In our 3rd and final installment with guest Dave Schurk we discuss some additional forgotten stories from the Long Run, Opel Sintra production at the GM Doraville Assembly Line utilizing Saab Manual Transmissions and Dave’s liaison involvement, testing over 2000 transmissions alone at a rented Lotus parts warehouse, enjoying the Olympic Games in Atlanta and working at the 1998 Palm Springs Dealer Launch meeting where Erik Carlsson drove a 9-5 out of a cargo plane while Saab Draken fighter jets zoomed by, meeting legendary guest speaker Chuck Yeager. We also chat about his and Saab’s philanthropy including the team’s very creative work at the New Haven Bed Races cannibalizing the James Bond special Saab 900 all for the benefit of the Fresh Air Fund and his participation with Habitat for Humanity Atlanta with Saab’s sponsorship and meeting President Jimmy Carter. We review his favorite all time Saabs and an interesting item that fit in the trunk area of a manager’s car. We add in discussions of his time at the GM Cold Weather Testing Center in norther Ontario, Canada and at the GM Desert Proving Ground in Mesa, Arizona. We wind up talking about his later years at Saab training dealers on the 94X and New 95 models in many locations in the country and his after Saab life. I also could not resist adding one final bear video at the end. Please enjoy!

Continuing my conversation with Dave Schurk, this time without any bear interruptions, but with some actual visiting bear video, we continue our discussion about Port functions, FAPS, Stevedores and convertibles. We also visit new topics including accessories such as the infamous Air Flow kits, the first Long Run logistics, functions and scary moments, legendary Saab Engineer and race car driver Ove Hasselberg, audio issues with the early classic 900, working in a “secret” Sony facility, early airbag testing at several technical companies including Hughes Aircraft in California and several more interesting topics. Please enjoy!

Despite being interrupted by a bear, this week’s guest is long time Saab Technical Services employee Dave Schurk. Part One of our conversation begins with Dave’s early career working for his local Peugeot dealership including servicing my father’s 1974 Peugeot Diesel 504! Dave has had an illustrious and varied career involving testing vehicles and products, fixing vehicle in ports, travels to Sweden, Finland and Austria to work extensively on the various Convertible models, staff member at several dealer meetings including Nashville and Palm Springs, working at the first Long Run record breaking event at Talladega, hot and cold weather testing in extreme environments, assisting with Saab’s involvement at the GM Doraville assembly plant, philanthropic activities such as the Fresh Air Fund Bed Races and Habitat for Humanity and many, many more. Please enjoy!