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ACA, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER
A Trip down Memory Lane
By Myrna Gray
In 1987, the American
Coach Division of Fleetwood manufactured an
upscale gas engine motor coach version of
the Pace Arrow, called Limited.
These first coaches were tan and
nicknamed the “Brownie”. Fleetwood’s entry
into the luxury coach market was so popular
that in late 1987 they built a new facility
in Decatur, Indiana for manufacturing.
After extensive design changes in 1988, the
Limited, which was gray, sleek and
aerodynamic on the outside and pure class on
the inside, was introduced.
Casey and Barbara
Sturm, a full timing couple from Southern
California, were among those who bought the
’88 Limited. They loved their new
coach and were able to obtain a list of new
’88 and ’89 owners who had sent in their
warranty to American Coach. For the purpose
of starting a travel club, they contacted
these owners to find out who would be
interested in starting a travel club for
Limited owners. While Fleetwood did not
sponsor the club, they did pledge their
support. In June 1989, the concept of a
Limited Owners International Travel Club
was born.
As owners of a 1989
Limited, we received several letters
from Casey inquiring of our interest in
forming a new club. Being new to motor
homing, we had not heard about travel clubs
for owners other than the Good Sam Club, but
eventually we responded affirmatively.
Next, we received a
notice that a rally would be held at a RV
Park in Hemet in May 1990. After
procrastinating, we eventually sent in the
form and attended the rally. Membership
numbers were assigned in the order that
applications for membership were received.
Ours is number 154. It was a surprise to
see all those Limited motor homes in
one place, 91 having registered for the
rally, and 84 showed up.
At that organizational
rally, the first officers were elected,
bylaws adopted and the club name was
shortened to Limited Owners International
(LOI). Ben Reinhardt, an attorney from
Southern California, and owner of a 1989
Limited, wrote the by-laws. The cut-off
for the Charter Membership was set at 175
coaches, the number that had responded to
form the club. It was decided to have two
rallies each year, with the next one being
held at Lake Wales, Florida in October
1990.
While at the Hemet
rally, we met several couples from southern
California and thought it would be nice to
have a local chapter. A few months later,
we received an invitation to attend a rally
put together by Ben and Marleana Reinhardt
and Vern and Sue Parton for the purpose of
organizing a southern California chapter.
The rally was held at the Parton’s turkey
ranch in Yucaipa on the last weekend in
September 1990. It was dry camping adjacent
to their olive orchard. Vern told us to
empty our gray tanks around the olive trees,
which we did, plus he had a fresh water
supply for us. What fun we had getting
acquainted and exploring the ranch. On
the Parton’s patio of their beautiful home,
the guys barbequed steaks for us. One
evening we held our very fist potluck
dinner; the Partons served a roasted
turkey. In addition to all the turkeys in
pens, we explored further and had fun
visiting the llamas in their pens, some of
us actually petted some of them. (I have
pictures)
Immediately adjacent to
their property was an ostrich farm, which we
had strolled past to the turkey pens, down
to the turkey processing plant where Vern
led a tour. On Saturday, we car-pooled and
drove up to Julian and the apple orchards,
and brought back apple pies for the steak
barbeque that night.
Twenty member coaches
had signed up by the time of this rally, and
there were 10 in attendance. We called
ourselves Limited Owners, Southern
California Chapter. By-laws were
adopted and the chapter officers were duly
elected. You will find a list of officers
for each year in the chapter roster.
Other chapters were
gradually being formed across the U.S.;
geographical information on these chapters
is in the ACA National Newsletter.
Ben and Marleana hosted
the next chapter rally at the Ventura RV
Park, December 7-9, 1990. We were guests at
one of the Ventura Yacht Clubs, where Ben is
a staff (past) commodore, to view the
Christmas Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday
night. We had our next rally in March 1991
at Desert Hot Springs, hosted by Chuck and
Esther Pierson.
