Foretravel Founder C.M. Fore Passes
Foretravel Inc. founder C.M. Fore, an innovator in the motorhome industry, died on August 5, 2011, in his hometown of Nacogdoches, Texas, at the age of 82.
Mr. Fore was born September 19, 1927, in Nacogdoches and grew up in the area. In the 1950s and ’60s, C.M. and his wife, Marie, enjoyed camping with their children, first in a tent and then in a folding camping trailer C.M. had built. While planning a vacation to Washington in 1965 to visit the Fores’ oldest son, Roy, who was in the military, C.M. thought the family might like traveling in a motorized, self-contained RV. So, in the backyard of the Fore home, he and his son, Ray, built a 21-foot motorhome on a Dodge chassis with an aluminum exterior skin. Since motorhomes were rare at the time, the vehicle generated much interest from other campers.
At about the same time, Ray enrolled in a high school program to provide students with hands-on experience in the real business world. So C.M. and Ray started a project to construct and rent out motorhomes. After completing motorhomes for the school project — and about 50 more — father and son decided to start a business manufacturing motorhomes, creating Foretravel Inc. The first model was named the Foretravel Super Luxura.
In 1974 the company pioneered the use of a diesel engine in a motorhome, and the company also was among the first manufacturers to use fiberglass instead of aluminum; real hardwood, and a full air-bag suspension. By 1978 Foretravel was building 400 motorhomes a year. In 1986 Foretravel became one of the first luxury motorhome manufacturers to build its own engineered and designed chassis in-house. This “unibodied” chassis led to the introduction of the Unihome, which featured improved drivability and handling, plus a sleek new design.
After 40 years of designing, testing, and building new motorhomes with innovative features, all the while continuing to enjoy the travel lifestyle that brought him to the RV industry, C.M. Fore sold the company in 2005.
Mr. Fore is survived by Marie, his wife of 66 years; sons Roy and Ray (Sherry), daughter Lynda Mulville (Tim); nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three brothers; and a sister.
Tour Company Merger
Tracks to Adventure RV Tours has merged operations with Adventure Caravans. Although Tracks to Adventure will maintain office operations as long as necessary to complete scheduled 2011 tours, Adventure Caravans will assume operations for all Tracks to Adventure tours in 2012 and beyond.
Earlier this year, Ron Kohn, owner and founder of Adventure Caravans, invited two of the company’s own wagon masters — Brian Fearon and Chris Crema — in from the road to bring their business, marketing, and managerial talents to the table. Brian built his own successful marketing and advertising business in the San Francisco Bay area, where his wife, Chris, managed their international publishing company, including their staff and more than 100 independent sales representatives across the nation. The couple started enjoying the RV caravanning lifestyle as Adventure Caravans guests in 2006, and they soon became part of the field staff. They have worked everywhere from Alaska to Panama.
On February 1, 2011, Brian assumed the role of chief operating officer and marketing/sales director, while Chris Crema handles the day-to-day business as general manager and field staff director. Owners Ron and Juanita Kohn continue to build tours and take full advantage of the lifestyle.
“No interruption of operations or change in service is anticipated,” stated Larry Olsen, president, owner, and founder of Tracks to Adventure.
For additional information or a catalog, call (800) 872-7897 or visit www.adventurecaravans.com.
Tiffin Motorhomes Celebrates 40 Years
With the introduction of its 2012 models, Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. marks its 40th anniversary as a family-owned business. Bob Tiffin started the company in Red Bay, Alabama, in 1972. Today, Tiffin Motorhomes is a leading manufacturer of Type A motorhomes. The Phaeton was the top-selling brand of Type A diesel motorhome in 2010. Tiffin’s Allegro Bus, Allegro RED, and Allegro Breeze were also among the top five best-selling diesel pushers. Tiffin models also include the moderately priced Allegro brand, as well as the top-of-the-line 45-foot Zephyr.
Today, dealers across the United States and Canada sell Tiffin motorhomes. The company focuses on product quality, customer service, and strong relationships with its dealers, according to Tiffin officials.
“This year, Tiffin Motorhomes proudly celebrates our 40th year of building the finest motorhomes on the road,” said general manager Tim Tiffin. “We want to thank everyone who has been part of our journey, from our dedicated team to our wonderful customers. As we celebrate 40 years and continue to strive to exceed the expectations of our customers, we look forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2022.”
For more information, visit www.tiffinmotorhomes.com or call (256) 356-8661.
Liberty Coach Designs Energy-Efficient Lighting System
Liberty Coach is now installing more energy-efficient exterior lighting systems in all of its new and existing motor coaches.
The luxury motor coach manufacturer has designed a new lighting system that is being built exclusively for the company by Lumitec, a manufacturer of LED lighting primarily for the marine industry. Liberty Coach is retrofitting the lights in existing units and incorporating them in all newly manufactured motorhomes.
LED lighting differs greatly from conventional incandescent lights in terms of its expected service life, efficiency, and the overall usability of light output.
“These lights are so bright that they can light up a nearby coach well enough to work on it at night,” said Frank Konigseder, Liberty Coach co-owner and vice president. “They also have dimming capabilities, whiter light than conventional fluorescent or incandescent lights, are more efficient, and last longer.”
Built to naval specifications that require testing in the harshest weather conditions, the Lumitec lights are housed in a chrome-plated solid bronze casting that has a marine look and feel to it.
With offices in Stuart, Florida, and Chicago, Illinois, Liberty Coach has been manufacturing luxury motorhomes since 1968. For more information about the company, visit www.LibertyCoach.com or call (800) 554-9877.
Web Site Connects African Americans With The Great Outdoors
OutdoorAfro.com founder Rue Mapp of Oakland, California, hopes to inspire African American families to enjoy the great outdoors in greater numbers. The Web site is filled with stories, photos, event listings, and other resources designed to educate, motivate, and encourage African Americans in the Bay Area and across the United States to enjoy outdoor recreation with their families and friends, and with others they meet in this online community.
The site includes photos, videos, and blog postings of African Americans who enjoy bicycling, hiking, camping, bird-watching, and outdoor photography, as well as skiing, rock climbing, white-water rafting, and scuba diving.
Since the site was founded two years ago, more than 7,000 African Americans have become active members of OutdoorAfro.com, and the numbers are growing. Various members and groups with organized activities are also posting information on the site.
“Many of them are just like me,” said Ms. Mapp, who grew up in Oakland but spent weekends with her foster parents on a ranch in northern California, where she cultivated a passion for natural spaces and farming, and learned how to hunt and fish. In her youth, Ms. Mapp was involved in Girl Scouts and Outward Bound, which broadened her outdoor experiences in camping, mountaineering, rock climbing, and road bicycling. But while she always enjoyed these endeavors, she seldom saw other African Americans participating in these kinds of activities, a cultural phenomenon that has troubled her to this day. “I didn’t see a lot of people who looked like me,” she said.
Ms. Mapp’s efforts to inspire African Americans to enjoy the outdoors in greater numbers are already starting to generate attention, both in government and in the business community.
Last year, President Obama invited Ms. Mapp to participate in the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors. She was subsequently invited to participate in a White House brainstorming session for Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign.
The California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds also has taken an interest in Ms. Mapp’s efforts and, working with Auburn-based American River Sales and Rentals, arranged to provide her with a free teardrop trailer rental for a mid-August camping trip to Ponderosa Ranch RV Resort, a Thousand Trails park in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
For more information, visit OutdoorAfro.com or contact Rue Mapp at (510) 913-6100; rue@outdoorafro.com.