November 2004

Transcript

P.O.BOX 1429 RED BAY, AL 35582 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 702-430 RED BAY, AL 35582 Retro to go Name this Tiffin classic. Think you can guess the model and year of this Tiffin classic? Successful entries will be drawn from and one lucky person will get a prize! Need a few hints? Terry Waite, special envoy to the Archbishop of Cantebury, was kidnapped in Beirut; Chrysler acquired American Motors; and Gary Hart dropped out of the presidential race amid allegations of an extramarital affair with Donna Rice. Mail or email us your answer along with your name, address and phone number. Please postmark your entry by November 8, 2004. Only one entry per household. Not responsible for lost entries. Allegro Club P.O. Box 1429, Red Bay, AL 35582 or allegroclub@tiffinmotorhomes.com Way out there! Will we believe what you see? Do you brake for Sasquatch and have you seen this sign from your Tiffin Motorhome? We invite you to send us high-resolution (minimum 200 dpi) digital photos for possible use in future issues of Side Roads. Send photos to allegroclub@tiffinmotorhomes.com. Be sure to include your name, contact information and where and when the photo was taken. TIFFIN MOTORHOMES Volume I Issue No. 1 September 2004 The Allegro Club Newsletter For Leisure & Living FEATURES OF THIS ISSUE 4 Roadside Recipes Something good is cooking 6 From A to B Discover rallies, tours & caravans to whisk you away in 2005 11 Chapter Chatter 14 No Gentle Breeze Get the inside skinny on The new Zephyr blows great places to eat, into town! stay & visit SIDE ROADS From the driver’s seat Many of you have mentioned that our Allegro Club newsletter could stand a bit of updating. We are in the process of doing just that. As you will see in this issue that is so new and different, we’ve even changed the name. We seek your feedback because we want to make sure we are moving in directions that you will appreciate. On page 15 of this issue, you will find a brief survey on newsletter content. Please take a few minutes to complete that survey, stick it in an envelope with a stamp, and send it back to me (Jimmy Johnson, Allegro Club, Box 1429, Red Bay, AL 35582). We’ve already realized that words alone can’t convey all the enjoyment of owning a Tiffin Motorhome and belonging to the Allegro Club. We will be adding a few photographs to each issue. We invite you to submit photos for consideration. Since so many of us now have digital cameras and email to keep up with grandchildren and other important parts of our lives, we prefer that you email photos to us at allegroclub@tiffinmotorhomes.com, and please make sure you let us know the whowhat-when-where information about the photo. We need high resolution (at least 200 dpi) photos saved in .jpeg or .tif format. Unfortunately, we cannot accept or use photographic prints or slides. We have taken a new approach to chapter news, as you will see in this issue. While we deeply appreciate the exhaustive work of our chapter reporters, publishing the submitted chapter reports in the Allegro Club newsletter has become counterproductive. Much of the information becomes obsolete by the time this quarterly newsletter hits your mailbox, and since most chapters send their monthly accounts of camp outs to their own members, that chapter news often was redundant. A careful reading of chapter reports gave us some initial clues about how to make this information relevant and interesting to all members, promoting interaction among chapters. We saw categories, such as your favorite restaurants, campgrounds and destinations. We found wonderful anecdotes that capture the spirit of the Allegro Club and a few tidbits of travel and camping advice. We have tried to present this material in a breezy, inviting way. At the Amana, Iowa, rally we asked everyone present to help us plan future rallies by taking a close look at that rally. We made sure we heard from everyone. To receive one of the fancy umbrellas we brought along as rally gifts, you had to turn in a completed survey. (And by that time, the rain had stopped.) We are dedicated to improving and growing the Allegro Club in more ways than rallies and newsletters. You tell us how we can improve the Allegro Club and we will listen! Is published quarterly March, June, September and December by the Allegro® Club Inc. Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Permit # 702-430 Red Bay, AL 35582 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Allegro® Club, Inc. P.O. Box 1429 Red Bay, Al 35582 NOTICE OF RESPONSIBILITY: The Allegro® Club, Inc., Red Bay, AL, has designed tours, caravans, and rallies for your pleasure and enjoyment and has attempted to select for you the best campgrounds, accommodations, restaurants, and transportation facilities for the prices charged. Allegro® Club, Inc., Jim and Gail Johnson, and the Board of Directors do not own or operate any of the campgrounds, hotels, restaurants or transportation facilities and, furthermore, assume no responsibility for delays, losses, accidents, or for damage to persons or property caused by any person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity providing the following services: campgrounds, hotels, restaurants, transportation (including but not limited to transfers and sightseeing) or any other