News Briefs

RVIA Sets National RV Show

Exhibits from 95 RV manufacturers and 300 supplier companies will occupy a record 773,200 square feet of space at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s 42nd annual National RV Trade Show at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center November 30 to December 2.

As many as 13,300 industry officials and RV dealers will preview RVs and other new products that will be arriving on dealer lots this spring. The event will begin with a breakfast at which industry leaders will outline the industry’s prospects for the coming year.

Hall of Fame to Hold Raffle

The RV/MH Heritage Foundation is holding its annual benefit raffle to raise money to support the RV/MH Hall of Fame, Museum and Library in Elkhart, Indiana. The museum and library house RVs dating back to 1913 and the world’s largest collection of industry literature and photos. The drawing will be held at noon Dec. 15. First prize will be the winner’s choice of a 2005 motorhome, a manufactured home or $75,000 cash. Second prize is $15,000. There are 98 other cash prizes in the drawing, which is limited to 2,500 entries. Entries are $100. For information or to enter, phone (800) 378-8694 or see www.rv-mh-hall-of-fame.org.

Winnebago Revenues Exceed $1 Billion

Winnebago Industries, the nation’s top-selling motorhome manufacturer, ended its 2004 fiscal year August 28 with record revenues of $1.1 billion, a 32 percent increase over the $845.2 million reported in 2003.

The company said revenues in the fourth quarter reached $283 million, and net income amounted to a record $19 million. The company said its revenues were helped by strong growth in the sale of Class A diesel motorhomes.

Fleetwood Ties in with NASCAR

Fleetwood RV, one of the nation’s largest RV manufacturers, has created a NASCAR package for auto racing fans that initially will be available on its Expedition, Bounder (gas), GearBox, Terry, Prowler and Wilderness models.

The package includes racing and NASCAR-themed exterior graphics, a checkered flag awning, an exterior barbecue, Fleetwood-branded chairs, NASCAR-branded blanket and entry mat and a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series flag and mounted pole. The package was introduced in October at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s RV Show in Pomona, California.

KOA Conducts Camper Study

Campers in the U.S. and Canada spend more than 107 million nights each year in commercial campgrounds, according to a new study commissioned by Kampgrounds of America (KOA) of Billings, Montana.

More than 5,500 households were contacted for the study, which was conducted by Precision Research of Phoenix, Arizona, from April to June. The study found that two-thirds of the users of commercial campgrounds are RVers.

About 11 percent of all households in the U.S. have camped overnight in the past year, the study found. And one-quarter of those said they had either camped during a family reunion or group get-together. About a third of RVers were under 45, with the average age being 52.

Tread Lightly Opens New Campaign

Tread Lightly, a nonprofit organization based in Ogden, Utah, has developed a new public service announcement campaign, entitled “Play Nice,” to encourage outdoor enthusiasts to protect the environment.

The focus of the campaign is to educate recreationists to stay on designated roads and trails. The print ads are designed to be printed in magazines, maps, posters, brochures and other publications. For information, see www.treadlightly.org or call (800) 966-9900.

Nevada Sponsors Adventure Race

Nevada Passage, a statewide adventure race created for television to showcase Nevada’s spectacular sights, will be held in May under sponsorship of the Nevada Commission on Tourism in cooperation with Paul Mitchell, XTERRA Energy Drink and Nissan.

Teams of athletes will kayak, mountain bike, run, hike, rock climb, four-wheel drive and jet ski their way across Nevada’s mountain passes, desert trails, lakes and rivers. The race will begin in Las Vegas and end in Reno. The event will be aired in 80 television markets.