Golf Pros Enjoy Country Coach Hospitality
For the second year, Country Coach Inc., C2132, and Guaranty RV Center, C4161, teamed up to provide hospitality motorhomes for the SKINS Game at the Landmark Golf Club in Indio, California.
SKINS Game participants Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Jesper Parnevik, and Colin Montgomerie each enjoyed the use of their own 42-foot Affinity coach throughout the duration of the event this past November. The ESPN and ABC broadcast crews were provided a 40-foot Magna motorhome to use as a comfortable base of operations for the tournament.
“Having Country Coach provide a motor coach players’ lounge for the SKINS Game participants adds a unique excitement to the tournament experience for the players,” said Judy Vossler, tournament director. “It’s refreshing to hear the positive feedback.”
The motorhomes, which were aligned to form a private courtyard for the players, had electric and telephone hookups as well as a live television feed. During the competition, the players’ families and associates used the motorhomes to relax or conduct business.
Country Coach Inc., based in Junction City, Oregon, manufactures type A diesel motorhomes and Prevost coach conversions. For more information about the company’s products, call (800) 654-0223 or visit www.countrycoach.com.
RVIA President Honored For National Scenic Byways Support
David J. Humphreys, president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), was honored for his leadership and long-standing commitment to the National Scenic Byways Program at its 10th anniversary celebration on December 18, 2001, in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Humphreys was recognized as a central figure in the creation and development of the program. Since 1991, the Scenic Byways Program has spurred byway programs in nearly every state; has provided more than $150 million in matching federal funding for more than 1,100 projects; and has resulted in the designation of 83 routes as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads.
RVIA is a national association that represents nearly 500 manufacturers and component suppliers that produce approximately 98 percent of all RVs made in the United States.
Coach Net Welcomes New Director Of Operations
Coach Net, C4055, provider of the roadside assistance and technical referral program offered by FMCA, recently named Donna J. Nelson as director of operations. Ms. Nelson brings 32 years of call center and customer service management experience to the company.
“Donna’s vision is one of customer service excellence, a caring organizational culture, and meeting today’s technological challenges, while recognizing it is always people who make the difference,” said Coach Net president and CEO Jerry Aldridge.
Coach Net, based in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, has a network of more than 20,000 qualified roadside assistance providers throughout the United States and Canada. For more information about FMCA’s roadside assistance program, call Coach Net at (800) 863-6740.
Cummins Developing Fuel Cell Technology
Cummins Power Generation, manufacturer of Onan brand generators, has received a $74.2 million contract from the United States Department of Energy to develop fuel cell technology.
During the next 10 years, Cummins, along with subcontractor McDermott Technologies, will develop a compact, affordable 10-kilowatt fuel cell module. The product is expected to provide virtually silent power with significantly lower fuel consumption and exhaust emissions than from existing engine generator sets.
Paul Plahn, director of advanced product development with Cummins, said that solid oxide fuel cell technology “has tremendous potential as a clean, efficient, and silent auxiliary power source for RVs and other mobile or remote applications.” He said that the goal is to reduce the manufacturing cost of these fuel cells and bring them into the same price range as current premium generator sets powered by diesel, gasoline, or LP fuel. The company also will work on making the fuel cell systems fit into the same space that current generators occupy.
Damon Ultrasport And Intruder Models Receive Makeovers For 2002
Damon Corporation, C4690, based in Elkhart, Indiana, has updated a pair of its type A motorhomes for the 2002 model year.
The 2002 Ultrasport is designed as a diesel motorhome targeted to RVers who want to maximize the features of their coach but maintain a reasonable price. The coach is built on a Freightliner chassis with a standard Cummins 300-horspower ISB engine or optional Caterpillar 300-horsepower diesel engine mated to an Allison 3000MH automatic six-speed transmission. The chassis also includes full air brakes with antilock technology, air-ride suspension, and a Jacobs exhaust brake. The coach is supported by a steel-truss basement system with a steel firewall, an insulated floor system, and a heated holding tank area with insulated doors.
The Ultrasport is available in two lengths — 38 feet 3 inches and 39 feet 5 inches — with single- or double-slideout floor plans. The kitchen comes standard with a large refrigerator, a three-burner range and oven, solid-surface countertops, and a microwave oven. The living area offers standard features such as a 25-inch television, a VCR, and an entertainment control center. The motorhome also includes an Onan 6.3-kilowatt generator as standard equipment.
The 2002 Ultrasport can comfortably sleep four adults regardless of the floor plan, and has a base suggested retail price of approximately $135,000.
According to company literature, the 2002 edition of the Intruder takes Damon’s most luxurious gasoline-powered motorhome up another notch by including conveniences that are not typical of coaches in its price range.
The Intruder is built on either a Ford or Workhorse chassis, each with an automatic transmission with overdrive. Like the Ultrasport, it has a steel-truss basement system, insulated floor, and heated holding tank area. Utilities include an Onan 5.5-kilowatt generator and a 35,000-Btu floor-ducted heating system.
All Intruder floor plans have dual slideouts and are available in lengths of 36 feet 6 inches or 37 feet 11 inches. Every model is equipped with a 25-inch television and VCR in the living area. The kitchen includes a pantry with individual pull-out shelves to make organization easy. The bedroom and living areas include stain-resistant carpeting, and the kitchen and bathroom areas have vinyl tile flooring.
For more information about these or other Damon products, call (800) 577-5692 or visit www.damonrv.com