SAABS AND AUSSIE SNOWFIELDS
by COLIN JOHANSON (Used in SAAB Scene Magazine in 1991) My first SAAB was a 900 TU3 with an automatic transplant in 1985. Its
access to someone like myself using a wheelchair and hand controls was
better than any other car on the market I also liked the marque with its
sleek design, road manners and strength. Joining the SAAB
club I enjoyed learning to handle the car on dirt and mud in car club
motorkhanas and fun runs. Á new 900 EMS auto in 1987, continued my affinity with SAABs
and still serves me well. All that practice on muddy roads was of great
value when I started snow skiing as a sit-skier in 1988. Most skiers
know of the notorious Hotham front road from Bright and I have only
travelled that road once in winter without requiring chains. In 1991, as Vice President of the Victorian disabled Skiers Association,
my 900 was one of the official cars for the Australia Disabled Federation
Skiers Championships. During the five days my car travelled the easy
trip from Crystal Creek, Dinner Plains to Hotham Resort. The hardest
part was digging the car out from under 20 to 30 cm overnight dumps.
While even a 4WD Japanese vehicle (without chains fitted) could not
get traction beside me, the 900 put its weight over the front wheels,
chains bit ice, and away we went. All that snow certainly showed the overseas competitors that Australian
Alpine areas do have snow, but unluckily there was too much continually
falling for the packed race course down the Snake Gully run at Hotham.
Too much snow for racing, that's a change, but certainly better than
not enough! Reversing back to a car park down the hill, the 900 was parked until
a replacement chain was obtained. A competitor, who skated the whole
distance of 10 km from Hotham on the road using downhill skis, reported
seeing a chain lying in the centre of the road in the Hotham Village.
Although the situation could have been disastrous, I was amazed that
I had not noticed strange handling or lack of control on a very slippery
road for 10 km. It certainly points to the SAAB decision in the 1960s,
that front wheel drive cars would suit the Swedish winter roads better
than rear drive. Many people were surprised that we got to Dinner Plains with only one
chain, especially after a 4WD wearing chains lost it on that same road
the next evening. Not only were there four adults in the car, but my
wheelchair travels on a special roof carrier. At least I didn't have
my Australian designed "Sit-bow” sit-ski on its tow bar carrier,
where it normally travels, as I had left that at the Village for a display
scheduled for the next morning. I will be heading up to the ski fields this year with a new set of
chains and a new sit-ski frame design to test. I have been involved
in the evolution of the main sit-ski designs, since 1989, with the developer
and manufacturer George Mcpherson, of Myrtleford. My 1991 frame was
refurbished and sold to the Vail Ski Club in the U.S.A. as the Australian
equipment allowing quadriplegics to ski is far superior to current American
designs. As my bumper sticker states; "I'm NOT a Ski Bum, just
a BUM SKIER!" I feel safer driving in Alpine areas in winter in a SAAB as not only
does it stop and steer more reliably but, should a road accident happen,
there is a very protective and strong car around my friends and me.
Skiing is risky enough without the risk of the drive up the mountains.
From the number of 900 SAABs in the Alpine Resort car parks, I am not
the only skier who appreciates the feel of car safety and reliability
bred into a marque built for snow and ice conditions.
The Wednesday night trip back was uneventful until I had to wait to
park at Crystal Creek. A small amount of accelerator gave no forward
movement but heaps of revs. Fearing severe mechanical failure, one of
my three adult passengers got out to report "there's no chain on
your right front wheel!"
NOTE: Colin's spine was injured in a hang gliding accident in 1977 leaving
him a quadriplegic, unable to stand at all, he uses a manual wheelchair
and, Despite lack of any grip in his hands, returned to driving again
in 1978. He drives with his left hand clamped to a steering spinner
and his right hand actuating the brake and accelerator with a single
handle mounted under the steering wheel. The only modification to the
900 required is the indicator/cruise control arm swapped with the wiper
lever.