Drive Performance wants to do a feature on Reading

[NeedForSpeed]

I would like to review all that information, could you post a link or something for the benefit of all of us here?

[QUOTE=svxcess;603216]I sent out as much information as I could to acquaint the editor with Reading, including the "History of Reading", "How the Pace Car came to Reading X", etc. Various links to photos as well.

[Tim]

Originally Posted by svxcess

His reply today:

John,

Thanks for all the help and valuable information. Very impressive!
Too bad we don’t have more room in this issue….
We’ll give you as much space as we can.

We will be mailing out this issue at the end of July.

Richard.

I wonder if he's already picked out the pictures or if we're going to get to pick what goes in.

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by NeedForSpeed

I would like to review all that information, could you post a link or something for the benefit of all of us here?

Originally Posted by svxcess

I sent out as much information as I could to acquaint the editor with Reading, including the "History of Reading", "How the Pace Car came to Reading X", etc. Various links to photos as well.

Here is what I sent him to acquaint him with the facts; I also sent him attachments of the 2 Reading logos for his files:

Subject: annual "Reading Meet" last April
Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 14:41:05 -0500
To: Hawthorne@DCIM.com
From: jhoffman44@hotmail.com


John Hoffman,

I am writing you as editor of Subaru Drive Performance magazine.

Your name and e-mail address were forwarded to me by the people at Subaru of America with whom I work on the magazine.

I have the preview of the SVX Reading Meet that you wrote to James Han late last year.

Would it be possible to reply with a brief report about the meet for the next issue of Drive Performance, which we’re putting together right now.

How many SVXs did you have?

We had a total of 51 SVX's, including the PPG Pace Car. The member who came the longest distance drove a total of 3200 miles round trip from Winnepeg, Manitoba to Morgantown, PA . His car is a 1992 SVX with close to 200,000 miles on it and a 2002 WRX 5-speed manual conversion.



Was it a good turnout?

We had 80 members show up for this past Reading. We would have had even more if we would have leaked the appearance of the Pace Car. We wanted to keep it a total surprise, so we called it the "Reading of a Lifetime", one that "would not be like anyone that came before or in the future"

We believe we could have easily had 100 attendees had we revealed this surprise in advance. The recent financial problems with the economy probably played a large part as well. In the past, we had many members fly in for the event, leaving their cars at home. Even so, this year we had members fly in from Burlington, Washington, Denver, Colorado and San Antonio, TX to name a few.

The record is still at the 10th Anniversary Celebration in 2002, held in Lafayette, Indiana at SIA. There were over 75 cars in attendance and about 105 in attendance.


Where do you recommend that people interested in the SVX go for more information?

By far, the most comprehensive and informative place to find information on the SVX is the SVX World Network

http://www.subaru-svx.net

This is a worldwide organization of more than 3,000 members. It was established in 2001, breaking off from the Yahoo! group. We have answers to almost any question imaginable concerning these cars.

We have members with vast mechanical and technical expertise who have designed and developed such things as manual transmission conversions, supercharger applications, various electronic engine enhancements, such as ECU/TCU chip modifications, etc.

Although an internet group, without regular meetings, etc., this is one of the few groups which actually functions outside of the internet.


Mission Statement SVX World Network (abbreviated)
We recognize that the Subaru SVX represents a singular piece of automotive history, and recognize that unified action can achieve goals not possible for individuals, and in recognition of the community of those who appreciate this unique automobile, we hereby form this organization, and dedicate it to the following goals.

Educational - This organization is dedicated to the education of owners, potential owners, and others as to the facts of SVX ownership, to preserving the history of the SVX, to accumulating a store of knowledge about the SVX, and sharing this knowledge with owners, potential owners, and the public at large.

Informational - This club shall serve a source of information of relevance to SVX owners, such as sources of services, by accumulating such information and making it available to interested parties.

Promotional - This club shall seek to act as a unified voice, in representing the interests of SVX owners to entities such as Subaru of America, and to build awareness of the SVX and its unique qualities, and by working to maintain its status as a viable automobile.

Social - This organization shall seek to build a sense of community among SVX owners through fostering interaction through electronic and printed communications, and by establishing a calendar of meets and events of interest to SVX enthusiasts.


Also, have you high-resolution photography from the meet?

Tim Eng, a professional photographer and Network member, took many high-resolution photographs. I have already emailed him to make him aware of your interest. Are there any particular types of photographs you would like to see? I will forward his reply to you.


Here is a link to just a few of his photographs in one of the Network posts:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=49918


A great high-res photo, showing all of the cars in a lineup and their owners beside them can be found here: I am the one in the white hat beside the Pace Car and my 1996 Polo green SVX is directly to the left of the SRRT Spec.B

http://www.timeng.net/photos/readingx/IMG_8205.JPG


I am also attaching some background info. "The History of Reading" and "How the SVX PPG Pace Car Came to Reading X" It is a long read, but gives a lot of background. (both of these can be found in the Reading meet forum)


Sorry to be in such a rush.

No problem. Please feel free to call me anytime on my cell (you have the number) with any questions or assistance you may require. We are delighted about the opportunity to showcase our community and these magnificent cars in an actual Subaru publication


Thanks.

