National Fiberglass RV Rally

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So, did any of our members make it to the National Fiberglass RV Rally in Kentucky?

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Luo Edwards from California went. (I don’t think he is back yet.)

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What a hoot!! I got there about 4PM on Tuesday the 17th and left the following Tuesday at noon. There was only one Casita left - out of 60 plus trailers- when I bugged out. (Turns out they were staying an extra day and beat me out of longest attendee). Susan was happily able to drive up on Thursday to join us and reap the benefits of her labor. The week was full of fellowship fun and food- plenty of activities but no pressure. We were free to look up old pals, make new ones, tour rigs or just plain relax. I did plenty of that ....I can't remember the last time I had 7 straight days off:O

I did manage to get a few pix before my camera glitched..mostly Casita collages. My kingdom for a wide angle lens!! I'll post if I can get them downloaded. There were a half dozen or so Scamps- including Ron Cranston, founder of SOI in his 19 ft "Scamp 1"- and a couple U-hauls, but I was disapppointed not to see any Bolers, Trills or Bigfeet....really wanted to check these originals out. Safe to say that the Canadians gave birth to the concept, but I quipped that those canuck trailers must melt south of the Mason/Dixon Line:laugh

Donna and Bud's pet parade was most entertaining, and all the properly proud pet owners shared their well-behaved critters with us. There was one incident later in the week between a pair of dogs but Terry Littke broke it up pretty quick. That took some courage I assure you.

With hamburger cookouts, Nellie's potluck on Saturday, and Sunday Pancake & Sausage breakfast, it was easy to make the week on food and not spend a dime on eating out. The tire seminar and weigh-in were most informative, with 20 or so attendees weighing each wheel of their tow, then retreiving their trailer and returning to the scales. The paperwork was considerable with detailed info on tow and trailer tires, and the professionals were happy to analyze your numbers and offer advice.

Things started to wind down at the end of the weekend, nicely ushered by Roland and Suzan's wine party. Never at a loss for humor, wit or style, our nattily clad host in a tux tee was all to happy to add a touch of ambience and (despite my efforts with the evening's campfire) share his Casita fireplace with us. You Had To Be There, trust me.

Of course a wealth of ideas and raw material for mods was to be had with so many trailers in attendance. I would easily give Frank Ferry and family the nod on the Coolest Rig award for his 20 foot Scamp. Frank's talents with fiberglass are formidable and damned if he hasn't pulled off the first functional slideout in an egg. Not a man to trust theory, Frank and his wife slept in the slideout instead of the kids. I can't wait to see this project as it progresses. Coolest tractor?? I'll stand behind my selection of Dwight and Geneva Smith with their WDH-equipped Caddy Fleetwood land yacht.....style points count!!

Coincidentally, one unwitting attendee on his way to Alaska just happened to stop for the night in his Casita- you can't imagine the look on his face when he pulled into Fiberglass central- like the rest of the rally, it was priceless.

All in all, just a super week. The weather was damp on Wednesday, but just stellar thru the rest of the rally with temps in the 70's and bright blue skies. Cool nights- no air was needed till Sunday eve and Monday. Susan and Terry pulled off a monumental task with skill and grace, while financing many elements of the event out of their own pockets. In appreciation, a suprise celebration of their 35th anniversary and cake was presented while they planned the 55th Anniversary party of others. Ideas were knocked around for next year's gala, with Roland's suggestion of an extended NM desert boondock and artifact tour heading the list. I will defer to others on the outcome of deliberations. Suffice to say that I hope all of you get to attend a gathering of this scope sometime in the future....the regionals are great but there was a special ambience to the First National Fiberglass Rally. I am proud to be a part of this community and it was a rare treat to meet everyone and spend a week with those of discerning taste- safe travels to you all.

Phil M

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Thanks, Phil. Great report. I appreciate the chance to read about the big rally. :sunny

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sounds like a great time all around - there are those of us that wished we could have been there. :)

(had to edit and respell WISHED.....lol)

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I too was able to attend in my 2002 Scamp 16 ft. While there wern't to many Scamp owners, we were treated like old friends by all.
Susan and Terry went way beyon what was expected of them and I like everyone else give them a great big WELL DONE.
I only stayed Friday, saturday, and left early sunday, I had a very relaxing time. I even had room service one of the campers heard me say I would like some water mellon and lo and behold later in the evening a knock on the door when opened there stood Bob with a plate of very tasty water mellon.
Larry (Ohio)

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Anyone know where we (I) can view Frank Ferry's 20' Scamp with a slide out??? This I gotta see!!!!!:E

How about pics of the entire group?

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Orginally posted by Larry B

I even had room service one of the campers heard me say I would like some water mellon and lo and behold later in the evening a knock on the door when opened there stood Bob with a plate of very tasty water mellon.
Larry (Ohio)

:dance That's so cool, Larry!

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Roland Williams posted this pic on Casita Club......I hope he doesn't mind me sharing it here. This is still in the prototype stage. When Frank got the Scamp from the salvage yard there was a large gash about a third of the way up from the rear. He cut out the rear corner, reglassed the walls and extensively modified the corner to fashion the slideout. Way cool!

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3efba4cb5cfd337844.jpg/>

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WOW!!