services incident to these tours, rallies, caravans or any activities of the Allegro® Club, Inc. The right is reserved to substitute campgrounds, hotels, restaurants and alter the itinerary or reverse the places to be visited. The right is reserved to cancel the tour or caravan prior to departure. In the event of a tour or caravan cancellation, the Allegro® Club, Inc., Jim and Gail Johnson, and the Board of Directors’ liability is limited to a refund of money received. The Allegro® Club, Inc., Jim and Gail Johnson, and the Board of Directors reserve the right to make any changes, with or without notice, that might become necessary with the understanding that there is no extra charge. After a tour, caravan or rally begins, any unused portions of fees paid are not refundable. The Allegro® Club, Inc., also reserves the right to terminate tour, caravan and rally services for any client at any time for good cause. ON THE COVER Fall is football tailgating season for many Allegro Club members. Send in your favorite tailgating anecdotes and recipes to the Side Roads Editor. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Want to share an experience you had in your Tiffin Motorhome? Have a comment or suggestion about Side Roads, the Allegro Club newsletter? Write to: Side Roads Editor Allegro Club P.O. Box 1429 Red Bay, AL 35582 Please include your name, address, email and phone number so we can contact you. Jimmy Johnson Allegro Club President Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. 2 SIDE ROADS CONTACTS: Tiffin Motorhomes Parts & Service (256) 356-8661 Allegro Club (256) 356-8522 www.tiffinmotorhomes.com Postcard Home: Rain doesn’t spoil Amana Rally Six inches of rain and 70 mph wind gusts couldn’t dampen spirits of the 130 Allegro Club members in 61 rigs at our late summer rally in the charming Amana Colonies of Iowa. The August rally set the stage for the Allegro Club’s FMCA Spring Pre-Rally March 17-19, 2005, at Sandy Beach Park in Macon, Ga., and the Allegro Club Spring Rally April 26-30, 2005, at Compton Ridge Campground in Branson, Mo. Amana Colonies RV Park managers Steve McKain and Jean Parvin worked overtime to meet our needs and make our stay enjoyable at the 60-acre campground near lovely Lily Lake. The park rests on the banks of a serene creek and is surrounded by rolling farmland planted in corn and soybeans. The Ronneburg Restaurant catered the rally. Yana and David Cutler and their staff provided delicious food served with gracious hospitality and efficiency. A variety of entertainment and activities kept everyone busy. A talented bluegrass band gamely attempted every request shouted from the crowd and delighted us with down-home humor and musical ability. We enjoyed a performance of “The Spitfire Grille” by a talented troupe at the Old Creamery Theatre, just across the road from the campground. Another evening, a rousing polka band played late into the evening. The band was quite popular with many members, who were brought to their feet time after time. A barbershop quartet led by a police officer rounded out our evening entertainment fare. Optional activities included bus tours to the John Deere Tractor factory in Waterloo, Ia., and the John Deere Historic Pavilion and Museum in Moline, Ill. The villages of Amana offered Rally participants take a break for visiting between entertainment and other activities in Amana. Offerings ranged from a polka band to a barbershop quartet. antique, candle, basket, broom, quilt, needlework, furniture and clock shops; candy kitchens and bakeries; and Meals in Amana were catered by the Ronnenburg Restaurant. Amana Woolen Mill, Iowa’s only woolen mill. An outlet mall is 14 miles away in Williamsburg. The Amana Colonies were founded about 150 years ago when German immigrants seeking religious freedom came west from their original settlements in New York. A communal living system developed in the seven villages along the Iowa River. All land and buildings were owned by the community; families were assigned living quarters and each person over school age was assigned a job in fields, factories, kitchens, or shops. In 1932, the residents voted to end the communal system. Our sincere thanks go to Bob Tiffin, Sales Manager Jerry Williamson, Regional Sales Manager Jack Elliott and Tiffin Motorhomes Technicians Robert Gober and David Sparks. Gober and Sparks made minor repairs for club members during the rally. Many Tiffin partners and suppliers also provided valuable information, services, door prizes and sponsorships for the rally.  