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Greetings Saturn Enthusiasts!
Please enjoy the latest November SPS Updates…
SPS Catalogue Update
We’ll be the first to admit that our new catalogue project has taken MUCH longer than we initially anticipated. Unfortunately, some production problems have led to some pretty serious delays. But as of this writing, our incredible 2000-2001 edition full-color 48-page catalogue is in the final stages of proofing and editing. And we fully expect to begin mailing copies by the end of November. We apologize for the delays and appreciate your patience!
Product News
We are taking pre-orders now for our all-new SPS headers. The SPS headers are engineered to provide the best fit, durability, and performance! The tri-Y design is tuned to provide 3-4% gains in mid-range power and torque between 2000-6500rpm. Other important features include a coated primary section (for proper management of exhaust temperatures and great looks,) stainless steel downpipe with integral flexpipe (for durability and corrosion protection,) aerospace-style flanges, oxygen content signal from all four-cylinders, and world-class manufacturing quality. Call today to place your pre-order for the DT3301 for all 93-98 DOHC models at $479.00 each. Or visit http://spswebpage.com/exhaust.html for a photo and more information.
SPS window banners are now available in the new "SPS Racing" design. This design looks similar to the "SPS Performance" design, but replaces the word "Performance" with "Racing." Part number SPSWB04 is available in black, blue, red, silver, white, or yellow for $14.95 each.
Many more new products will be introduced very shortly. But although we are excited about the new items, we must use discretion about releasing new product information because sharing any information before solidifying all of the facts can inadvertently mislead customers, employees, and supporters. Please visit our web site often and watch for future updates. Many more exciting items are on the horizon!
November Specials
SPS mufflers are designed to improve exhaust flow for increased power while also delivering a deep, sporty tone. Important features include durable internal sound-deadening packing, welded exterior construction, and resonated three-inch oval polished stainless steel exhaust tips that exit straight from the muffler without angling downward. To ensure a perfect fit, they utilize a unique offset outlet and are compatible with our redesigned Saturn-specific mounting strap. Available designs include either the straight-through model for maximum performance or the chambered model for additional noise suppression. (Uses offset 2.0-inch inlet. Compatible with all "S" models.) Both aluminized models are on sale now. Choose between the straight-through aluminized, part no. EXMAZ01, normally $169.00 – now only $152.10 or the chambered aluminized, part no. EXMAZ02, normally $179.00 – now only $161.10! (Don’t forget to get the EXMST01 muffler strap to make installation easy!)
Our gorgeous black emblem sets may be just what you need to give your modified Saturn a unique look. These are a very simple replacement of the stock red emblems for all "S" cars, but they look great! They also make great holiday gifts! Choose between the EMB001BL (3-piece set for all 91-99 sedans, all 91-96 coupes, and 2000+ SL w/o painted fascia,) normally $29.00 – now only $26.10, the EMB002BL (4-Piece Set for all 97+ Coupes,) normally $39.00 – now only $35.10, and the EMB003BL (3-Piece Set for 2000+ Sedans/Wagons {not SL}) normally $29.00 – now only $26.10!
Please visit the SPS web site (http://www.spswebpage.com) for more details!
SPS Racing
Saturday, October 7 marked the National Championships for the SCCA’s Showroom Stock C club racing class at the MidOhio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. And our own Mike Kramer and the rest of the Thundersport Racing Team were there to represent the Saturn community.
After the Civic Si’s domination of the class last year, the SCCA made some changes for the 2000 season that included stripping away the Civic’s coil-overs, camber plates, and adjustable dampers in order to even the playing field. The result was that only one Civic qualified in the top ten this year. However, while the Civic became less competitive, the SCCA gave stiffer springs to the Neons – which thrust the Neon back into the front of the pack for the first time since 1997. In fact, four Neons qualified in the top ten this year, along with two Mazda Proteges and two Nissan 200SXs.
Meanwhile, Kramer and the SC2 qualified in the 8th position – the best starting position of any Saturn in the history of the SSC championships! But even with a qualifying time of 1:52.118, he was still nearly two seconds behind the polesitter, Paul Bonaccorsi in a Protégé. However, less than one second separated Kramer from the next fifteen cars!
Saturday’s weather was cold and damp, making the motor strong, the traction weak, and the view from the sidelines uncomfortable. However, the showroom stock races are always exciting. This year was no exception, so the weather concerns virtually faded once the racing action began. During the Runoffs, the usual MidOhio configuration changes so that the starting line is about one third of the way down the back straight-away, while the finish line remains at the normal spot on the front straight-away. The result of this change is a very exciting first turn – since the entire field enters turn one in a tightly racked pack at a very high speed and then drops and weaves through the exciting area known as "Madness."
