RV News: July 2005

New Editions Of Alaska Travel Books Available

Two new editions of popular Alaska travel books were released recently, just in time for folks heading to the “Land of the Midnight Sun” this summer.

The 57th edition of The Milepost ($25.95 U.S., $34.95 Canada; Morris Communications) includes mile-by-mile highway logs for routes in Alaska, as well as the Yukon Territory, northern Alberta and British Columbia, and the western Northwest Territories of Canada.

New in the 2005 edition are special features on five geographic areas: the Kenai Peninsula; Matanuska-Susitna Valley; Copper River Valley; West Cook Inlet; and Southeastern Alaska. The book also includes historic itineraries highlighting the building of the Alaska Highway and the Yukon Gold Rush, as well as three new driving routes: the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies; British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway; and the Deh Cho Connection through Northwest Territories.

The 784-page guide is available at bookstores, through online booksellers, or from the publisher: visit www.milepost.com or call (800) 726-4707.

Mike and Terri Church, F284948, released the third edition of their book Traveler’s Guide To Alaskan Camping ($21.95, Rolling Homes Press), which is designed to help those planning an RV trip to Alaska.

The book, which guides travelers along the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada, through the Yukon Territory and into Alaska, also covers the other major roads in northwestern Canada “” including the Cassiar Highway and the Klondike Loop “” as well as the major roads in Alaska. Readers will find information about more than 500 campgrounds throughout the region, including the services provided at each park, detailed driving instructions to the campground, and size limits.

Besides providing campground information, the book is also a travel guide that includes information specifically for RVers, such as the location of gas stations, grocery stores, dump stations, tourist information offices, museums, and free camping options. Readers will find a fuel table that provides the mile (or kilometer) marker where fuel is available, what type of fuel, and a price comparison with other stops along the road. The book also includes useful information regarding things to see and do on each road and in each city, as well as suggested fishing spots, hiking trails, canoe trips, wildlife viewing opportunities, and more.

Traveler’s Guide To Alaskan Camping is available at bookstores, through online booksellers, or from the publisher by calling (888) 265-6555.

The U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security recently announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which is intended to help secure and expedite travel between the United States and other countries in the Western Hemisphere. The initiative will require all travelers to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, and countries in Central and South America to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States.

Currently, U.S. citizens and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere are not required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the United States when traveling within the Western Hemisphere.

The initiative will be implemented in three phases. Beginning on December 31, 2005, a passport or other accepted document will be required for all air and sea travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central and South America. Phase two will begin on December 31, 2006, when a passport or other accepted document will be required for all air and sea travel to or from Canada and Mexico. The final phase will go into effect on December 31, 2007, when a passport or other accepted document will be required for all air, sea, and land border crossings.

U.S. citizens with questions about these new rules and how to acquire a passport should visit www.travel.state.gov or call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778. Canadians interested in obtaining a passport should visit www.pptc.gc.ca or call (800) 567-6868.

The European private equity group BC Partners recently acquired the Dometic Group from the Swedish equity group EQT. The Dometic Group is the parent company of Dometic Corporation, C306, based in Elkhart, Indiana.

According to BC Partners, Dometic’s current management group and organization will remain in place and all daily contacts with customers, suppliers, and end-users will not be affected.

Dometic is a worldwide supplier of comfort equipment for recreation vehicles and larger pleasure boats. The company manufactures air-conditioning systems, refrigerators, cookers, sanitation systems, awnings, lighting, windows, and doors for the RV and marine industries; mini bars, refrigerators, and safes for the hotel industry; and special medical refrigeration equipment for the medical sector.

In 2001 EQT acquired Electrolux Leisure Appliances, an independent product line within the Electrolux Group, and named the new group Dometic, which was a brand name for leisure appliances manufactured by Electrolux.

Auto enthusiasts are invited to celebrate 50 years of Car and Driver magazine at a huge birthday bash July 23 and 24 at Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

During the event, attendees can:

• Race against editor-in-chief Csaba Csere or another editor from the Car and Driver staff in a Viper, Corvette, or another hot car on a professional autocross course.
• Take a hot lap with a professional driver in a Porsche Carrera GT or one of several modern racing cars on IRP’s 5/8-mile oval.
• Race their own car against one driven by Mr. Csaba or one of the other editors on IRP’s drag strip in two days of bracket racing.
• Compete in the magazine’s five-decades-old Concours d’Elegance.
• Watch a Car and Driver road test in progress.
• Shop for car-related merchandise in Vendor Alley.
• Participate in interview sessions with Car and Driver editors and other automotive celebrities.
• Enjoy Grand Funk Railroad in concert.
• Watch Cannonball Run with running commentary provided by Brock Yassin, who wrote the movie’s screenplay.

