Four Winds International Debuts Quad-Slide Infinity
Four Winds International, C7457, a division of Thor Industries, has introduced the 38-foot quad-slideout Infinity type A motorhome. The quad-slide design dramatically expands space in the main living area, bedroom, and bathroom, and enhances the bath area with two entry doors “” one from the hallway and one from the bedroom.
The new Infinity is built on the Workhorse gas chassis with a 24,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating. The coach features name-brand appliances, a full line of electronics, and quality-made furniture and accessories throughout. Standard interior features include distinctive laminate flooring in the kitchen, bathroom, and entryway; a contoured Corian kitchen countertop with extension; dovetailed kitchen drawers; a water filtration system; and a cedar-lined wardrobe.
Infinity exteriors are available in two standard graphics/partial paint packages and two full-body paint options. Four interior décor packages are offered, with a choice of standard honey oak cabinetry or optional maple or cherry cabinetry.
Other options include a GPS navigation unit; a washer and dryer; a central vacuum system; a legless freestanding dinette with buffet; a 2,000-watt inverter; and a convenience package that includes four rechargeable two-way radios, a rechargeable handheld vacuum cleaner, a rechargeable flashlight, and valve stem extenders. A two-year, 24,000-mile limited bumper-to-bumper warranty is standard on all Infinity motorhomes.
The base suggested retail price of the 38E quad-slideout Infinity is $132,900. For additional information, call Four Winds International at (574) 266-1111 or visit www.fourwinds-rv.com.
Steve Plemmons Acquires Complete Ownership Of Bill Plemmons RV World
In a planned buyout move, Steve Plemmons has purchased full ownership of Bill Plemmons RV World, C5878, located near Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Previously he and his brother, Jeff Plemmons, shared the business as partners.
In the next two to five years, Steve Plemmons said he hopes to move the dealership, which now sits on 16 acres, to a 46-acre lot that he’s already purchased. He noted that the new location will have a larger and better RV sales and service facility with more service bays and technicians; an RV-related store; an 11-acre campground and rally site with more overnight hookups; and a playground.
For more information about Bill Plemmons RV World, call (800) 732-0507 or visit www.billplemmonsrv.com.
Cummins Offers Online Parts And Service Information
During FMCA’s 72nd International Convention in Redmond, Oregon, Cummins Inc. announced that RV owners now can use the company’s QuickServe Online service to save time and gain immediate access to parts and service information for every Cummins engine built since 1960. This is the same online system that is used by certified Cummins service locations.
Cummins owners can subscribe to QuickServe Online for an annual $50 fee, which offers 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week access to parts and service information; a subscriber bulletin board; a newsletter; and much more.
A subscription allows RV owners access to parts and service information for up to five vehicles. Therefore, if you own a motorhome equipped with a Cummins engine and also own a Dodge Ram with a Cummins turbodiesel engine, information for both vehicles’ engines can be accessed through QuickServe Online using the same account.
Content is customized by engine serial number, making QuickServe Online easy to navigate. In seconds, QuickServe Online can sort through 60 million Cummins engine documents to find accurate, up-to-the-minute parts and service information about a customer’s engine. Features include parts diagrams and part number supersessions; service bulletins and troubleshooting manuals; operation and maintenance manuals; service products and publications catalogs; engine dataplate information and wiring diagrams; literature; tool catalogs; and more.
Customers can learn more about QuickServe Online either by contacting their local distributor or by going online at http://quickserve.cummins.com.
Cummins Inc., headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, designs, manufactures, distributes, and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions, and electrical power generation systems.
Premier RV Resorts Acquires Eola Bend RV Resort
Paul Williams, CEO of Premier RV Resorts, announced that his company, which already operates two RV resorts in Oregon, has signed an agreement to purchase the Eola Bend RV Resort in Salem, Oregon, and rename it the Premier RV Resort of Salem. Premier RV Resorts assumed management of the property in July, and the closing date of the purchase was scheduled for the fall of 2004.
The Premier RV Resort of Salem is located 4-1/2 miles west of Salem, Oregon, on State Route 22. The resort has 180 RV sites, an outdoor swimming pool, an outdoor spa, a large community building, and a bathhouse. The property consists of approximately 30 acres along Rickreall Creek.
