Friday, May 23, 2014

Post RV Company Closures and Resizing, Motorcoach Rallies still offer the Best of Times



Post Company Closures & Resizings, Motorhome Rally Times are Still the Best of Times!

There was a heyday in the motorcoach club rally world – it was about 6-7 years ago. It was a time of bigger and better event with lots of freebies financed by the company. A rally world where manufacturers were still cranking out motorcoaches in large production numbers per model year, and suppliers were stepping up to “sponsor” the perceived “company's rally events” with large checks each year.  This enabled minimal rally fees for the attendee to pay ($195 per coach). The lion’s share of the costs of an event were picked up by the manufacturer and the manufacturer’s major component suppliers who "co-sponsored" the rally.

That was B.T.R.

Before the Recession.   
Alas the RV industry was struck by the recession. Many RV Manufacturers closed their doors, bankruptcy sales were held. Country Coach, LLC was one of those companies. Other companies and dealerships and component suppliers thankfully survived. By necessity they have reinvented their businesses with much smaller footprints, smaller annual production projections, and smaller budgets, with smaller “club event support” budget line items.   

Today’s RV manufacturers are much leaner companies who cannot and will not write the big checks to clubs to offset the costs of first class rallies. And with this occurrence, the rallies of “then”, those rallies that were teeming with freebies and gimmes, and complimentary service, and more…well, they too have been replaced by a ‘new normal’.   Rally masters now run a leaner, tighter  ship, with a smaller budget. Fees charged to attendees are more in line with actual out of pocket costs that a club must pay for that event.

Though it costs a few dollars more to attend a motorhome rally, there is still no better place for seekers of FUN!   Where else can you congregate in a group setting with people of the same interests, passions, and enthusiasm for this great lifestyle?  Where else can you enjoy multiple days of seminars, shopping, sight seeing, and evening entertainment and great meals! Then you return each night to the comfort of your own bed in your beautiful home on wheels.

Rallies are still THE place
The place to make new friends. The place to reconnect with old friends. Learn a few new tips about your coach and its components. Take in some lifestyle or craft classes. Take a few tours. Enjoy social hours and great evening meals together. Good live entertainment. Great opportunities to spend time with the major RV service providers, dealers, and suppliers. And lots of times to play with your friends. Make memories.That’s STILL what a rally is all about

Country Coach Friends Inc is one club whose events still are reminiscent of those "glory days" of rally fun.  Though smaller in size CCFI delivers quality, a fun rally, and without cutting the corners, without sacrificing the club rally experience we love.  Over the years it’s what you have come to expect when motorcoachers gather. And it’s what you deserve!

If you haven’t attended a CCFI Rally, I’d encourage you to put the 2014 FRIENDSHIP RALLY on your itinerary. It takes place just in front of the Family Motor Coach Association’s Show in Redmond Oregon. The 4th Annual CCFI Friendship Rally August 4-8, 2014 is open to all brands of motorhomes. …

Held in Albany, OR it will have plenty of outstanding business sponsors there on site presenting seminars, helping you with minor service issues, and lots of opportunities to enjoy this great lifestyle together.


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