SIDE ROADS 3 Convection with conviction The following tips are offered by Gail Johnson and Pam Jones to help you become familiar with using your convection microwave in food preparation. We have found that in using the newer convection ovens, the touch pad will tell you what to do. Each step is given so that cooking in your convection microwave has been made easier than ever. During convection cooking, hot air is circulated throughout the oven to brown and crisp foods quickly and evenly. You can bake, roast, and broil successfully in this oven. The oven also has two pre-programmed settings, making it possible to cook with both convection heat and microwave heat automatically. The combination of these two cooking methods produces juicy meats, moist and tender cakes and fine textured breads, all with the right amount of browning and crispness. Convenience and frozen food cooking There are many frozen foods and convenience foods that you can successfully prepare in your convection microwave oven. For most of these items, you would use the convection-only feature for baking and browning quickly. Two-shelf cooking with the turntable is perfect for two sheets of cookies, a layer cake, or two different foods requiring the same cooking temperature and time. Preheating the oven is necessary with convection cooking of smaller, faster cooking items that require less than 20 minutes. For foods requiring more time, use LOW MIX. Some suggested items that may be cooked on convection-only are frozen fries, bagel bites, pizza rolls, frozen pizza, slice’n bake cookies, biscuits (refrigerator or frozen), refrigerator cinnamon rolls or other pastries, fish sticks, etc. Tips for using your convection microwave: 1 You can use oven glass, ceramic glass, thermoset plastics, and metal or aluminum foil pans when using the convection or mix setting; do not use metal when using microwave only. The metal racks which come with your oven are used in the following ways: Low rack holds foods above the turntable so that heated air can circulate and cook all sides. Use the low rack for roasting, broiling, COMPUBAKE, COMPUBROIL, AND COMPUROAST. The high rack serves as a shelf for two-level cooking, such as layer cakes and cookies. Use it for convection and combination cooking. 2 To add cooking time, the Minute Plus feature allows you to extend cooking time in multiples of one minute by repeatedly touching the 4 SIDE ROADS MINUTE PLUS pad during manual cooking using microwave, convection, or broil. 3 Generally, when using a conventional recipe for convection cooking, cooking time should be cut in half. However, in most cases the same cooking temperature should be used. 4 When cooking with convection only, preheating is suggested. When cooking with the mix (convection and microwave), preheating is not necessary. 5 When following a conventional recipe for use in the convection oven, we have found that it is best to take care not to overload your pan; for instance, in cooking a squash casserole, it would be better to use a rectangular shallow pan rather than a deep two-quart casserole dish. The secret to quicker cooking time is to keep your layer of food as spread out as possible. If doubling a recipe, be sure to use a pan which is large enough. 6 Kitchen timer function: Touch KITCHEN TIMER pad. Enter TIME. Touch START/TOUCH ON pad. 7 The operation manual and Sharp cookbook included with new appliances is very helpful. If you do not have these aids, call the service number for assistance in securing one, or let us know and we will try to help. 8 For service in your area: 800/237.4277. Roadside recipes Mimi’s Squash Casserole Saute onion and bell pepper in butter until tender. (May be done on stove or in microwave.) Meanwhile, cook squash in salted water until tender. Drain well and mash. You should have about 2 cups of cooked squash. Mix well with all other ingredients except topping, and bake in greased 9” square or 10”x 6” rectangular pan in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35–40 minutes. For convection cooking bake for about 20 minutes. During final 5 minutes of baking time, add topping. This recipe serves 4–6. Pam’s Macaroni and Cheese Cook macaroni according to directions on package. Drain and place in greased 9” square or rectangular pan. Add grated cheese and stir to combine. Mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper together well and pour over macaroni. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 35–40 minutes, or until set. For convection baking, cook in preheated 350 degree oven 20–25 minutes, or until set. Serves 4. Gail’s Easy Apple Dumplings Melt butter. Add sugar and orange juice and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Set aside. Separate crescent roll dough; wrap each apple quarter with a piece of dough. Place in greased or sprayed 8” x 11” pan. Pour orange juice mixture over and lightly sprinkle tops of each dumpling with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. If using convection baking, cook for approximately 20 minutes. When done, dough should be browned and apple should be tender. Insert knife blade or toothpick to determine tenderness. Delicious served with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whip cream! Makes 8 dumplings. INGREDIENTS: 1 lb. summer (yellow) squash (should equal 2 cups drained and mashed after cooking) 1 teaspoon sugar TOPPING: 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 stick melted Oleo (or butter) 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese 1-2 cups Cheeseit crackers, 1/4 cup chopped onion crushed 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper (optional) 1 egg, slightly beaten Salt and pepper to taste INGREDIENTS: 1 cup small macaroni (uncooked) 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (sharp is best) 2 cups milk 2 eggs, slightly beaten Salt and pepper to taste INGREDIENTS: 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and quartered 1 package refrigerator crescent rolls 1 cup sugar 1 cup orange juice 1 stick Oleo (or butter) Cinnamon and sugar mixture for topping SIDE ROADS 5 