[Shotimes] Re: volvo like a boat? reply from D. Neil

[Donald Mallinson]

(To those that wrote to Dan Neil about his Volvo boat article, he wrote 
me back, and I responded below, followed by his note to me.  Seems like 
he is a pretty decent sort after all.....)

Dan,

I guess you have found out that SHO folk are pretty intense about their 
cars.  At least I didn't call you names, and I will gladly accept the 
moniker "Head Grape" as owning a SHO involves having a good sense of humor.

Yea, I guess "Super High Output" applied to 220 HP sounds a little silly 
today, but in 1988 when the car came out, it was a much better fit. 
HP/liter was very high back then, I think best of any car anywhere near 
that 20k price.

Today we just use the terms "SHO" pronounced like "show" or the letters 
S. H. O.  It has come to be like GTO to the fans of the early great 
Pontiacs, just letters assigned to a great car.  Even we realize the 
output is a touch shy of super these days.

I don't know if the car or engine are/were "awesome", as I hate to use 
that word much, but it sure was a pretty good car.  I get accused all 
the time of being a SHO cheerleader.  And I also accept that title.  I 
love the SHO and am quick to defend it.  And yet I can still understand 
that it never was the best car ever, even in its day.  I can enjoy the 
car for what it is, and so do all the many SHO enthusiasts I am proud to 
call my friends.

If some of them called you names, then just chalk that up to 
enthusiasm.  I am sure it isn't the first time  you have ticked off a 
group of people, and it won't be the last.  If  you felt just a little 
heat, then I am sure some suntan lotion will take care of it.

And the invitation to the convention was real.  Come visit in Indy with 
us.  We were in San Francisco in 2004 (We ran Thunderhill, what a great 
track!).  You haven't lived till  you are in a pack of 4-door Tauri all 
trying to be first to turn one.

Thanks for writing back, many in your field would just ignore the notes 
from offended readers.  Just please, don't use the word "Awesome" 
again.   :)

Don Mallinson
President, SHO Club

Neil, Dan wrote:

>Donald,
>
>I have received several emails from SHO fanatics re: my reference to Super High Output. Oh yeah, they say, betcha never even DROVE a SHO. You big jerk! Yours sincerely, etc., etc.
>
>This is to clarify -- by way of the SHO grapevine, of which apparently you are the head grape -- that I do indeed remember the SHO, which I drove the puddin' out of, at least on one occasion at a SCCA Solo II event contrary to Ford's loan agreement for press vehicles (statute of limitations has expired). We kicked butt, the SHO and I.
>
>The car was awesome, the engine was awesome and Ford coulda/shoulda continued the SHO program in addition to, in spite of, whatever, the SVT program and now the altogether charmless Shelby program. Ye Gods.
>
>My line "let's forgive them for that" refers to the silly super-amplitude of the name-phrase "Super High Output," which is pleonastic. It still strikes me as wound-too-tight.
>
>The car/engine, however, was a benchmark. Please disseminate this note to all the crazed SHO fans out there and I will dismiss my food taster.
>
>All the best,
>
>Dan Neil