Ric Hawthorne, Editor
Drive Performance


__________________________________________________ _____________


On another "special interest" note:

At the Reading meet, Jason Lang took some information on one of our senior members to pass on to Drive Performance magazine. I am mentioning it here in case it was not assed on.

Remember the large photo of the entire group and their cars taken by Tim Eng in my previous email? The gentleman standing next to me on the left is Earl Steele, Executive Director of the Network.

He has been flying in from Burlington, Washington to attend Reading...

But the most phenonominal part is that he owns 18 SVX's, most of them low-mileage, pristine cars. It is his goal to have one of every year and every color... he only needs an Ebony Pearl.

Here is the link to his signature page: http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/member.php?u=469

You can click on his list of cars to see each one, plus his old and new locker links and a photo of 15 of the 18. His story is a wonderful article in itself. A true SVX fanatic

You can contact him at ensteele@svwwn.com or ensteele@wavecable.com

I think I have reached the saturation point of enthusiasm. You have a lot of material to sift through.

I will wait to hear from you at your convenience.

John

.

[Wikedjuggalo]

Take down your phone number John... something something bots something.
And e-mail address... maybe do a dotcom

[NiftySVX]

I still feel like it was a major disservice not to tell the other members about the pace car coming to reading after it was confirmed months earlier.... and think about how impressive that picture would have been with twice as many cars...

[TomsSVX]

Originally Posted by NiftySVX

I still feel like it was a major disservice not to tell the other members about the pace car coming to reading after it was confirmed months earlier.... and think about how impressive that picture would have been with twice as many cars...

I still feel you shouldn't have needed the pace car to motivate you to get there.

Tomn

[svxcess]

I agree with Tom on this one. Members have flown in from the West Coast, the Rockies and Southern Texas, when the only thing that was offered was plain old "Reading"-- the cars, and mostly, the people.

And although the Pace car was "confirmed" months earlier, its actual appearance was not guaranteed until 24 hours before the meet. Subaru said that if the chance of rain was 50% or greater, they would not chance bringing the pace car. Even if they did, the car would remain in the enclosed trailer.

How would you feel if you only came to Reading because the Pace Car was supposed to be there and it didn't show up at the last minute?

I guess fraternizing with the other members, who came year after year without any expectations, would have to be a poor substitute.


Thats why people go to family reunions... to reconnect and enjoy each other's company. The reunion IS the event.



.

[NeedForSpeed]

John,

Thanks for posting the dialog, much appreciated. I couldn't find the link to "how the Pace Car" came to Reading, can you attach a link for that too?

Nice work, proud to own an SVX, or two!

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by NeedForSpeed

John,

Thanks for posting the dialog, much appreciated. I couldn't find the link to "How the Pace Car came to Reading", can you attach a link for that too?

How the SVX PPG Pace Car came to Reading X

.

[Tim]

Once I hear back from Randy I will keep everyone posted as to what pictures are going to be selected for the editorial.

[Earthworm]

John, I hope he doesn't spell WINNIPEG wrong in the story!

[NeedForSpeed]

Originally Posted by svxcess

How the SVX PPG Pace Car came to Reading X

.

John, great read, could feel the excitement along the way, thanks for posting.

It didn't appear that you received any information about the LHD Red prototype? You mentioned three pics, I've only seen one. Checked your locker, no red pics there. Would you post the three pics of the red car for everyone?

[MNYPNNY]

Can you get copies of this magazine at the dealerships? I don't receive any Subaru publications....

[Green1995SVX]

Originally Posted by MNYPNNY

Can you get copies of this magazine at the dealerships? I don't receive any Subaru publications....

You can sign up to receive the publications at www.subaru.com

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by NeedForSpeed

John, great read, could feel the excitement along the way, thanks for posting.

It didn't appear that you received any information about the LHD Red prototype? You mentioned three pics, I've only seen one. Checked your locker, no red pics there. Would you post the three pics of the red car for everyone?

The red car has been posted here many times.

As a reference point here is what I said to James Han in one of the emails:

"On a somewhat related note, do you know anything about the red prototype SVX in the attached photo? I have a few shots of this from various angles and am wondering about the history. Was this photo taken in Cherry Hill? I recognize the car in the background as the Subaru Sagres, (1993?) which never made it into production.

This would be another interesting vehicle to see if the Pace Car was unavailable. The feature of this car that would attract the most enthusiasm is the one-piece spoiler/trunk lid design. We have had a couple of members, who are proficient in fiberglass fabrication, attempt to replicate this feature, but without much success."

His reply was:“BTW - I'm not familiar with the car in the photo, although it looks to have been taken in front of what looks to be a Subaru dealership building.”



My response:

The car in the background is definitely the Subaru Sagres, a concept car which never made it into production. It was shown at the 1994 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
That being said, if it is not hidden away in the “performance attic”, I can't imagine that they were just casually parked at the back of some Subaru dealership when the photo was taken. Where else would concept cars be stored? Is it possible that the “home” of the Sagres is in Japan, and that both of these cars are photographed there?



From what I have been able to ascertain, it is a common practice in the industryfor concept/ show cars to be repainted and shown again at subsequent auto shows, presenting a fresh, updated appearance.

It is quite possible that the original 1989 pearl prototype in the first photograph was repainted the red color and shown at other shows. It may have received so much positive feedback that it was chosen as the 1993 Anniversary color.

Whoever has the link to the other red prototype photos, please post them


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