Books Highlight A Trio Of National Parks
Farcountry Press has released new books for those who will be visiting Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier national parks.
Field Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks ($24.95) was written by Kurt F. Johnson, an expert on the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem who has been conducting ecotours through the parks for many years. Mr. Johnson, who has degrees in wildlife biology and natural resources, has catalogued the amazing array of wildlife, native plants, insects, and other natural wonders found in these parks. The 248-page book features descriptions and images of more than 650 species, 54 geothermal features, and 21 waterfalls. Also included are more than 1,200 photographs, 131 illustrations, 15 color maps, and 12 charts of the night sky.
The Best of Glacier National Park ($19.95) provides a look at the don’t-miss features found in this park situated along the U.S.-Canadian border in northern Montana. Author Alan Leftridge is a former park ranger at Glacier who enjoys sharing his passion for the outdoors, particularly the scenery, wildlife, and hiking trails within this park.
The 144-page book includes 144 photographs and 15 maps to help visitors navigate the park and locate great scenery and wildlife viewing areas. The book also includes a section about the best activities at Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier’s sister park just across the border in Alberta, Canada.
Both books are available at bookstores or at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
RV/MH Hall Of Fame Unveils New Fundraiser
RV/MH Hall of Fame president Darryl Searer’s recent quadruple-bypass heart surgery hasn’t diverted his attention from his mission and goals for the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. Mr. Searer has set his sights on the facility’s next fundraising endeavor — the $1 Million Ingram Family Challenge.
“While we are proud of the success of the original ‘$100,000 match’ and the ‘Burn the Bank Note’ campaigns, which paid off the bank loan in 13 months, more than three years ahead of schedule, we still have two more loans to go before we are debt-free,” Mr. Searer said.
Mr. Searer indicated that of the two notes that remain, the $3 million note to the Ingram family is the most pressing. The Hall of Fame began making payments on the Ingram loan in August 2013, three years ahead of schedule. “Under the amortization schedule, the Ingram loan will be paid off by May of 2030, but I believe we can beat that, again, in part, because of the Ingram family’s generosity,” he said. Under terms of the loan, if the Hall of Fame meets its monthly obligations, the Ingram family will match the principal payment by 50 percent, which means the $3 million loan can be paid off with $2 million.
Those who would like to participate in the $1 Million Ingram Family Challenge can do so in one of several ways. Contributions can be made through the Hall of Fame’s secure Web site, www.rvmhhalloffame.org, or by mail or phone. If paying by check or money order, make the check payable to the RV/MH Hall of Fame and send to: $1 Million Ingram Family Challenge, RV/MH Hall of Fame, 21565 Executive Parkway, Elkhart IN 46514. Those who wish to contribute via credit card over the phone can call (800) 378-8694 or (574) 293-2344.
Jayco Establishes Charitable Fund
Jayco Inc., based in Middlebury, Indiana, announced that its founding family has established a social impact investment fund to provide economic assistance to poor communities in Latin America’s developing countries.
The Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager Jayco Legacy Fund will invest early-stage capital (micro-loans) with small businesses to improve the lives of families throughout Central and South America and in the Caribbean.
The fund will begin operation with financial contributions from Jayco and from the family of founder Lloyd Bontrager. Eventually, it is hoped that employees and Jayco dealers also will become benefactors for the fund.
The charitable fund will operate through a financial arm of MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), an international association that creates sustainable solutions to poverty and spurs community growth for millions of families each year.
Cummins Announces ISV5.0 Engine
Cummins Inc. recently unveiled the latest addition to its engine lineup, the ISV5.0. This new 5-liter V-8 diesel engine is designed to power pickup-and-delivery vehicles, other light- and medium-duty trucks, school buses, and motorhomes. The ISV5.0 extends Cummins’ range of clean-diesel engines for North American vehicles.
The ISV5.0 was designed to fit where a comparable V-8 or V-10 gasoline engine was previously installed. Multiple front-end accessory drive options handle the common automotive accessories required by a wide spectrum of applications, including the alternator, air compressor, air-conditioner compressor, and hydraulic pump.
The ISV5.0 brings together a compacted graphite iron cylinder block, forged steel crankshaft, high-strength aluminum alloy heads, and composite valve covers to offer maximum durability in a lightweight package. The engine also features dual overhead camshafts.
High injection pressures from the latest Bosch high-pressure common rail (HPCR) fuel system and piezo fuel injectors are said to provide precise fuel control for optimized in-cylinder combustion, leading to better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. With multiple injection events driven by integrated electronic controls, the HPCR fuel system, along with Cummins’ Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT), contributes to a peak torque of 560 pound-feet, and quick throttle response. Ratings from 200 to 275 horsepower are available.
A two-stage fuel filter system for the ISV5.0 features the latest NanoNet media from Cummins Filtration to ensure that the HPCR fuel system is fully protected against contamination. A high-efficiency coalescing filter helps to eliminate crankcase hydrocarbon emissions and oil mist, further adding to the clean-engine credentials of the ISV5.0.
The combination of the Cummins VGT, cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and Cummins Emission Solutions Aftertreatment System, featuring a diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction, results in near-zero oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter emissions while optimizing performance and fuel economy.
Production of the ISV5.0 is expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2014. For more information, visit www.cumminsengines.com.