Mr. Williams stated that several upgrades will be made to the property. Plans call for extensive landscaping, installation of a sports court, and enlarging of 35 sites. These features are similar to those currently offered at Premier RV Resorts’ other Oregon locations: the Premier RV Resort at Mallard Creek Golf Course, C9495, near Lebanon, and the Premier RV Resort of Eugene, C8582.
The Premier RV Resort of Salem will operate as a short-term-stay park on a rental-only basis. Weekly and monthly rates will be available for seasonal guests. For more information, call (866) 632-9133 or visit www.premierrvresorts.com.
National Take Pride In America Recognizes Individuals, Groups With Special Awards
On September 21, 2004, individuals and groups from across the United States received special recognition for their outstanding contributions to the country’s public lands when they received 2004 National Take Pride in America awards at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. Interior Secretary Gale Norton, USA Freedom Corps director Desiree Sayle, and Take Pride in America executive director Marti Allbright commended the volunteers during the rooftop event at the Department of the Interior.
A special Spirit of Take Pride in America award was presented to Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition. The award is not given annually, but is presented by the executive director to those whose efforts on behalf of the Take Pride in America program merit special recognition.
“Derrick has dedicated himself to recruiting new partners, raising funds for the program, finding new opportunities to spread the message of Take Pride, and has been the inspiration behind many of our Take Pride events over the past year,” Ms. Allbright said. “I cannot think of any assistance I have requested from Derrick that has not been met with an immediate and enthusiastic response.”
The Take Pride in America national awards program recognizes specific volunteer projects and efforts in a variety of categories. The 2004 awards program included 25 award recipients representing 14 states.
Take Pride in America is a national partnership that encourages, supports, and recognizes volunteers who work to improve public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs, wildlife refuges, cultural and historic sites, local playgrounds, and other recreation areas in the United States. With 100 charter partners, Take Pride involves federal, state, and local governments; conservation, youth, and recreation groups; and top national corporations and organizations. For more information, visit www.takepride.gov or call (202) 208-5848.
Great Sand Dunes Designated A National Park
On September 13, 2004, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton redesignated Great Sand Dunes National Monument as Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve during a ceremony at the park, which is located in southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley. Great Sand Dunes became the 58th U.S. national park and the fourth in Colorado. Secretary Norton was joined at the announcement by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and U.S. Representative Scott McInnis, both representing the state.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, contains some of the oldest known archaeological sites in the United States and is home to more than 30 square miles of North America’s tallest and most fragile sand dunes, many reaching heights greater than 750 feet. The region also features alpine lakes; ancient spruce and pine forests; six mountain peaks reaching more than 13,000 feet in elevation; and wildlife, plant, and insect species found nowhere else on Earth.
In addition, the park obtained 31,000 acres of land from the 97,000-acre Baca Ranch, which was recently acquired by the federal government, and another 14,000 acres from the U.S. Forest Service. The remaining land from the Baca Ranch, adjacent to the national park, was designated as the Baca National Wildlife Refuge, becoming the state’s largest wildlife refuge.
For more information about Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, call (719) 378-6300 or visit www.nps.gov/grsa.
RV Industry Loses Two Corporate Leaders
James F. Shea, who founded Gulf Stream Coach Inc., C2697, passed away on August 13, 2004, at his home in South Bend, Indiana. He was 77.
Mr. Shea, who established himself as a successful attorney in Detroit, Michigan, founded Fairmont Homes Inc., a manufactured housing builder, in 1971 in Nappanee, Indiana. In 1982 Fairmont entered the RV industry with its Gulf Stream Coach motorhome division, offering the Sun Stream type A motorhome. The company has grown considerably since, posting $496 million in revenue in 2003. In 2002 Mr. Shea was inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; a daughter; and four sons, three of whom lead separate divisions of the Fairmont Homes/Gulf Stream company.
Joseph Irwin Miller, who built Cummins Inc., C4251, from a family business into a Fortune 500 company, died on August 16, 2004. He was 95.
Mr. Miller was born in Columbus, Indiana, in 1909 and spent many hours of his youth in the workshop of Clessie Cummins, who founded Cummins Engine Company in 1919 and who had been the family chauffeur. After receiving degrees from Yale and Oxford universities, Mr. Miller went to work for Cummins in 1934 as the company’s second general manager. He was named president in 1945 and chairman of the board in 1951.