..... :E :E .....

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Thanks so much for borrowing the picture! I don't know what I expected..but, this wasn't it. It's going to be fabulous when finished.:ola

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It was hard to get a good picture of the rally because of the way we were spread out. I hope these gives you an ideal of what it was like. I think this is about 25% of the trailers.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3efca09e9729eP6190003.JPG/>
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3efca0c28bb7fP6190004.JPG/>
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3efca0e16b4b3P6190005.JPG/>
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3efca0f5e3ef2P6190002.JPG/>

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What a beautiful site - class glass.


:)

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we had a great time at the rally. the weather started out a little iffy but a high pressure front came through and made the weekend weather perfect. we met lots of great people and saw some neat eggs. many good mod ideas. (thanks to Dick Rothfuss, i installed the lighted water pump switch. i owe you one.)

the hot dog cook out and the pot luck evenings were culinary overloads. there was enough food to feed and army . . . and it was all great.

the weight and tire seminar was an excellent presentation. we really learned a lot. i was not able to get my trailer weighed but i have a much better idea of how important it is to load the trailer carefully. we will be looking at eliminating some of the 'stuff' that we carry. we will also be a lot more careful about checking the air in our tires before we travel.

Now for the really important news from the 03 Rally that all you low-cal Marga fans are waiting for. The low-cal Margarita from the winners (and the only contestants) in the Margarita contest. In weight watchers terms, a normal margarita has about 12 points. this recepe will produce a 2-1/2 point margarita. the difference is the amout of sugar in a normal margarita.

Stelly's low-cal margarita.

2 oz. fresh line juice

2 oz. tequilla

1 oz. brandy

1/4 rounded tsp. of Kroger lemon-lime Light Drink Mix(dry not mixed)

1/4 tsp. orange extract (this will be the hardest to find). look in the spice section in the grocery or try a health food store.

10 to 12 ice cubes, then blend. You can just shake it but its better in a blender as a frozen Margarita.

The Rally was great. Thank you Susan for all the work you did. Terry said you did it all, that's why he wasn't included in the thank you, but I know he must have given you lots of support, so we appreciate his work too.

Hope everyone who asked for this recipe reads this page 'cause I don't know what I did with the email addresses people gave me.

jerry & stelly

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Jerry and Stelly

There is a great picture of your backs taken at the rally that is floating around somewhere. Marlene and I both got a kick out of it. I saved it if you haven't already seen it. Welcome Home.:wave :wave

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:jump-r I know!! I know!!


Is it this one?

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3efe08e180c11Rally08a.jpg/>

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You done good Mary. Isn't that a Great picture?:wiggly :wiggly

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nick, marlene and mary:

how did you find out? i thought we were incognito. no one was supposed to know we were there.

we had a good time but we are begining to thinik that the size of the bluebonnet casitafest is about the right size. we met a lot of people in KY but missed a lot to. we did see john and judy gulinello and had a great time with them. i'm trying to lay my hands on a CD of "Charlies Greatest Hits" for john but i'm having a hard time getting it.:crazy-ii we missed you guys.

the main reason for our trip out east was to visit our son in raleigh, actually to see our newest grand daughter, anna kathryn. she is a doll and so well behaved. we had a good time seeing all the kids and chris and betsy even though it rained almost all the time we were there.

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...and a wonderful time was had by all!! In spite of being in the shadow of a half million $$$ MH!! We didn't get sunrise until about 11 AM & consequently missed the pancake breakfast. But that's the only meal we missed.

Thanxx again to Terry, Susan, Donna, Phil, et al for a well planned &
executed event!!

Dick/Jeanette Rothfuss

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:wave Hi All: well we got back home last Sunday 7-13-03. the highpoints for us: in addition to the rally, bowling green and the corvette factory, shakertown, ky, pigeon forge, tn and the smoky mountain knife works, fredericksburg, va museum, driving across washington dc with the casita, dinner in baltimore with roland, et al,gettysburg, pa,the baltimore aquarium, the kentucky horse park, visiting a second cousin in ashland kentucky for the first time, the westward arch, st louis, ms, thomas park, salina ks (a free boondocker spot in a very pretty park with water and dump site), going under the continental devide on I70.
before going to the rally, though, we visited Frank and Sheila Calabretta, in Ratone, NM who have put on about 14k miles on there casita in about 6 months.
then we went dodge city & boot hill (a waste of time and money) it's all phony now.
Then to Mt. Rushmore and the hart ranch, rapid city south dakota (Very nice rv park) and then to John and Ginger Olson's place on a biiig cattle ranch near Hermoza, sd., they gave us a tour around mt rushmore and the casper state park where Ginger had been a ranger and still has a pass. took us thru a large herd of buffalo.
thence thru the badlands,and to Wall, sd (look it up) merlo, sd (large collection of cars,trucks, motorcycles, farme equipment, guns, rocks and more...we ran out of disk space.)
House on the Rock, spring green, ws (difficult to describe in less than a day), looval, ky, and takeing a back road to Renfro Valley, got to the Kentucky river ferry crossing...ferry across the river....started to wait for it and a local fella came by and said "that ferry has'nt moved in two weeks--water's to high". he led us out, thank you.