News Briefs

New RV/MH Hall of Fame to Be Built
The RV/MH Heritage Foundation has signed the contract for the first phase of construction of a new Recreation Vehicle/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame on a 40-acre site in Elkhart, Indiana. The first phase will include general offices, a reception area, a Hall of Fame gallery, a theater, and exhibit space for the foundation’s collection of vintage recreational vehicles.

Construction may start as early as this month, although the formal groundbreaking ceremony will be held Aug. 1 in connection with the induction of the 2005 Hall of Fame class. Completion of construction is scheduled for the spring of 2006. The RV/MH Heritage Foundation was founded in 1972. The RV/MH Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of the RV or manufactured housing industries. The foundation holds the world’s largest library of RV and manufactured housing literature and photographs.

Honda Model Can Be Fueled at Home
Some California buyers of the Honda Civic GX, which runs on natural gas, will be able to fill up their fuel tanks at home, using Phill, an appliance that can be mounted to a garage wall either indoors or outdoors, tapping into the homeowner’s natural gas supply line. Phill can refuel the car overnight and turns itself off when the tank is full.

FuelMaker, which makes and markets Phill, says a trained technician must install the device. Phill will be available for lease initially through 17 authorized Honda dealers in San Diego, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Sacramento and San Francisco. The device leases for $34 to $79 per month, plus installation.

Winnebago Elects New President
Ed Barker, a 36-year veteran of Winnebago Industries has been promoted from senior vice president, chief financial officer, to president. He takes a title formerly held by Chairman and CEO Bruce Hertzke, who said he wants to focus his attention on the company’s overall direction. Barker, 57, will retain his role as chief financial officer.

Avi Resort Offers Promotion
Avi Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada is offering a two-night stay in its RV park Sunday through Thursday with two breakfast and two dinner buffets, movie theater concession coupons and $25 worth of gasoline for $79 in a promotion that continues through June. Some restrictions apply. For information, see www.avicasino.com

Fishing Club Opens Access to Private Land
The Oregon Fishing Club is making it possible for anglers to gain access to private land to fish in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds for salmon, steelhead, trout, bass, catfish and pan fish. The club, which was established 15 years ago, leases access rights from property owners, and creates campsites, improves fish habitat and stocks fish.

A three-year family club membership is $475 for three years, plus $27 per month. Members receive a hat, photo ID badges, access to a telephone hot line with recorded messages about hot spots, a quarterly newsletter, e-mailed fishing reports and a notebook with detailed maps and directions to fishing locations and instructions on gaining access. For information about the club, see www.ofc.org or call (877) 521-8947.

Diesel Popularity on Rise
With motorists becoming more concerned about fuel economy, the number of diesel vehicles sold is increasing, according to an analysis of data from R. L. Polk and Company. The number of new diesel cars, trucks and SUVS registered rose from 301,000 in 2000 to nearly 470,000 last year.

New figures indicate that in the popular medium-duty truck market, which includes the Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford F-Series and GMC Sierra, nearly 60 percent of consumers chose the diesel option in 2004, rather than the gasoline alternative. The Diesel Technology Forum estimates that diesels are 20 to 40 percent more efficient than comparable gas engines, particularly in SUVs and light trucks.

Chinook Winds Buys Golf Course
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Chinook Winds Casino Resort of Lincoln City, Oregon, have purchased Lakeside Golf Course and renamed it Chinook Winds Golf Resort. The new acquisition is the third step in the tribe’s plan to create a destination resort. The first step was buying the hotel next to the casino and the second was construction of Logan Road RV Park, just blocks north of the casino.

The tribes plan to increase the size of the golf course to 6,640 yards and make it a par 71.