www.airstream.net The Vintage Airstream Club a WBCCI Intraclub THE VINTAGE CLUB If you wish to join the VAC please contact: Scott Scheuermann VAC Membership Chairman 363 Baldwin Drive Berea, OH 44017 [email protected] If you wish to subscribe to our newsletter, The Vintage Advantage, please contact: Daisy Welch VA Subscription Manager 213 A Concord Road Lincoln, MA 01773 [email protected] * Still a member? Not sure? Check the mailing label with your address on your recent newsletter to find out when you need to re-subscribe. PRESORTED STANDARD presents THE VINTAGE ADVANTAGE NEWSLETTER U.S. POSTAGE PAID In this issue GREAT FALLS, MT 59401 PERMIT NO. 388 The Vintage Airstream Club Vintage Advantage Newsletter THE LED STORY Membership Chairman Daisy Welch Scott Scheuermann 363 Baldwin Drive HOW I BUILT HOLDING TANK FOR MY 1964 BAMBI Berea OH 44017 Stuart Natof TWINKY TRAVELS Forrest McClure Forwarding Service Requested CIRCLE THE WAGONS Forrest McClure OUR FIRST AIRSTREAM Brett Smith SOLAR CEL INSTALLATION Garnett Horner www.airstream.net Issue #1,Q2 www.airstream.net Vol. 11 2004 LETTERS Vintage Airstream Club TABLE OF CONTENTS Elected Officers (2003-2004) Tom Howarth (#6490) President PO Box 4362 Middletown, RI 02842 [email protected] Rick Davis (#1602) Immediate Past President P.O. Box 328 Jamestown, TN 38556 [email protected] Bob Herman 1st Vice President 2092 Culbreath Road C-12 Brooksville, FL 34602 [email protected] The President’s Message p 3-4 Wayne Moore (#15116) 2nd Vice President The Editor’s Desk p 5-6 Membership Chair 131 Castle Hill Road VAC Region Representatives p 30 PO Box 4173, Windham, NH 03087 [email protected] [email protected] The Articles and Essays The LED Story p 7-8 3rd Vice President (open) How I built holding tanks p 9-11 Treasurer Twinkie Travels p 12-15 (open) Our first Airstream p 19-21 Bonnie Herman (#8556) Solar Cel Installation p 22-24 Recording Secretary 2092 Culbreath Road C-12 Brooksville, FL 34602 [email protected] Membership Report p 25 Announcements p 26 Coop’s Corner p 38-39 Updated Concours Judging / by Hunt Jones p 28 Classifieds p 31 Committee chairs with people in them. Bud Cooper (#26019) Fred Coldwell (#1510) Judy Penner (#6339) Technical Correspondent VAC Historian Blue Beret Editor Winter Address: 1401 South Cage Blvd., 2031 Krameria Street 7608 Lake Pointe Dr, #600, Pharr, TX 78577 ph:956.783.5641 Denver, CO 80207 Crestwood, KY 40014 Summer Address: 6982 Bonaire Court, [email protected] Concours de’ Elegance chair Rockford, MI 49341; ph:616.874.8291 Toby Folwick (#2029) Judy Penner (#6339) [email protected] VAC Webmaster [email protected] 1321 Lake Drive W. #128 Bryan Burkhart Chanhassen, MN 55317 Scott Scheuermann (#13497) Design + Editor / VAC Magazine [email protected] Membership Chairman 2479 Folsom Street 363 Baldwin Dr. San Francisco, CA 94110 Bob Herman Berea, OH 44017-2623 [email protected] Rally Advisor [email protected] [email protected] Parliamentarian (open) 5 LETTERS Presidents Message The questions for future directions tion of rallies and events will remain worked hard on developing a set of with an article on a holding tank for the Vintage Airstream Intra-Club the focus of this Board and future guidelines and selection of judges design and installation on a Bambi have been discussed with remarks Boards as well. to represent a more qualitative followed by an article by Daisy running the gamut. There are strong approach. There will also be new Welsh on using LED lighting and sentiments towards organization of In this same context, this year the special categories that award fea- an article on solar design by VAC more independent activities outside VAC is going to be a more infor- tures such as the best engineering, rocket scientist Garnett Horner. All of the WBCCI as well as strong mal gathering at the 47th WBCCI etc. So please come out and join of these are insights into how one sentiments towards increased inte- International Rally in Lansing, MI. us as the casual nature of the VAC can begin to reconfigure their vin- grations. Much of these remarks The rally is from June 28 to July will be tested for the first time at the tage rig for increased use without appear to be regional in nature but 4th although we will be pregather- International rally. taking away from the natural beauty the overlying sentiments appear to ing at an off-site so that we can of the coach. I’d still like to hear be directly related to the beliefs parade into the Rally grounds on In terms of our web site, we have from more folks on how they have of the individual volunteers. Those