In addition to helping direct the business of the diesel engine company, Mr. Miller spent much time and money on social and philanthropic activities for which he received many awards, honorary degrees, and national acclaim.
He is survived by his wife, Xenia, three daughters, two sons, and 10 grandchildren.
More Pro, Amateur Golfers Taking RVs On The Road
Professional and amateur golfers alike are discovering the advantages of traveling to golf tournaments and golf outings by RV.
Three years ago, only three players on the PGA Tour traveled the circuit in motorhomes. Today 19 players travel in RVs. More players have turned to this form of travel to avoid the common hassles associated with hotels, guest housing, and airports. Traveling by motorhome also decreases the chance of lost or broken clubs “” the tools of their trade.
But for many RVing golfers, the ability to have their families along also has been a driving force behind the trend toward the use of motorhomes. Sara Moores, director of player relations and special programs for the PGA, recently told the New York Times, “Ten years ago, players didn’t travel with their families. Now, the family unit is out there. The whole face of the tour has changed.”
Aside from lauding the benefits of RV travel, many pro golfers say that RVing enhances their performance. They get to go home in the evening after they’ve completed play, an advantage they say helps stabilize their games.
Pro golfer Rory Sabbatini, who travels with his wife and infant son, said that touring in an RV has had a positive effect on both his family life and golf game. “That has allowed me to relax and play more events without getting fatigued or stressed out.”
Davis Love III, who was ranked fifth in the world as of September 6, 2004, helped start the RV trend among pro golfers three years ago. He and his custom coach conversion were profiled in a recent Golf Digest article. In the story, Love singled out the freedom and feeling of home the RV gives him on the road. He noted, “Having all your clothes in the motorhome and not having to pack suitcases “” you can get used to that. Plus, we can take our motorcycle. It fits right underneath [in a storage bay].”
But it’s not just the professional golfers who use RVs to pursue their golfing passions. “Every year hundreds of thousands of RV owners hit the road in search of new and challenging golf courses to play throughout the country,” according to the June 2004 issue of Golf Business magazine. This has prompted many golf course owners to provide special accommodations such as campground sites, discounts, and separate driving ranges for RVers.
Henderson’s Line-Up Participates In “Operation Christmas Child”
For the seventh year, Henderson’s Line-Up, Brake & RV, C5009, of Grants Pass, Oregon, is participating in Operation Christmas Child as an official Relay Center for the collection of gift-filled shoeboxes to be given to needy children throughout the world. During the past four years, Henderson’s Line-Up has collected and delivered more than 5,435 shoeboxes to the cause.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, which is involved in Christian relief and evangelism ministry. The project encourages companies, organizations, churches, families, and individuals to fill simple shoeboxes with such items as toys, hard candy, school supplies, and hygiene items.
Last year, more than 6.6 million children in 95 countries received the shoeboxes during the holiday season. The goal for this year is to collect 7 million gift-filled shoeboxes that will then be distributed to children who face a daily struggle against war, persecution, disease, natural disaster, and poverty. Not only do the children experience the joy of Christmas through the shoebox gifts, but they also are introduced to the Christian ministry through an enclosed storybook called “The Greatest Gift of All,” published in 52 different languages.
Participants are asked to deliver the gift-filled boxes to the nearest Relay Center. Free brochures, Relay Center locations, and additional information may be obtained by calling (800) 353-5949 or by visiting the Samaritan’s Purse Web site at www.samaritanspurse.org. The last day the public may deliver gift boxes to a Relay Center in their area will be Monday, November 22.
Winnebago Journey Featured In New Reality Series
Winnebago Industries Inc., C93, has teamed up with Sony Pictures Television in the new reality show titled “Pat Croce: Moving In,” which made its debut in syndication in mid-September.
The half-hour daily series has Mr. Croce “” a best-selling author, “life coach,” motivational speaker, and former president and owner of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team “” traveling across the United States in a Winnebago Journey motorhome with a customized exterior to help families deal with life issues and problems in a dynamic and inspiring manner. Families desiring interventions from Mr. Croce will agree to have television cameras installed in their homes, with round-the-clock video surveillance intended to document behaviors that require attention. Mr. Croce will then move in to the family’s home and help them work through obstacles and challenges, using his unique motivational strategies. The series will be shot entirely on location and will make use of the Winnebago Journey as a mobile office for Mr. Croce and the production team.