Early May 1991, Al and
I organized a caravan and we traveled to the
LOI National Rally held at the KOA RV Park
in Greenfield, Indiana. The new American
Eagle diesel pusher was introduced as the
factory brought several coaches for us to
look at. At that rally, we were all bussed
90 miles to the plant in Decatur on Saturday
for a tour of the plant. Pat Terveer and
the marketing department hosted a barbeque
there for us after the tour. Randy and his
crew came out to Greenfield to perform
various tasks on our coaches. Things were
much more informal at the service department
in those days: Randy was service manager at
the plant as well as for the rallies. You
could just show up without appointment and
have service performed. A few overnight
spaces were provided.
Only a few gas engine
Limited coaches were turned out in
early 1991 as they were discontinued and
replaced by the new diesel engine
American Eagle that year. After some
controversary, Casey Sturm, then LOI
National president polled the board and it
was decided to recommend accepting
American Eagle owners into the club. A
resolution was submitted to the members at
the May national rally in
Greenfield/Decatur, and it was approved, but
the LOI club name remained the same.
By the end of 1991,
membership in the national organization had
grown to 200 coaches. New chapters were
still being formed across the U.S. By 1992
the national membership was 256 coaches. In
June 1993, with membership at 307 coaches,
the LOI national rally was held in
Frankenmuth, Michigan with a record 82
coaches, and of those, 32 were attending
their first rally. Another name change was
discussed; after lengthy debate, the members
chose to change LOI to American Eagle &
Limited, (AE&L).
Starting in 1994,
Fleetwood’s American Coach Division expanded
their line to include the American Dream,
followed later by the Tradition and
Heritage. The national club’s name
evolved into the current American Coach
Association (ACA). Subsequently, the
local chapters adopted the same name
change.
In those early years,
most of our SoCal chapter rallies had 12 to
15 coaches in attendance, with total
membership averaging around 40 coaches. The
rallies were fun packed events at such
places as Newport Beach, Lake Havasu City,
El Centro, Bakersfield, Laughlin, Newhall,
Ridgecrest, Pismo Beach, Chula Vista,
Buellton, Palm Desert, San Dimas, Las Vegas,
Hemet, lake Powell, Temecula, and Tucson.
We frequently attend local events and tour
places of interest, which makes each rally
different and interesting.
Currently, the
national membership totals over 1800
coaches, and still growing. We now have over 120 coach members
in the SoCal chapter and enjoy an average
attendance of 35 to 40 coaches at our
chapter rallies. Frequently, caravans are
loosely organized for travel to the National
Rallies, and we hold a Pre Rally prior to
attending the national rally. The SoCal
Chapter hosted a National Rally in October
1997 at Las Vegas, and one in May 2004 at
Palm Desert, California. Early in our
organizing, we decided to hold 4 SoCal
rallies per year.
With the growth of our
SoCal Chapter in recent years, it is
exciting to have new members with new fun
ideas for things to do and places to go for
rallies. They are doing a superb job of
hosting rallies. In recent years, under the
guidance of Bev Petty, we have introduced an
Ambassador program, which helps first rally
attendees, become acquainted with our
friendly fun group.
Roy and Phyllis
Nichols, and Al and Myrna Gray are the only
remaining charter members of the Southern
California Chapter, as well as charter
members of ACA National. In addition, Ben
Rhodes and Bill Miller, are national charter
members and are currently members of our
chapter. At the 10th Anniversary
of ACA held in Decatur in May 2000, a dinner
was held at a local restaurant honoring all
the Charter members attending. At the Board
Meeting that year, it was voted that the
national organization would sponsor a dinner
at each national rally for the charter
members and include the national president
and spouse. Bob and Ann Beadel are the
“shepherds” of this group of old friends.
At the present time there are 16 charter
member coaches in the national club.
We inherently live by
the by-laws of the national ACA and SoCal
chapter. The following is a quote from the
by-laws:
“The purpose of American Coach
Association shall be to encourage, foster,
and promote the interest of motor homing
among owners of American Eagles, American
Dreams, American Traditions, American
Heritages, and Limited motor homes and to
provide an organization encouraging
camaraderie, motor home rallies and trips,
and motor home information exchange among
its member owners, as well as information
exchange with the manufacturer of the
coaches.”
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