Monaco Raises Trailer Production
In response to market demand, Monaco Coach Corporation, headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, is stepping up its production of trailers while reducing its capacity to produce motorhomes.

The company announced that it will begin building R-Vision trailers on a production line in Coburg that formerly turned out motorhomes. Meanwhile, it will consolidate manufacturing of all lower-priced motorhomes at its plant in Wakarusa, Indiana, and move production of mid-priced diesel units from Indiana to Oregon. The net effect, the company said, would be to reduce motorhome production capacity by 55 units per week and increase towable capacity by 100 units per week.

John Nepute, Monaco president, said the manufacturing shifts should increase quality and efficiency, and also enable the company to deliver towables more cheaply to West Coast markets. The production changes will cost from $1.5 million to $2 million.

Meanwhile Monaco also reported that its revenues for the first quarter of this year, ending April 1, reached $385.1 million, a 17 percent increase over the same period a year ago. Net income rose to $8.9 million from $5.3 million a year ago.

New Mexico Offers Pass
The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs is offering a $20 pass for admission to all of the state’s 14 museums and historic monuments. The pass is valid for one year after its first use.

The state operates art museums in Santa Fe, the National Hispanic Cultural Center and Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque, the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo and the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. The yearly pass is being sold at all state museums and monuments and through the department’s website at www.newmexicoculture.org.

Winnebago Buys Back Stock
Winnebago Industries announced it has completed the repurchase of $30 million of its stock and intends to buy another $50 million to enhance shareholder value. The nation’s leading motorhome manufacturer has repurchased about 22.8 million shares at a cost of $308.5 million since 1997.

Camping World Awards RV
Brenda McLaughlin of Haynesville, Maine, is the winner of a Scottsdale Motorhome by Newmar, valued at $120,000, in the President’s Club 20th Anniversary RV Giveaway Sweepstakes conducted by Camping World. McLaughlin entered the sweepstakes at a Camping World store in Kissimmee, Florida.

Kite Museum Flying High
The World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame has moved into a new 10,400-square-foot facility in Long Beach, Washington, that is ten times larger than its former home. The new building includes a gallery with 25-foot ceilings and an upstairs exhibition space to showcase the museum’s collection of more than 1,500 kites from around the world.
Admission to the museum is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for youths 15 and younger. For more information, visit www.worldkitemuseum.com.

Farmers’ Markets Return
The City of Moscow, Idaho, and the Moscow Arts Commission sponsor a farmers market that is now in its 29th season. Fifty-four vendors are participating in the market, which is held from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday through the end of October in the Jackson Street parking lot of Friendship Square in downtown Moscow.

The Moscow Farmers’ Market is just one of hundreds of farmers markets that are held every summer in communities across the country. For a state-by-state list of farmers markets, their locations and hours, visit www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarket.

Thor Reports Record Backlog
Thor Industries, the world’s largest RV manufacturer, reported record sales for the quarter ended April 30 and a record backlog of $501 million in RV orders and $197 million in bus orders.

RV sales for the quarter reached $775 million. Total sales, including buses, amounted to $856 million. Both figures were 17 percent ahead of the same period last year. The company reported retail sales of 23,670 RV units, a 9 percent gain.

Worst Barbecuer Sought
Cattlemen’s Barbecue Sauce has initiated a contest to find America’s worst barbecuer, with the winner to receive a private barbecue lesson from Rick Browne, author of a series of barbecue cookbooks and host of the PBS television show “Barbecue America.” The prize will include a trip to the World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest in Memphis in May 2007.

Nominations can be made by writing 100 words or less explaining why the nominee is the worst barbecuer, and sending it to Cattlemen’s Chump to Champ BBQ Makeover Contest c/o BHGPR, 546 Valley Road, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 by Aug. 1 or entering online at www.cattlemensbbqsauce.com.

RVers Adjust to Gas Prices
RVers may adjust their travel plans this summer because of higher fuel prices, but they won’t be staying home, according to a new survey of RV owners by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

The survey showed that 45 percent of RVers expect to reduce the distance they travel and 52 percent plan on staying longer in one place, but few plan to use their RV less than they did last summer.

Richard Coon, president of RVIA, said, “In times of high fuel prices, RVers tend to spend more time enjoying the campground and less on the road. Whether they travel five miles or 500, their outdoor experience can be the same.” Coon said that the higher cost of gasoline this summer will add about $40 to $50 to an 800-mile round trip in an RV.