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SAAB Fest 2019
From Friday 26 July 2019
To Sunday 28 July 2019
Hits : 2007
Contact Iain Hodcroft

Saab Fest 2019 is to be held at the Burrs Country Park, on
the River Irwell near Bury. North West Branch will be the
organising local Group, and we look forward to seeing many
of you there.
It has come to our attention that two major Saab national
events are being organised on the same weekend, and both
will claim to be the place to be and be seen with your family
and your treasured Saab Classic!
It will be down to each individual, to decide which venue
to head for during the last weekend of July, whether you
make a weekend of it; or just the Saturday or Sunday, if you
can only make it for a day. Both sets of organisers are
intending to stage an exceptional family weekend event.
To make it easier for British SOC Members to decide where
to head for, only one of these events is taking place in the
UK, the other is being organised by Saab Owners Club of
North America and will be held in Colorado.
Here in the north west of England, the local organising
team have now visited Burrs Country Park and are both
excited and enthusiastic about the possibilities this spacious
site offers the Club for a great meeting. Covering an area of
36 hectares of scenic countryside, the park hosts a range of
exciting activities: countryside pursuits, relaxing riverside
walks, picnic areas, fishing, public art (Irwell Sculpture Trail),
children’s activities, industrial archaeology and water
courses, adjacent Caravan and Motorhome Club Site with full
facilities, a request halt on the East Lancashire Steam Railway
with train rides to Bury or Ramsbottom, The Brown Cow
public house (originally an18th century farmhouse), café with
home produced meals (including breakfasts), Sunday morning
Run England 3-2-1 route event, and a 20 minute walk to the
town centre, with its Transport Museum, Lancashire Fusiliers
Museum and Bury’s World Famous Market.
Ideas and opinions are being pooled on what to retain
from previous events and what to initiate and introduce
as original.
It is still too early to confirm to Members and enthusiasts
all the attractions that will be on site, but by the time this
magazine lands on your doorstep, the first major planning
meeting of the New Year will have taken place. Be assured, it

will be worthwhile attending the activities on-site and off.
This update is to entice Members that believe Britain
north of Watford (ie ‘Up North’) is a vaguely sinister place full
of folk with quaint accents using flat vowels and carrying the
immortal ferrets in places not to be mentioned here...
In fact, Lancashire is a county of immense contrasts and
we hope the weekend offers you a tantalising glimpse of
moorland landscapes, stunning views and diverse heritage –
as well as the opportunity to show off your motor!
For those families able to spend longer in the county, the

adjacent caravan and motorhome club site (open to non-
members) is a fabulous base from which to enjoy all that the

area has to offer, whether it be football with iconic local
teams proud to offer tours of their grounds, or the National
Football Museum in the city centre; industrial heritage with
one of the best preserved steam railways in Britain offering a
‘halt’ on site and a tram-ride away from the world’s first city
centre railway station (part of the iconic Museum of Science
and Industry); the renowned Lancashire coastline; nearby
areas of outstanding natural beauty, and plentiful food
and drink.
Two words of warning though – plan your accommodation
in good time. The Burrs caravan site will fill up very quickly
and early booking is advisable. The C&M Club does keep a
few spaces for members that tend to arrive unannounced,
but these are never guaranteed. Similarly, the local hotels
can become busy at peak times... and the traffic. Do plan
your travel wisely. Friday afternoons and evenings can be
chaotic on the roads in many parts of the country – the
motorway system around Greater Manchester is no different.
Avoid the stress – travel outside peak times, arrange to arrive
early (or late) if necessary, and consider bypassing known
trouble spots by using a map and not relying on your Saab’s
sat nav system!
We hope you travel well and arrive safely and look forward
to seeing you and your Saabs at ‘The Burrs’ in July. If you
have immediate queries or concerns, please drop an email to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we’ll do our best to
advise you.

Iain Hodcroft

Location Burrs Country Park, Bury
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