| Author |
Message |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 11:17 am: | |
Hey, Guys,
I guess by leaving a little early, I missed the conspiracy by the attendees to keep the meet secret.
Food was great, Coach Examples likewise, comradarie excellent, vendors were talented and helpful, particularly Rich (International Bus Parts).
Rich is making a serious effort towards supplying us converters with current and new stuff. Due to my tool and die experience, I can converse in detail with Rich about upcoming products and the time effort and expense that goes into tooling up for these products. His participatory demo on polishing stainless is pretty much unprecedented - since Jack Conrad's first year "hands on" welding demo/class.
FSI was there with rivets and installation tools.
RV Safety Systems, Jim's getting more and more refined.
Dave Gregory gave a talk but is better cornered one-on-one as he's a reluctant public speaker.
What's up, just because we went to the effort to go there, we're going to keep secrets? Let's hear from the attendees about what they saw and what they thought!
Onward and Upward |
Luis (Sundancer)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 1:22 pm: | |
And where will it be held next year? |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 1:42 pm: | |
It will be the same place, only a week later in July '06.
Marc, it was nice meeting you and getting some of your ideas as well as others. I enjoyed the fact their were 5 102A3's at the rally. Last year none that I recall. Got great info and encourgement from several 102 owners about window convering techniques.
And several owners gave me advice on cutting holes in the coach.
Talked to Rich and other vendors. Marc, remind Rich to make up the Remco mirror mounts specific to the 102 A,C,D series. And I'll do the same. He told me he was waiting for more 102's to become available. As I told him, their here.
And the food was GREAT! Six meals, parking 4 days, seminars, exhibits,over 150 busses, and unlimited experience to learn from, for $125.00.
That's a deal in my book any day.
Chuck Newman
Oroville, CA
'89 102A3 |
DebDav (Debdav)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 1:55 pm: | |
Pictures, Please
For us that did not attend. |
Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 4:03 pm: | |
At least 6 or more 4905 GMC's there.
You all need to bring a bike to see all the buses more then once.
It was a good time next time I will stay until Sunday and should have my bus looking a little better. Food was good, seminars good also.
Bus n USA was good at getting every one parked .
I was supprized at all the people that knew who I was when I showed up. And not one tryed to hit me LOL.
Good times . See you all next year there.
Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 8:12 pm: | |
A conspiracy to conceal? I was there until Monday and I didn't hear of one, but, you're correct: It didn't seem to get the accolades it warranted.
Something, and everyone is welcome to choose their own reason, depressed attendance this year. After last year, I would have wagered on 300+ this year. Afterall, it is held in a beautiful and scenic area, there are ample facilities (even though the power may be minimal, you do have it), the best Bus Rally cooking crew in the US (Joe and the NW Bus Nuts), a mild climate, and the comraderie of a lot of professional and semi-pro converters that have more sound advise than could be put in one volume. The turnout provides rolling examples of just about anything that can be done to a bus and even the 1st time converters display some features and techniques that are simply amazing.
A lot of time and effort goes into putting on something of this magnitude and making it a pleasant experience for all, so all of us need to support these efforts with attendance if at all possible. Hopefully, the attendance depressing factor or factors will ease before next year and we can see better attendance. |
Southern Oregon Diesel
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 8:14 pm: | |
The way that we can make the show better is to get feed back from everyone that attends. Last year the parking was a problem, so, we were lucky enough to get Richard Dutton and his helpers, the dust had been a problem, so we got a water truck. ( maybe dust is better than wet dust) The officers of this chapter are very interested in "getting it right", so if we all pitch together, it can only get better. And how about all of the volunteers helping ---serve the food, set up the tables, clean up and so on. I think that one way to have a good time is to get in and help do something --you meet your neighbor and share in the success of our show. So, thanks to everyone that came and we will attempt to make next year even better. And yes, thanks to Henry Draper, and our news letter editor, Jim Smith, we will have some pictures as soon as Jim gets back from his vacation. David Gregory |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 8:52 pm: | |
With that kind of attitude - it won't be long before there ARE more than 300 buses in attendance - I'm definetely gonna try and be there next year - Niles |
Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 10:27 pm: | |
I did not see any problems with the dust or the wet dust . Hay get there early and park on the pavment half. One thing they could do would be to grade the dirt gravel part so the pot holes will not be mud holes. It was realy bad where you first come in. But realy not a problem. It would be nice if when regestering if they would just park you first so the ones with out a car or truck in tow would not have to walk out in the dirt or mud . For my bus it did not matter no carpet of flooring down yet but some may have nice floors and would be easer to just walk up after parking.
Most I talked to said they will be there next year and others that dont have buses done plan to bring them next time.
For you with out finished buses if they drive bring them . A lot of people wanted to see the inside of what a 4905 looked like striped out.
There is showers and bath rooms there for people with out bathrooms done yet. So no reason not to show up. There was at least 4 or 5 buses not even close to being finished yet so that is not reason to not show up.
One thing they should have said before comming was to bring your plates and forks . I was lucky I had a plate and some plastic forks and my knife from cutting my foam board.
Some one said it was going to be a week later next year?
Will that be the same time as the redmond RV show? If so I think some venders will not be abable to go the both. I see the same problem with car shows when 2 have shows on the same weekend even if in towns miles apart.