Admission to the event is $25 for Saturday, $15 for Sunday, or $35 for the entire weekend. To register or to learn more, visit www.caranddriver.com/50. For more information about local campgrounds and attractions, call the Hendricks County Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 321-9666 or visit www.hencocvb.com.

The second edition of Drive I-95 ($22.95, Travelsmart) is now available to help guide travelers along the East Coast between Boston and the Florida border.

The book, written by the husband-wife team of Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner, is a combination atlas and guidebook. It includes 102 pictorial maps broken into 30-mile sections. Each map lists gas stations, restaurants, RV service centers, campgrounds, and other places of interest to travelers for every exit along the interstate. New this year is a chart of auto mechanics available at exits along I-95. The list includes phone numbers, whether towing service is available, and which facilities are open 24 hours.

The book also provides the locations of 70 pharmacies near the interstate; rest stops; areas known for radar speed traps; and the radio station frequencies for 22 large cities along the route, including the type of programming each station broadcasts.

Along with travel information, the authors have included stories about areas along the interstate; where to find museums and interesting places to stop; Americana trivia; shopping outlets; artsy towns; and places for the kids to have fun.

Drive I-95 is available at bookstores, through online booksellers, or from the publisher by calling (888) 484-3395 or visiting www.drivei95.com.

Gulf Stream Coach Inc., C2697, has decided to relocate its type C production facility in Goshen, Indiana, to the company’s central manufacturing plant in Nappanee, Indiana. According to company officials, the move will increase the Nappanee plant’s production capacity by at least 20 percent while providing extra space for production and future growth.

In addition, the move will centralize all of Gulf Stream’s type C operations, resulting in a more efficient production process. Gulf Stream’s type C facilities produce the BT Cruiser; the Conquest and Ultra Super C and LE; the Endura; and the EnduraMax lines.

The Goshen plant will not be closed after the move, but will be utilized for some welding operations and support lines. It also will be used to produce other components for Gulf Stream.

For more information about Gulf Stream motorhomes, visit www.gulfstreamrv.com.

Cummins Inc., C4251, based in Columbus, Indiana, announced that Joe Loughrey has been named president and chief operating officer of the company. Mr. Loughrey has been with Cummins for 31 years, during which time he has held a number of leadership positions, most recently as president of the company’s engine business since 1999.

Mr. Loughrey’s promotion is part of a strategic reorganization designed to further promote execution and growth among the company’s businesses.

“We are restructuring critical elements of the company to help us better execute our plans, grow faster “” especially in developing markets “”- capture more synergies between businesses, and generate more profit for shareholders,” said Tim Solso, Cummins chairman and CEO.

Succeeding Mr. Loughrey as president of the engine business will be Jim Kelly, who has been with Cummins since 1976 and most recently served as vice president and general manager of Cummins’ midrange and heavy-duty engine businesses.

Cummins Inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emissions solutions, and electrical power generation systems.

Freightliner LLC recently named Jack Conlan senior vice president of customer support. Mr. Conlan had served as president of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC), C1905, since 1998. In his new role he will lead the company’s efforts to provide customer support across the spectrum of its brands and products. Mr. Conlan also will serve as a member of the Freightliner LLC Executive Committee and will represent FCCC on the committee.

Under Mr. Conlan’s leadership, FCCC, based in Gaffney, South Carolina, increased sales by 27 percent in 2004.

In his new position, Mr. Conlan will be charged with the continued expansion of Freightliner LLC’s parts business, which exceeded $1 billion in revenues in 2004, as well as key strategic initiatives related to parts support, service development, service quality, and warranty.

Freightliner LLC also announced that Reid Bigland has been named president of FCCC. Mr. Bigland most recently helped to grow and strengthen Freightliner LLC’s network of brand dealers as its general manager of dealer operations. Prior to that he was director of vocational sales for Freightliner LLC’s Sterling Trucks and Western Star Trucks brands and had worked at Western Star in several capacities before the company was acquired by Freightliner LLC in 2000.

FCCC, which is based in Gaffney, South Carolina, employs more than 900 people and is a leading manufacturer of diesel walk-in van chassis and Type A diesel motorhome chassis.