RV News & Notes

Safari, C3735, a division of Monaco Coach Corporation, C2111, based in Coburg, Oregon, recently unveiled the 2007 Safari Simba STS, touted as the RV industry’s first type A diesel-powered, rear-entrance toy hauler.
The 37-foot Simba STS is built on a Freightliner front-engine diesel chassis and is powered by a Cummins ISB 300-horsepower engine. The front-engine design allows for 80 square feet of rear cargo area that is not available on conventional rear-engine diesel-pusher motorhomes.

Monaco Coach Corporation has introduced the newly designed 2007 Monaco Dynasty. One of the most striking additions to the 2007 Dynasty line is the availability of the PanaSuite full-wall slideout in the 43-foot Palace III floor plan.

Creative Mobile Interiors, C9705, based in Columbus, Ohio, recently finished restoring a major piece of music memorabilia when it returned the MCI tour bus that carried legend Johnny Cash and his band from 1979 to 2003 to its original condition.
The bus, known as “JC Unit 1,” was purchased by vintage coach collector Dave Wright of Pinehurst, North Carolina, in late November 2005, and he drove it directly to CMI for restoration. “I would not entrust this job to anyone else,” Mr.

A pair of Flxible Clipper buses — the same type of vehicle that is depicted on the FMCA logo — were brought out of retirement to be used in the Sony Pictures movie RV, starring Robin Williams and Jeff Daniels. These buses were once used to transport members of the Elizabeth City, North Carolina, high school band.
According to a story in The Daily Advance, the buses used in the movie were two of four Flxible Clippers that were bought for the band by millionaire Miles Clark in the early 1950s.

A 1950 General Motors Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour Bus, one of 12 built, sold for an auction-record $4,320,000 to a private collector at the 35th Barrett-Jackson “World’s Greatest Car Collector Event” held in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 14 through 22, 2006.
The Futurliner, a self-contained display and transport vehicle, was created by renowned automotive engineer and designer Harley Earl as part of the “Parade of Progress” touring exhibit, which was developed by GM research leader Charles Kettering to complement the company’s “Motoramas” from 1940 through 1956. The red-and-white Futurliner that sold, one of only three in the world that have been restored to their original configuration, is powered by a 400-cubic-inch six-cylinder GM engine mated to a four-speed transmission.

Mandalay Luxury Division, a division of Thor Industries, C847, has added the new Valencia to its lineup of type A diesel motorhomes for 2006. According to company officials, the Valencia has been designed for those who want the style and longevity of a diesel motorhome at a price point comparable to a luxury gas motorhome.
The Valencia is built on the Freightliner XC chassis with a 300-horsepower Cummins ISB diesel engine that provides 600 pound-feet of torque.

Liberty Coach of Florida, C9408, welcomed 140 guests for the company’s annual “Open House” event at its dealership in Stuart, Florida, February 2 through 5, 2006. Coach owners who attended camped in their luxury coaches at the eight-acre facility for four nights where they enjoyed meals, seminars, and entertainment.
This year’s rally raised money for the American Heart Association and Alzheimer’s research.

Hall of Fame pitcher and avid RVer Bob Gibson recently was honored with the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) Spirit of America Award, recognizing him as an exemplary representative of the traditional American values inherent to RV travel. He accepted the award on November 29, 2005, during the association’s 43rd Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
The former St.

Along Florida’s Expressways guidebookDave Hunter, author of the popular Along Interstate-75 guidebook, which takes travelers from Michigan to the Georgia-Florida border, has published a new book specifically for those driving Florida’s highways. Along Florida’s Expressways ($23.95, Mile Oak Publishing) is intended to help anyone travel through the Sunshine State with ease, comfort, and safety.
Unlike a destination guide, this book features 77 full-color maps with detailed information about exits and services for all of Florida’s expressways (main and subsidiary routes), along with the author’s personal observations and suggestions, not to mention fascinating trivia.
Mr.

Mandalay Luxury Division, part of Thor Industries, C847, unveiled the 2006 type A diesel-powered Presidio this past August at FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot, North Dakota.
New features on the 2006 Presidio include a full 84-inch interior ceiling height that expands the living area and increases overhead storage. Attractive porcelain tile has been added in the entryway, kitchen, and bathroom.

Home Away From Home: The World of Camper Vans and Motorhomes ($29.95, Black Dog Publishing) chronicles the earliest days of automobile travel all the way to present-day RVing. Editor and coauthor Kate Trant and fellow authors Malcom Bobbitt and Lars Eriksen capture the spirit of automotive travel during the past 100 years both in the United States and abroad.
The book features a general overview detailing the evolution of RVing along with in-depth commentary from RVers themselves and those in the industry.