June 26th. Bob Herman has more had a number of growing problems approached their reconstructions for of us who have been involved with details available in this issue about that have recently come to a head. increased functionality as well both the WBCCI and VAC for a boondocking for the night of June Our host server suspended the mail as design. number of years have witnessed a 25th at a nearby mall parking lot. forwarding service indefinitely. Those progressive change while there are As far as the informality, this year of us who have relied on this for a This winter has been a brutal one those organizers who feel more con- the VAC has not scheduled ANY number of years are frustrated with here in the northeast as it has strictive within the larger context. A “official” events but will conduct its this but based on the overwhelming seriously challenged my use of common sentiment by all the voices annual business meetings, lectures level of spam, it was past time to do Airstreaming full time in all climates. has been that the VAC represents and even its final awards meal within this. Much kudos to Toby Folwick Slowly I have been addressing each the original ideals and goals of the the gathering area of the vintage for his handling of this as well as of the weak points for year round Wally Byam creed as set forth in the parking. Our schedule of events will the overall web site improvements enjoyment. The cold does odd original formation of the WBCCI. be determined through discussion that he has been working on. We things to hamper this but with pres- The VAC is truly a way of life for and determination during the infa- are hopeful to have membership ent technology, and much effort, I many of us regardless of sentiments mous social hours with postings on renewals and subscriptions up in the honestly believe that our rigs can be to belonging to a larger organization a vintage bulletin board. The only very near future. We are also look- configured for all seasons as well as or not. This understanding needs to exception to this will be the annual ing towards having a VAC shopping unlimited travel. This is my personal be continued and fostered such that Concours d’Elegance, which will center available sometime later. pursuit as it still remains to be seen hopefully, the continued emphasis be held on Wednesday, June 30th, how realistic this goal is. on this newsletter, our web site and 2004. Hunt Jones has taken on the Stuart Natof continues our discus- in providing support for organiza- role of Concours Steward and has sions of boondocking in this issue Happy ‘streaming! Tom Howarth President, Vintage Airstream Club 2003-2004 6 7 LETTERS The Editor’s Desk MORE SCOOP, LESS POOP Time traveller Checking that empty mailbox getting you down? Well blame it on me this From: hiroshi okamoto Anybody have an answer on this query below?? To: bryan burkhart If so, send it into me and I will include it in the next issue. time. Life took some great turns in the last 3 months and at the same time delivered some very difficult times too, the kind of difficult that makes a Dear, Sir. Bryan. Hello Bryan dead hard-drive or a jack knifed trailer looked simple. (of those two, only How are you? Hello! We have the typical trailer infect and collecting and restor- some would be great. The question is may be not that my hard-drive died, the trailer still shines and loves a good barbeque, a Hiroshi here. You can see this Bambi yes, which ing vintage American trailers over here in Switzerland. 3 important but it is something I asking me since we got strong cocktail and a scandalous story. Life is good and life goes on. Time came from USA Arizona! Now, It’ s mean; Many Japanese Young people will see this Bambi. It will years ago we where in holidays in California and we met the trailer 4 years ago. Until now, there is no one with an is the best medicine. be first encounter for them. you at the spring rally that was held close to Santa Cruz answer and over here are hillbillys with no knowledge in California at that time (after 4 years we like to come about the American trailer history. Our readers have sent in great stories of personal experiences trailering, Yes, In my memory “first encounter is Record again in 2004 to pick up our 53 Flying Cloud who is at the and of the virtues of boondocking, converting and updating ones trailer. Jacket too “You know “Pat Methany group, Jazz Airstream Factory in Ohio for some repair work and dis- Have a great 04’ thank you all for your input! Guitarist” That’s Name Record “American Garage”, It is famous.