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Greetings Saturn Enthusiasts!
Please enjoy the latest November SPS Updates…
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, SPS oil cap cover, shift knobs, SPS spark plug wires, 8mm spark plug wire separators, window banners, SPS decals, scR decals, SPS t-shirts, SPS Racing lanyards, scR polo shirts, scR racing videos, Mechanix gloves, and the list goes on… (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.)
Product News
You'll look great and be comfortable at the track or just hanging out in our attractive yet functional SPS Racing gear. Each component features a stitched 'SPS Racing' logo on only the highest quality garments. See photos online in the 'Racing Gear' section of the Online Store.
Our SPS Racing logo looks great stitched onto our new 100% soft-feel cotton 6-panel classic sandwich baseball cap. Cap features adjustable self fabric back with black nickel buckle slider. Available colors are natural with navy trim (part number SSCAPNAT) or navy with natural trim (part number SSCAPNAV.) Both are priced at $24.99 each.
Keep warm between race sessions in our ½-zippered pull-over stitched fleece sweatshirt. Made of Elk River fleece using 100% pill-resistant polyester, our sweatshirts also feature elastic cuffs, an elastic waist, and front pockets. Available in navy blue color in sizes ranging from medium (part number SSFLCNM) to double extra large (part number SSFLCN2XL.) All sized are priced at $49.99 each.
Our official polo shirts feature the SPS Racing logo stitched onto a high quality full-cut 7oz 100% combed cotton cool knit polo. Features hemmed bottom and birdseye jacquard collar and sleeve bands. Available in navy (part number SSPS01N) or white (part number SSPS01W) in sizes ranging from small (S) to triple extra large (3XL.) All styles are priced at $44.95 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
There is no mystery about the effectiveness of aluminum flywheels. Less rotating mass means less inertia against the motor – hence faster revving and less wasted energy! We made a special purchase of our new 7.25-pound aluminum flywheels and are passing our savings along to you! Part no. AFSAT115 is normally $399 each, but is on sale now for only $359.10 each, including ring-gear! (Don’t forget to order your new clutch and throw-out bearing too! Use this flywheel on any ‘S’ series car with a manual transmission.)
Our imported strut tower brace may not exude the quality craftsmanship of some others on the market, but at this low price, you may not care! This bolt-on brace strengthens the area between the front upper strut towers to increase chassis rigidity for better handling and improved steering response. And it features a highly polished cross bar with powdercoated black brackets. Fits all SOHC and 91-96 SC and SC2 Saturns. (Note: brackets will contact hood liners on some DOHC models.) The VIB1840 is normally $49.00 but is on sale now for only $39.00!
Please visit the SPS web site (http://www.spswebpage.com) for more details!
SPS Racing
With only three race weekends on the combined SPS Racing/scR motorsports race agenda, our season-ending event was a pull-out-the-stops assault on our favorite 2.4-mile stretch of Ohio blacktop at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Six teams could be found in the scR main paddock area, each intent on closing the books on their 2002 season with a bang!
Our weekend began with what was supposed to be a gentle warm-up session early Saturday morning. Conservatively, each of the three scR Saturns took the green and found the track to be cold, slippery, and slow. Moderation was the name of the game until the track, cars, and drivers would warm up.
All was going well until back in the paddock parts began to fall off our racecars, literally. It all began when it was discovered that the #55 car had launched yet another left front wheel bearing, but this time, it took out the left CV joint as well, thus requiring an axle swap. John and his crew spent the next two hours pounding, cursing (mildly, of course), and reassembling in hopes of making the qualifying grid later that afternoon.
Three paddock spaces down, the #21 car was having troubles of its own. Based on Mark's observation that, ‘Hey, my car doesn't turn left,’ a complete chassis inspection was performed. The culprit was found to be a partially failed front anti-roll bar bushing. Yikes! Fortunately, it was discovered that a bushing support washer from James' - now departed - 1977 El Camino (yes, we keep parts forever in the toolbox) was a perfect fit, and all was back to normal.