Winnebago Industries Inc., C93, celebrated 35 years of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, September 9, 2005. The company (NYSE: WGO), based in Forest City, Iowa, joined the exchange on September 9, 1970.
To commemorate the event, Winnebago Industries company representatives took part in the closing bell ceremony to officially end trading on the exchange floor that day.

Gulf Stream Coach Inc., C2697, based in Nappanee, Indiana, has added another floor plan to its lineup of luxury motorhomes. The 2006 Friendship G7 8387 is a 38-foot, triple-slideout coach built on a Freightliner chassis that comes standard with a 350-horsepower Caterpillar engine, a six-speed Allison transmission, and a full air-ride suspension.

Damon Motor Coach, C4690, based in Elkhart, Indiana, has unveiled its all-new 2005 Astoria and Tuscany diesel pushers.
According to Dave Miller, Damon vice president of diesel sales and product development, the production of the Astoria and Tuscany are the result of Damon’s return to the “Value by Design” philosophy, a longtime theme for the company.
The 2005 Astoria features the ultimate option package — the Waldorf Edition — an upgrade that bundles numerous popular options in one package. Included in the Astoria Waldorf Edition are full-body paint, an upgraded furniture package, a home theater system with surround-sound stereo, and ceramic tile in the entry and kitchen/bath areas.
The Astoria also features a Freightliner XC raised-rail chassis, a 300-horsepower Cummins engine, full air brakes, a 100-gallon fuel tank, and up to two slideouts.

Thousands of visitors will make their way to Florida during the months of December, January, and February to take part in a ritual dubbed “Tailgate Tourism” by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official source for travel planning.
According to VISIT FLORIDA, tailgate tourists are those who visit a community for a sporting event and then travel beyond the stadium on their vacation. And this season thousands of pigskin partisans will flood into Florida to be part of six major football games that will be played in the Sunshine State.
The lineup of games includes five college bowls, including the Orange Bowl, where the University of Oklahoma and the University of Southern California will play for the national championship on January 4, 2005, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami.

Tiffin Motorhomes, C1717, based in Red Bay, Alabama, announced that its top-of-the-line motorhome, the Zephyr, returns to the company’s motorhome lineup for 2005 after a two-year hiatus.
The upscale Zephyr includes new side-vision cameras and accommodations for king-size beds and full-size sofas. The 45-foot coach includes a 500-horsepower engine, quad slideouts, a 32-inch LCD TV, solid-surface countertops in the galley, and three air-conditioning units.

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.

Coachmen RV, based in Middlebury, Indiana, recently introduced its newest diesel-powered luxury motorhome, the 2005 Sportscoach Encore. The Encore is built to meet the growing demand by RVers for upscale amenities and the power that a diesel engine can deliver.
Travelers can relax on leather seating found throughout the motorhome, snooze in the bedroom suite, and enjoy the open space created by the model’s double-slideout floor plan.

Marathon Coach Inc., C2654, a bus conversion company based in Coburg, Oregon, recently reached a milestone by completing its 900th coach. The company, touted as the world’s largest Prevost bus converter, began converting new bus shells into recreation vehicles and corporate coaches in 1983.
Coach number 900, built on a Prevost Le Mirage XLII 45-foot shell with double slideouts, includes a host of luxuries and conveniences that appeal to the high-end consumer.

Buddy Gregg Motor Homes, C3326, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, hosted a special luncheon and open house this past June to showcase its new paint and body shop facilities.

Creative Mobile Interiors, C9705, a coach conversion company based in Grove City, Ohio, has successfully entered the type B coach conversion market with the Sprinter PLV (personal luxury vehicle).

The 21.6-foot motorhome is built on DaimlerChrysler’s Sprinter chassis, which is supplied through Freightliner Custom Chassis, C1905. It is powered by a Mercedes-Benz 2.7-liter turbocharged five-cylinder diesel engine that is said to deliver up to 27 mpg.
Like many other high-quality coach conversions, the Sprinter PLV can be equipped with a wide range of amenities depending on the owner’s preferences.

Four Winds International, C7457, a division of Thor Industries, has announced that Ricky Carmichael, the 2003 champion of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Motocross Series and Supercross Series, has agreed to endorse the Mandalay type A diesel motorhome and the Fun Mover type C sport recreational vehicle.
Mr. Carmichael is the AMA’s all-time winningest driver in supercross and motocross racing.

Blue Bird Corporation recently announced that it has consolidated its coach, luxury motorhome, and commercial bus divisions to form Blue Bird Coachworks.
The new division will be led by vice president and general manager Wayne Joseph, who joined Blue Bird in 2003 after working for 25 years in the transit bus industry. Richard Maddox was named vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Bird Coachworks, with Bryan Hays (RV) and Buddy Cox (coach and commercial bus) as directors of sales and marketing.
In one of its first major acts as a consolidated division, Blue Bird Coachworks introduced the all-new 2005 Wanderlodge 450 LXi luxury motorhome.

