Rocker Ronnie Hawkins Joins Home & Park Promo Team
On January 25, 2002, Home & Park Motorhomes, C3790, presented rock-and-roll legend Ronnie Hawkins the keys to a Roadtrek 190-Popular motorhome.
Jeff Hanemaayer, chairman of Home & Park Motorhomes, said, “Ronnie Hawkins is a Canadian rock-and-roll legend. He also has been a Roadtrek owner for the last four years. He doesn’t like to fly and uses his camper van to travel to performances and for personal use. He is joining the Home & Park team.” Mr. Hawkins will help promote the company through participation at trade shows and Roadtrek rallies, and in the media.
Mr. Hawkins’ most successful solo recording was his version of “Mary Lou,” which reached number 26 on the Billboard charts in 1959. However, he may best be known for the early 1960s band he formed called The Hawks. After several years playing in the Toronto, Canada, area, the group split from Mr. Hawkins in 1964, was hired by Bob Dylan as his backup band, and eventually went out on its own and changed its name to The Band. Mr. Hawkins, now 67, was the front man for several other bands and continues to record and perform to this day. In 1984 he earned the Country Male Vocalist Juno Award (the Canadian Grammy) for his album “Making It Again.”
“I am thrilled to be associated with Home & Park,” said Mr. Hawkins. “I have been using Roadtreks to take me to concerts and for visiting friends across the country. It’s my preferred way of traveling.”
Home & Park Motorhomes, based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, is a leading manufacturer of type B motorhomes. For further information, phone (888) 762-3873 or visit www.roadtrek.com.
Newmar Corporation Hires New Director
Newmar Corporation, C4363, has hired Kyle McCrary to the newly created position of director of high-end motorized product. Mr. McCrary, who has more than 20 years of experience in product sales and marketing, planning, and development, will be responsible for all product-planning phases for the Mountain Aire Limited, London Aire, and Kountry Aire motorhomes.
“Kyle has a tremendous amount of experience working with high-end customers,” said Newmar president Dick Parks. “He will help Newmar be more market-driven in this product segment. I have great confidence in his abilities.”
Newmar Corporation, based in Nappanee, Indiana, manufactures type A motorhomes and other recreation vehicles. For more information, call (219) 773-7791 or visit www.newmar.corp.com.
Attendance Increases At 2002 RV Retail Shows
RV consumer shows held in the United States during the first month of 2002 experienced significant jumps in attendance compared with shows during the same period in 2001, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).
Show officials say that attendees are more upbeat, and many are serious first-time buyers choosing RVs for vacations this summer. Improving consumer confidence, falling gas prices, and low interest rates are cited as reasons consumers are flocking to RV shows this year. In addition, families are seeking greater flexibility and control of their travel plans — increasingly turning to domestic road travel — in the post-September 11 travel climate.
Record attendance was reported at January 2002 RV consumer shows in Tacoma, Washington (up 20 percent from last year); Marlborough, Massachusetts (up 50 percent); Greensboro, North Carolina (up 18 percent); Denver, Colorado (up 30 percent) and Tampa, Florida (up 6 percent). In addition, the annual Quartzsite, Arizona, RV show drew an estimated record crowd of nearly 200,000 during its January 19 to 27 run, according to show officials there. Higher attendance also was reported at retail shows in Houma, Louisiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; Boston, Massachusetts; and Fort Worth, Texas.
“Today’s travel climate is helping drive attendance up at local RV shows, translating into stronger sales,” explained David Humphreys, president of RVIA. “Consumers are choosing RV travel not only because of fears of flying and the desire to avoid airport hassles. More importantly, they want to slow down and enjoy time with their families, control their own travel schedules, and experience the freedom of traveling the country and escaping stress in the great outdoors.”
For a list of RV shows for the remainder of 2002 and early 2003 in the United States and Canada, visit www.rvia.org/rvshows. RVIA is the national association representing nearly 500 manufacturers and component suppliers that produce approximately 98 percent of all RVs made.
“Go RVing” Enhances Web Site
The Go RVing Coalition has unveiled a new look for its popular Web site, www.GoRVing.com, along with added features designed to enhance visitors’ experiences and attract more recreation vehicle buyers.
The newly upgraded Web site is more user-friendly with improved navigation features, making it easier for visitors to locate content. It was designed to be similar in style to Go RVing’s print and television ads, both in its look and tone.
Among the site’s new features are “Meet the RV Family” testimonials from actual RVers based on their true-life RVing experiences. In addition, visitors soon will be able to take virtual tours through each RV type. This feature is being made possible by RVIA member manufacturers who contributed generic 360-degree tours of their model RVs using iPIX technology.
Tailored to the needs of first-time buyers and renters, the Go RVing site continues to offer:
- Definitions, descriptions, and price ranges for different RV types, including motorhomes;
- RV shopping tips, including retail show schedules, dealer locations, financing and insurance options, and information on the preowned RV market;
- Tips on how and where to rent an RV;
- Information about where to travel by RV, including campground listings and vacation planning suggestions.
- Tips on driving RVs;
- Online order forms for the free “getting started” video for first-time users.
Visitors also can link to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) Web site, www.rvia.org, which provides a manufacturer directory, an RV retail show calendar, industry news, maintenance tips, market trends, a photo gallery, and RVIA’s online bookstore. Additional links take visitors to Web sites by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), www.rvda.org; its subsidiary, the Recreation Vehicle Rental Association (RVRA), www.rvra.org; and the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), www.gocampingamerica.com.
The Go RVing Web site continues to outpace the industry’s expectations each year. Since January 2001, a record 1 million people have visited the site, surpassing 2000 and 1999 totals of 720,000 and 540,000 visitors, respectively.
The Go RVing Coalition, formed in 1994, consists of RV manufacturers, component suppliers, dealers, and campgrounds. Go RVing works to provide the public and media with pertinent information about the benefits of RV travel and to foster customer satisfaction with the RVing experience through customer research.