Even though Bonaccorsi had set the pace at the start - thanks to his pole position – and had enjoyed quite an initial jump on the second place Neon of John Fernandez, Fernandez still managed to steal the lead before turn one. Before the first few cars had exited Madness, the first place Neon of Fernandez and the second place Protégé of Bonaccorsi had already begun to create a lead on the rest of the field. They would never again be challenged.
However, while the race for the first two positions was rather boring, the race for third through eighth was incredible! For the first few laps, the battle for third was waging between the red Nissans of Ken Payson and Michael Pettiford and the red Civic of Bill Hagerty. Just barely behind them was another battle for the sixth spot involving the three white Neons of Tom Start, Larry DuLude, and Samuel Ryan. Unfortunately for Kramer, he had lost his eighth place spot early-on and spent the first part of the race watching "comfortably" in ninth.
Barely a lap passed – if that – in which spots three through eight were not completely shuffled. First it was the red cars battling for third while the white Neons battled for sixth. But by mid-race, the white Neons had closed the narrow gap with the red cars and began mounting their own challenge for the coveted third place position. And it was during this initial challenge that the Civic of Bill Hagerty began to fall off the pace. Very quickly, a string of white cars seized the opportunity to pounce. Neon, Neon, Neon…and then another white car blew past the Civic: the #19 Saturn!
And while the intense battle for third limited the speeds of the five cars involved, the move into eighth seemingly rejuvenated the Saturn. With 6 laps to go, Kramer had caught the white Neon of Samuel Ryan. And while the Saturn was clearly faster, it took several laps before the frustrated Kramer could make a clean pass.
Finally, with just a few laps to go, Kramer won the seventh position from the Neon and began a charge for sixth. However, time would not allow the Saturn to mount a serious challenge – since Fernandez and his Neon would soon cross the finish line with a margin of victory of nearly 14 seconds and a fast lap of 1:49.576! Nonetheless, Kramer, the SC2, and the Thundersport team had earned a seventh place position – the best Saturn finish ever in the history of the SSC championships.
Unfortunately for Fernandez, the mandatory post-race visit to the tech shed resulted in a disqualification. The final results saw Bonaccorsi’s Protégé take first, followed by Payson’s Nissan, Start’s Neon, Pettiford’s Nissan, DuLude’s Neon, and then Mike Kramer’s Saturn in 6th place!
James Walker and the scR motorsports team have had time to rest and prepare ever since the MidOhio race on September 23. But they race for the national ITA title this weekend, November 10-11, at Road Atlanta during the American Road Race of Champions. To keep tabs on James’ success at the ARRC, check out http://www.arrc-online.com. To see the latest scR newsletter, scR tech article or the 2000 schedule, visit the scR motorsports website at http://www.teamscr.com.
Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season
Whether you are hoping to receive a great gift or hoping to give a great gift this holiday season, SPS can help with a large list of great inexpensive low-risk gift ideas. Consider the following items that appeal to virtually any Saturn enthusiast (regardless of vehicle model) and yet won’t break your budget: black emblems, STR oil cap covers, shift knobs, SPS spark plug wires, 8mm spark plug wire separators, window banners, SPS decals, scR decals, SPS t-shirts, scR polo shirts, and SPS Racing lanyards. (Hint: if you are hoping to receive any of these items this year, then you might want to print off this newsletter and leave it in a strategic location for others to see.)
SPS is also now offering gift certificates that simplify the giving process! These gift certificates are available for any amount and have no expiration date. So make it easy – just consider SPS gift certificates for Christmas this year. Then call our order desk at 800-632-1059! (Some restrictions apply concerning shipping addresses and payment arrangements. Please ask a representative or visit http://spswebpage.com/gift.html for more details.)
SPS Events
The SPS schedule for 2000 is winding down. Important dates are listed below:
SPS 2000 Schedule (tentative):
Nov 10-12: scR at Road Atlanta (ARRC.) Good Luck James!
Nov 23: Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec 2: SPS attending PRI Trade Show (Indianapolis)
Dec 25: Closed for Christmas Holiday
Jan 1: Closed for New Years Day Holiday
If you have any questions about anything in this newsletter, please Contact Us.
To view previous editions of the newsletter, please visit the Newsletter Archive.
If you wish to add an email address to the list, please do so at http://spswebpage.com/email/addemail.html. If you need to remove an address from the list, please do so at http://spswebpage.com/email/del.html. Please do NOT notify us directly with your removal or addition requests!
Until next month, HAVE A GREAT FALL! |