Home & Park Motorhomes, C3790, a manufacturer of type B motorhomes based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, introduced the 210-Popular model at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, this past December.
Similar in physical appearance to Roadtrek’s 190-Popular models, the new 210-Popular is based on the Chevrolet Express 3500 Series extended van and has a 155-inch wheelbase for better ride and handling. The frame extends 18 inches behind the rear wheels, resulting in an overall length of 21 feet 11 inches.

Buddy Gregg Motor Homes, C3326, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in the motorhome sales business. The company was founded in 1984 by Buddy Gregg and his wife, Carole, in North Little Rock, Arkansas, after the Greggs purchased an existing motorhome dealership.

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, C1731, located in Newport Beach, California, will offer married couples staying at the resort’s RV park on Valentine’s Day, February 14, a special discount based on the number of years that they’ve been married. For instance, a couple that’s been married 10 years will receive a 10 percent discount.

Motorhomers interested in taking advantage of the resort’s Valentine’s Day promotion simply need to state the number of years they’ve been married when making their reservation.

Newport Dunes’ 406-site RV park features double-wide spaces that are individually fenced for maximum privacy; cable TV outlets; and 20-, 30-, and 50-amp electrical service.

Dodge, a DaimlerChrysler company, and Airstream, a division of Thor Industries, C847, have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement to market the new Dodge Sprinter Westfalia type B motorhome. The Westfalia, which is built using the Dodge Sprinter van, offers the outdoor enthusiast increased benefits in terms of comfort, convenience, safety, functionality, and quality.

Luxury motorhome manufacturer Country Coach, C2132, is celebrating its third decade in the RV manufacturing business with the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Magna. This 42-foot flat-floor, triple-slideout motorhome, which debuted at the annual Country Coach Class Reunion Rally in September 2003, will be offered in a limited production run of 30 units.
“This coach is a culmination of the things people look for in a Country Coach — and then some,” said company CEO and founder Bob Lee.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma, now offers visitors a peek inside a historic diner, similar to those that lined Route 66 many years ago.

The restored Route 66 Diner, which opened this past May, is not being used as a working restaurant, but it contains original equipment from an eatery that operated from 1956 to 1964 in Shamrock, Texas, called the Porter House Cafe.

Desert Shores Motor Coach Resort, C9627 — an exclusive 64-acre gated community of 141 waterfront sites in the Palm Springs Desert Resorts area of Southern California — reported a successful 2003 summer construction period.

Desert Shores developer Bob Lee, founder of Country Coach Inc., said, “We have been in the construction season for the past several months and will complete 24 custom casitas by mid-October, which will be in addition to 42 completed and sold lots. Our goal is to have half of the total sites completed this year.”

A “casita,” or “little house,” includes 750 square feet.

With winter approaching, many FMCA members are planning to follow the sun to warmer zones. Quartzsite, Arizona, is high on the list of snowbird roosts, attracting thousands of RVers each year.

Alfa Leisure Inc., C8898, of Ontario, California, which began building the See Ya motorhome three years ago, is now offering the See Ya Gold, an enhanced model offered in the same 40-foot long, dual-slideout floor plans that are available in the Alfa See Ya. The See Ya Gold incorporates many additional luxury items as standard equipment.
The See Ya Gold is powered by an 8.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine that develops 1,200 pound-feet of torque and yields 400 horsepower.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees nearly 12 million acres of land and water at 460 lakes across the United States, and volunteers play an important role in protecting the natural resources and maintaining recreation areas.

Public lands throughout the United States will receive greater attention in coming years thanks to the re-establishment of the “Take Pride in America” program, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Monaco Coach Corporation, C2111, and Playing Mantis, a leading die-cast manufacturer, have teamed up to give anyone with an extra $10 the chance to purchase their very own highline motorhome — albeit quite a bit smaller.
Beginning last September, miniature replicas of Holiday Rambler Navigator, Monaco Executive, Beaver Marquis, and Safari Zanzibar motorhomes have been available under the Johnny Lightning logo, a popular brand of collectibles.
The idea to make miniatures of these motorhome models came from Holiday Rambler engineers Ed Mahin and Ron Nunemaker, both avid die-cast collectors. From there, Monaco Coach Corporation engineers worked with designers at Johnny Lightning, providing technical specifications, photographs, and other information, to make sure the die-casts were as accurate as possible.

National RV Inc., C3451, citing a move back to basics, has resurrected the popular Tropi-Cal brand as an attractively priced triple-slideout diesel model and revamped its Sea Breeze and Sea Breeze LX gasoline-powered motorhomes. These changes were unveiled during the National RV Trade Show this past December in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Tropi-Cal, which was a gas-powered line, returns as a diesel pusher priced at approximately $150,000.