In the middle of it all, the #34 car was having issues with brake performance. The sloppy pedal feel was theorized to be a function of rear wheel bearing slop, so the crew hustled to do a complete left and right rear wheel bearing change during the lunch hour.
Besides that, everything went fine. Everything, that is, except for a certain aluminum race jack in the Integra camp that self-destructed. But we promised that we wouldn't mention that here. Forget we even said that...
With a little bit of luck and a ton of teamwork, all three scR Saturns were able to take the green flag for Saturday afternoon's qualifying session. The conditions were perfect, and somehow all of the morning's fixes held together: John's car wasn't spewing bearing grease, Mark's car turned both right AND left, and James' car had a much improved brake pedal. ScR motorsports was off and running once again!
Bearings, bushings, brakes, and all, the team was able to place two of the three cars in the top five. The #34 had landed in the fourth qualifying spot, and the #21 car right behind in fifth. The #55 car was a bit farther back, having qualified fifteenth in a field of twenty, but lap times indicated that the learning curve was still far from over. The race on Sunday would later prove this theory to be true.
Over beers and Bloomin' Onions later that night at Outback, the team talked strategy for race day in-between poking fun at the waitress. Three DQ Blizzards later, and it was time to rest up for the day ahead.
Sunday morning's race brought over thirty spectators and guests to the scR paddock area – including our new infant team members, Zack and Evan. Everyone was bundled up tight, as the cool fall air was having a hard time clearing 45 degrees, but hey - that's how you make horsepower, right?
At the start, the #34 was quick to clear the third-place qualifier and by the keyhole chicane, had established a position it would not relinquish, bringing home another podium finish for the team. The best news, however, was that at the finish, the #34 car was only 2.8 seconds behind the race winner and had posted an scR-best lap time of a 1:45.2. Every time we run this track, we go faster!
The #21 car managed to maintain position through the first-lap scramble and would ultimately drive home to an impressive fifth-place finish!
Not to be forgotten back in the pack, John Comeskey was having a blast dicing it up with a horde of ITA competitors. Throughout the eighteen-lap sprint, John would ultimately pick up five positions overall and three positions in class, placing him twelfth in class at the checkered flag. We have got to get this guy an in-car camera next year!
Due to the abbreviated 2002 schedule, we do not feel that we would fare much better at the ARRC in 2002 than we did in 2001 (our fourth place finish). That said, with the 2002 season now behind us, we have a single-minded goal for 2003: win the ARRC.
While that may be a lofty goal, we have already started to plan the transmission, engine, and chassis improvements for next season. Armed with a bag full of pixie dust, we're going to lean on everything just that much harder in an attempt to catapult these cars to the front. After all, if we don't do it next year, we'll thereafter be too caught up with pre-school activities to ever try it again.
Thanks for riding along in 2002. Rest assured that 2003 will be a whole different ballgame. The ITA field is about to see a few angry Saturns running away into the distance!
UPS Now Guarantees Residential Ground
UPS has long been a preferred provider of shipping services for SPS – thanks largely to their reliable performance and affordably priced ground services. For years, UPS has offered delivery time guarantees for all commercial destinations and for residential shipments that utilized next day or second day air service levels.
They have recently expanded their guarantee to include residential ground, the least expensive - and most popular - service level option.
Even by ground service, virtually all of the lower 48 states are within 5 working days of our primary warehouse in Dayton, Ohio – with the bulk of the nation being within 3 working days. To determine UPS’ delivery commitment for your address, visit UPS online at http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/index.jsx, then select 'calculate time and cost'. The ‘origin’ for a shipment leaving from the SPS warehouse will be ‘Dayton, 45439.’
SPS 2002-2003 Event Schedule (tentative)
Nov 28: SPS Closed for Thanksgiving holiday
Dec 7: SPS to attend PRI trade show in Indianapolis
Dec 24: SPS Closed for Christmas Eve holiday
Dec 25: SPS Closed for Christmas holiday
Jan 1: SPS Closed for New Years Day holiday
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Until next month, HAVE A GREAT FALL! |