The Winnebago Journey features five floor plans, including the 34H shown on “Pat Croce: Moving In.” For more information about this coach, call (641) 585-3535 or visit www.winnebagoind.com.
To view the new show, check your local listings for time and station information.
Insight Guides Explores The New South
Insight Guides: USA The New South The latest addition to the Insight Guides collection of travel guides, USA The New South ($22.95, Langenscheidt Publishing), is touted as a must-have for anyone planning to visit the southern United States. This guide is said to be different because it emphasizes a more modern, vibrant region than that described in other travel books.
USA The New South begins by juxtaposing the South’s past and present in its history and culture section, to provide a background for travelers before they arrive at their destination. It also offers assessments of the special regions and cities in each state, which include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The guide then zeroes in on many interesting and historical attractions. It also contains features on famous Southerners, Southern cuisine, and Southern music.
Users will find valuable tips on trip planning; a comprehensive index; a calendar of special events; and practical information, such as Web sites, climate, security and crime, public transportation, and useful addresses.
USA The New South can be purchased at bookstores, from online booksellers, or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 432-6277 or visiting www.langenscheidt.com or www.insightguides.com.
Football Great Earl Campbell Uses Sportscoach To Promote His Food Company
Earl Campbell travels in a 40-foot Sportscoach Elite motorhome promoting his meat products.
When Earl Campbell, a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame and owner of Earl Campbell Meat Products, chose to quit flying because of a bad back and the events of September 11, he needed a way to continue his frequent business travels. Coachmen RV, C328, offered him the use of a 40-foot Sportscoach Elite motorhome. Now he travels throughout the United States promoting his company’s products and making appearances for Coachmen in the specially appointed motorhome.
The Sportscoach Elite includes a custom décor, a queen-size bed, a satellite TV system, and a spacious living area where he does most of his work while on the road. Although he uses the motorhome primarily for business, traveling with two drivers, he also has utilized it for tailgating and charity events. He takes the coach to hundreds of grocery stores and promotional sites around the United States.
Mr. Campbell is a legend in his home state of Texas. After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1977 and graduating from the University of Texas, he was the number-one draft pick of the Houston Oilers. In 1978 he was voted Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, and won the league rushing title. The next two years he duplicated his MVP and rushing title achievements. At the end of his eight-year career with the Oilers and later the New Orleans Saints, he finished with 9,407 yards rushing and 74 touchdowns. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. Mr. Campbell is married and has two sons.
Attendance, Exhibitors Up At Caravan Salon 2004
Caravan Salon 2004, held August 27 through September 5 in Dusseldorf, Germany, attracted 165,000 visitors to the international trade fair for RVs and camping equipment, 1,000 more than in 2003. In addition, the show attracted 540 exhibitors from 22 countries, 15 more exhibitors than last year’s show.
Caravan Salon 2005 will take place August 26 through September 4, 2005, at the fairgrounds in the Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre.
Fodor’s Offers New Travel Books
Fodor’s Travel Publications recently released two new travel books for those interested in visiting Utah and the Rocky Mountain states of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
Fodor’s Utah ($18) guides travelers through the magnificent canyons and arches that attract so many visitors to the state. It highlights the stark salt flats of the Great Basin, the towering mountain peaks of the Wasatch, southern Utah’s beautiful red rock canyons, five national parks, and numerous other public lands. The book also guides travelers to Salt Lake City, the skiing resort of Park City, and many other interesting sites.
Fodor’s Montana, Wyoming & Idaho ($19.95) takes readers through the northern plains where buffalo still roam, to the wonders of the Rocky Mountains. Readers will discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Yellowstone National Park, the history of Custer’s last stand at Little Bighorn in Montana, and the massive peaks and raw nature of Glacier National Park. Find out about the skiing in Sun Valley/Ketchum, the “dude ranches” in Wyoming, and how Idaho became the leading producer of potatoes in the United States.
Both books include detailed descriptions, reviews, maps, itineraries, and a wealth of other information to make your travel experience worthwhile. They are available at bookstores or through online booksellers.