VISIT FLORIDA, the official tourism marketing corporation for the state of Florida, has published the newly revised Worth the Drive guidebook, containing 17 self-guided driving tours of the state.
The tours are designed to take travelers off the beaten path and help them discover some of Florida’s best-kept secrets. They meander through undiscovered Florida, from American Indian sites and pristine natural areas to historic restaurants and cultural attractions.
The tours are categorized as Theme Tours; Road Tours; and City Tours with day trips to surrounding areas.

Chassis manufacturer Spartan Motors Inc., C3322, and motorhome builder Travel Supreme, C8691, have teamed to produce the first motorhome built on Spartan’s new mid-engine chassis, the Me2. The new motorhome made its commercial debut at RVIA’s National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, December 3 through 5, 2002.

The “Go Fast” Blue Bird, a specially outfitted 2003 43-foot Blue Bird Wanderlodge LXi, was at the center of opening festivities for West Virginia’s largest outdoor festival, Bridge Day, held October 19, 2002, in Fayetteville.
Governor Bob Wise got the event started from a special platform placed on the roof of the motor coach, which was parked on the 876-foot-high New River Gorge Bridge. Later, an estimated 400 BASE (Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth) jumpers parachuted into the gorge.

Motorhomers who want to explore the natural wonders and rural history of Minnesota may be interested in Shawn Perich’s new book, Backroads Of Minnesota ($19.95, Voyageur Press). The book leads travelers on a scenic tour of the Gopher State, revealing many of Minnesota’s hidden treasures.
Included in the book are more than 30 recommended drives that visit many of the parks, rivers, lakes, and other sites that capture Minnesota’s colorful history.

Motorhomers who want to explore the natural wonders and rural history of Minnesota may be interested in Shawn Perich’s new book, Backroads Of Minnesota ($19.95, Voyageur Press). The book leads travelers on a scenic tour of the Gopher State, revealing many of Minnesota’s hidden treasures.
Included in the book are more than 30 recommended drives that visit many of the parks, rivers, lakes, and other sites that capture Minnesota’s colorful history.

For the second year, Nashville Easy Livin’ Country RV, a Coachmen RV dealer, helped promote the NFL’s Tennessee Titans by loaning the team a 31-foot 2002 Coachmen Mirada for its team caravan. The two-week caravan visited parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama and was designed to give the team’s fans — particularly children — an opportunity to meet some of the Titans players.
From April 5 through April 20, 2002, the caravan covered 4,000 miles and visited 61 cities.

Virgil D. Miller, 62, chairman of the board of Newmar Corporation, C4363, an RV manufacturer based in Nappanee, Indiana, died  July 7, 2002, at Goshen (Indiana) General Hospital after a lengthy illness.
“It is hard to put into words what Virgil Miller meant to Newmar,” said Dick Parks, who succeeded Mr.

Coachmen Recreational Vehicle Company, C328, of Middlebury, Indiana, is helping travel expert Steve Zikman promote his new book,  Chicken Soup For The Traveler’s Soul ($12.95, Health Communications) with the use of a specially painted 2002 Coachmen Cross Country motorhome. Other corporate sponsors include Ford Motor Company and Cracker Barrel.
The 36-foot diesel-powered Cross Country Mr.

National Park Service Camping Guide ($12.95, Roundabout Publications), by William C. Herow, provides information for all 118 National Park Service areas that offer camping.

On January 25, 2002, Home & Park Motorhomes, C3790, presented rock-and-roll legend Ronnie Hawkins the keys to a Roadtrek 190-Popular motorhome.
Jeff Hanemaayer, chairman of Home & Park Motorhomes, said, “Ronnie Hawkins is a Canadian rock-and-roll legend. He also has been a Roadtrek owner for the last four years.

The sixth edition of William Hutchings’ book Radio on the Road: the Traveler’s Companion ($16.95, Arrowhead Publishing) is now available to help motorhomers and other road travelers find their favorite radio programming no matter where they are.
The new edition includes listings — separated by state and province — for more than 15,000 AM and FM radio stations in the United States and Canada. Each listing gives the station’s primary broadcast format (news, talk, sports, etc.), frequency, and call letters.

Liberty Coach, C733, based in North Chicago, Illinois, celebrated the official grand opening of its Liberty Coach of Florida sales and service center on February 1, 2002. More than 200 people attended an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new facility in Stuart, Florida.

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.

Gordon and Janet Groene, F47166, longtime columnists for Family Motor Coaching magazine, demystify the idea of RV full-timing in the third edition of their book Living Aboard Your RV (Ragged Mountain Press). As in previous editions, the Groenes have packed this book with information for those considering the full-timing lifestyle.