"Saabs Under the Bridge 2024" - Member Preview!

By Mark Mason.

This is a totally unsolicited preview of the 2024 SCNA Convention Site: Holiday Inn, Columbia River. I live in Portland so I did some recon for you. I hope it helps with your planning!

I think the site is near-perfect. The facility has a huge parking lot (I tried to imagine Saab’s gathered at either the west or east end of the parking area, either is great, maybe there will be so many we’ll need both.) The hotel is on Portland’s Hayden Island, on the shores of the Oregon side of the Columbia River just east of the Interstate Bridge between Oregon and Washington. There are some trees in the parking lots but not enough to provide much shade. Navigating the property is easy. The hotel lobby and lounge is inviting and the meeting rooms are easily found. The hotel backs up against the iconic Columbia River with great views of the water and nearby Mt. Hood. Sunsets will be amazing. If the day is perfectly clear Mt. St. Helens is visible in the distance. There is a pool and pickleball (?) courts if you are staying at the hotel.

A word of caution, and this is from someone who has reported on Portland traffic for almost 30-years: When I say near-perfect hotel location I took some points off for possible traffic issues. I-5 at the Interstate Bridge either direction is notoriously slow during commute hours. Thursday and Friday between 3pm and 7pm will be high traffic volume days. Most people will be arriving at the convention site long before then and likely staying sometime after, so you may not even notice. On Saturday and Sunday it should be smooth sailing. Go out and enjoy all of Portland's "weirdness." Final note: Google Maps Street View takes you right to the hotel, the parking lot AND the pathway along the river.

PS. That's my 94 900 Turbo. 😀

- Mark

Note from Quinn: If you want a t-shirt as cool as Mark's, find John Collins and offer him cash at the convention---I mean, at Saabs Under the Bridge 2024!