing at Summit Point and Mason Dixon Dragway.  We found superb roads once again with the help of our friends out east in MASHOC and LSHOC clubs.  We ate great food and talked about SHO's 'till it was time to drive back home, then we got on the internet lists and continued to talk about SHO's.

The "SHO Community"

It is still amazing that after all these years (the SHO Registry started in 1991) the SHO Community still thrives.  We are smaller than we once were.  The SHO Registry once had about 5000 members.  The SHO Club is a steady 1000 or so, members solid, and we continue to get new people every day.  We also lose a few people on a regular basis as cars get sold.

Mostly, we are a very stable group now.  The older cars are being snapped up by a very young crowd, OR, they are bought by the "mature" fanatics that are now collecting as many as room and local junkyard laws will allow.  I personally would adopt every SHO that came up for sale if I had the room and money.  

If you are old enough, you might remember that yards sprouted collections of Corvairs in the 70's.  VW bugs and busses also started piling up in some locations.  People tend to want to save those things they love.  Some people collect salt and pepper shakers, we collect cars.

The SHO continues to delight owners that know the secret. Keep that old SHO in good shape and it continues to be a stylish and fast stealth sedan.

I just got back yesterday from a pleasant 200 mile trip in my 1989 Titanium.  This car has been a trusted partner in lots of trips and fun since I bought it in 1991.  At 177,000 miles (they aren't piling on as quick as in years past, but I still hope to get it to 200,000 soon) it is quiet, smooth and oh-so sexy powerful with the Bolt-On-Stage modifications, that have the motor making a dyno proven 245 hp at the flywheel.

I get calls every week from someone that sold their SHO and they miss it so much, they want to get rid of their newer vehicle and get back in a SHO, warts, maintenance hassles, poor resale value and all!

A real surprise from a Chevy Truck!

Jan and I took a trip to Nevada in early November for the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Marketing Assoc.) convention in Las Vegas.  This is the world's biggest toy show for car and truck geeks.  close to 10,000 display booths in two huge convention locations (Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Convention Center) with everything for your car or truck imaginable for sale. 

Many manufacturers even use this event to introduce new models now just like at the Detroit Auto Show.  Wherever there is lots of press, the manufacturers will try to use it.

After this event we had planned on taking a local puddle jumper airline to Reno, rent a car and visit friends in the Carson Valley (down the mountain from Lake Tahoe).  Problem was our airline for that portion of the trip went belly up (National Airlines) the day before our flight, and no other airline had a direct flight between the two cities.  That meant two VERY expensive last minute tickets to L.A. and then back to Reno.  No way, we would get in about 4pm and there was a huge storm on the West coast that could have caused all sorts of delays.  

So we made lemonade from lemons and rented a vehicle for the 450 mile drive to the Carson Valley.  We would get in at the same time but our fate was more in our own hands.  We usually rent from National Car Rental (no relation to the airline that I know of, at least the car rental place didn't go bankrupt).  We reserved an SUV (Blazer or similar they say) because that same West coast storm was dumping several feet of needed snow at high elevations in the moutains we would be driving next too, and we had to go through several passes.  

At the rental lot at the Vegas airport, the lady said "pick any vehicle from the SUV line."  Sounds good, but the only vehicles available were all tiny Suzuki Grand Vitaras  that were so tiny inside that my left shoulder was hard against the window while my right would have seriously intruded into Jan's personal space.  Plus the tiny V6 and low weight would be no match for the 40+ mph winds and rain predicted.  No, I needed good old 'Merican iron to tackle this job.  I insisted on the Blazer and they found one that had not been given the mandatory awful wash job, but it was decent and we were off in a generic dark red S10 Blazer with 4.3L V6 and 4WD. 

Now this was more like it!  Room inside was more than generous, seats comfortable, ergonomics great, it was quiet, and if not a rocket at highway speeds, it wasn't dangerous, and it got off from a standing start with typical American torque from the 3/4 of a 350 4.3L V6 engine.  Build quality was superb, the ride was stable and it took turns more like a modern sports sedan than a truck.  Turning circle was smaller than any SHO I have been in and there was plenty of load space.  Great sound system too!  

WHOA!  What am I doing.  I am talking about a fairly old truck from GM.  This vehicle might as well not exist according to the magazines that can only talk about Lexus, BMW, Volvo, Acura etc, etc.  But here Jan and I were, amazed at how truly GOOD this Chevy truck was.  High winds barely bothered it, it got decent mileage (20 combined mostly highway with high winds) and the steering was dead on accurate.  450 miles were a true pleasure and we arrived fresh and happy.  We could not have asked for a better vehicle to get us through the Nevada desert/mountain combo we just traversed.  I just checked the Chevy site, and this truck with modest equipment would sticker for about $28,000 to $30,000.  We were impressed and sad to see it go back to National.  So don't believe those magazines that are in the import manufacturers back pocket.  The Chevy Blazer is a superb vehicle, one I would be proud to own.  I am aghast that I would make that statement, but thanks to a bankrupt airline, I have found a true treasure made right here in America (or is it Canada?).  

Getting Back on Track

No I am not talking about another track day, but we WILL have more of those.

I am going to talk about ME getting back on my publishing schedule.  The Summer 2002 issue mailed on November 14.  At least I made it before winter began. The Fall issue won't make it until Winter, but I hope to have it out before the first week of 2003.  Then we will be back on schedule.  I thank everyone for their patience, I hope you think the new magazine is worth the wait.

As always, if you are in doubt about your membership or when the magazine should arrive, check this web site.  I will have news of the next or current magazine always on the main page.

Winter is upon us with slick roads and wild weather for a big part of the country.  So let's be careful out there and for those of you in sunny climes.....quick snickering!

Don Mallinson, President
SHO Club