For me It was a good time and count on me there next year.
Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon(Kanasas City for the next week and 1/2) |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 12:34 am: | |
Thanks for the effort, Dave. A week later next year will make it easier for us to attend.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher |
Craig (Ceieio)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 10:47 am: | |
I stopped by for a few hours on Friday. I needed more time than I had but had to be happy with what I was able to do. There were quite a few different approaches to things that you could learn from just walking through the rows of buses parked there.
Next year I will take the bus down as I should be done using it for a job shack (I better be!!).
As far as feedback goes, here's my thoughts. It seems to me that there are segments in the bus conversion community: self-converters, hired conversion, and turn-key. There is also the person's bus platform maintenance interest level: Heavy mechanicals (powertrain swaps...), light mechanicals (a jake brake project??), routine maintenance, and turn key.
I fall into the self-converter, light mechanical clump. With that frame of reference, I would tend to attend training seminars on: Basic tools for forming light metal parts, how to use silkaflex, carpet installation, cabinet making, design consideration (thoery) and so on.
I would also attend sessions discussing the various good and bad points of the wide choices in conversion project. That is, what to do with the: windows, generator/batteries/inverter/???, black tanks, gray tanks, no tanks (sorry!).
Concering the platform itself, overviews of the air brake system components and their function, discussion of the tune-up process of a 2 stroke DD, fluid maintenance, and so on would be nice. I would think a session on the dreaded leveling valves, air beams, bags etc. would be well attended based upon conversation on this board!
Others could go with the finer points of engine swaps, how to find a competent mechanic, choosing a converter, how do I drive this barge, and so on.
I didn't get the chance to attend any of the sessions there, so I can't say how much of my list was already covered; I'll be looking for some of this next year. Even though some of this is already done on my bus, there's always the next one! :-)
Craig - MC7 |
J.B.
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 12:03 am: | |
Hi Brian, I think the reason most people knew who you were was a result of the sign you posted on your back with your name on it. On the lighter side I had my unfinished Crown there with my good friend Ron and his 855 big cam cummins Crown. Only two Crowns out of 176 buses. There were only 5 Schoolies there in all.
I still had a great time, Learned alot and am going back again next year. I did follow the advice on the board and just got out and used my bus. It was unfinished and the 600 mile shakedown cruise was accomplished with no problems. Mileage was 10 mpg at average of 60-62 mph. Got to listen to Mark and Dave and others that really knew what they were talking about. Free showers for us with no running water. the food was good and dessert even better. There was a band on Saturday night and great vendors as well as the highly touted swap
meet. I will be there next year for sure. this is just to make sure that the lady who walked out of our bus stunned because it had no running water sees that we have running water next year
J.B. |
Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 8:01 pm: | |
Great rally. Nice to put more faces to names. Maybe include our board "handles" on our name tags, so we can better identify those taht we correspond with, but have never seen. Also I sould like a name list of all that attend while i am there. I gues this might be an invations of privacy to some, but perhaps certain section could be opted out. Internet handle would be especialy nice here, as we could go looking for our buddies.
One of the reasons I went to this rally was all the vendors, including Rich at international bus and parts. A willing and knowledgeable resource, I am currently working on purchasing parts from him and it was really helpful to see and talk to him in person about the issues, fit and finish. I think its helpful to him too since he learns how to better serve his market.
Great food, I especially liked HAVING to judge those 10 plates of amazing cookies. |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:22 pm: | |
Hey, this Jim is a great guy. He brings these cookies back to his bus, has Open House, and everybody coming in is offered a cookie, sans 1 big bite! One class act, this H3Jim. LOL |
Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 2:38 pm: | |
My favorite cookies did not make it back to the coach. Well I did bring back extra, un bitten samples of my favorites, its just that they went fast.
I never said I didn't like to make the most out my assets. In fact, I could even set up a fund for you to pay for my fuel if you like.... (heh heh) |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 1:40 pm: | |
And I will contribute the same amount that I did to the last one on here. |
Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - 10:51 am: | |
When are we going to see some pictures?
Ron |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - 2:38 pm: | |
Hey Jim, You didn't vote my wife's cookies the best. That's ok. As long as I tell her they are the best, she lets me sleep with her.
I had a great time. Sonnie Gray (Catskinner) and I were the only two coaches from Texas. If you noticed, Sonnie never closed his engine door on his eagle. He is mighty proud of that Cat engine back there. I told him it was like showing off his underwear. Yea, and he has BIG DOG shorts.
Saw a couple of eagles with air bags assisting the torsion beams and used for leveling. That really interested me. You still get the ride and can stay in an unlevel Walmart lot and not look like you're camping. The coach just "happens" to be level when parked. Those bags would be really nice on an unlevel road shoulder. I think you MCI guys already have that option, right?
I got to meet Joe Laird and study his monster radiator he scavenged from an articulated Neoplan and installed to service his 8v92 in his eagle. He was pulling a 15k lb trailer. After seeing that, a bigger radiator is on my want list. I'm tired of using a spray mister when climbing.
We drove 5700 miles on our month long trip and only had the constant cooling problem, but nothing else. If I can get that fixed, I think I have the perfect coach.
David Anderson |
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