Rallies: Tentative 2005 Schedule Allegro Club FMCA Pre-Rally Sandy Beach Park Macon, Georgia March 17–19, 2005 Allegro Club Branson Spring Fling Compton Ridge Campground Branson, Missouri April 25–29, 2005 Allegro Club Late Summer Escape Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping Mackinaw, Michigan August 22–26, 2005 Allegro Club Mountain Fest (Location to be determined) Colorado Springs, Colorado October 2005 Verbon Jones joins Allegro Club staff Verbon Jones brings experience in retail, management, direct sales and advertising to his new position as office manager of the Allegro Club. “Our priorities are to make our members happy,” Jones says. “One major way we will accomplish that is by putting rallies together in fun and interesting places.” Jones was involved in advertising sales for television stations in North Alabama before he worked in and managed retail stores. Allegro Club President Jimmy Johnson speaks highly of his new associate. “His customer service skills are excellent. I am sure our members will find Verbon cordial and helpful.” A Florence, Al., native and resident, Jones spent two years at the University of Alabama before earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of North Alabama. He and his wife Pam, who works with Verbon along with Jimmy and Gail Johnson on rallies, have three children and four grandchildren.  6 SIDE ROADS Retired cop is fast on the draw “People do things that are funny to me, and if I get the time, I turn those things into cartoons.” That’s how Bob Poiry, a retired Toledo homicide investigator, describes what he does on napkins, place mats, styrofoam cups and, occasionally, drawing paper. A member of the Black Swamp Allegros in Toledo, Poiry drew his first cartoon for the Allegro Club when a couple who own and operate what Poiry refers to as “a large pickle farming business” joined the chapter. He sketched a pickle-shaped Tiffin motorhome, showed it to Bob Tiffin at a dealer’s open house, and his motorhome cartooning reputation was born. While Poiry has no formal art training, his drawing ability played a role in his police work. “I worked the inner-city on the permanent midnight shift,” he says. “I enjoyed the challenge. I also drew criminal faces for the department on an unofficial basis. Many arrests were made as a result of those sketches.” Poiry doesn’t see the artistic process as anything complex or complicated. For him, if he can visualize it, he can draw it. “I have to see an idea in my head before I can draw it,” he says. “I get others’ ideas, and if I can see the idea in my own mind as they do, then it’s a match made in heaven.”   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CUT HERE- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Allegro Club FMCA Spring Rally Pre-Rally March 17 – March 19, 2005 Sandy Beach Park Macon, GA Cost Includes: 3 Nights camping (no hook-ups); 3 breakfasts; 3 evening meals; 2 lunches; 2 evenings’ entertainment; factory technicians; dealer’s display of the latest Tiffin built motorhomes for your viewing. Plenty of food, fun and fellowship. All sites will be assigned in the order your registration and rally fee are received. Cost: Motorhome with two (2) people / $195.00 • Each additional guest / $75.00 Number of people Amount enclosed $ Balance Due (Feb. 17) $ Allegro Club #: Telephone number: Chapter #: Name: Spouse Name: Mailing Address: City/State/Zip: Name of Guest in member’s Motorhome: We wish to park with our chapter (listed above) or individual: We will be in:  Allegro  Allegro Bay  Phaeton  Allegro Bus  Zephyr Motorhome length: License plate #: State: Tow vehicle: Make: License plate #: State: My chassis is:  Ford  Workhorse  Chevrolet  Oshkosh  Spartan  Freightliner  John Deere  Other: YES  / NO  This is our first Allegro Club rally. YES  / NO  We need to be placed in the handicapped section. (Enclose Handicapped Certification with your Registration). YES  / NO  We will bring our pet(s). (Participants wishing to park together must send registrations and rally fee in together. Get your reservations in early because of limited spaces of 120 sites. No reservations will be taken after the deadline of February 17, 2005. Deadline for refund is no later than February 4, 2005.) Send check, money order or complete credit card information below: Credit Card Number:  Visa ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Master Card Expiration Date   Discover ___ ___ / ___ ___ Month Year Signature: Call 1-256-356-8522 for registration by phone. You may also fax your reservation form to 1-256-356-9746. Be sure to have credit card and pre-registration in hand when you phone during office hours Monday through Friday. Voice mail messages are returned if you call after hours. Make check payable and mail to: Allegro Club, P.O. Box 1429, Red Bay, AL 35582-1429 Attention: No refunds will be given after the refund deadline. Upon cancellation a $20.00 handling fee will be charged. Travel insurance is an option available through Farm & City Insurance (1-800-331-1520). Full payment must accompany each rally registration. Be sure to note cancellation information as stated above. No reservations will be taken after the reservation deadline. By registering for this event you acknowledge and agree to the following statement: “I understand that neither Allegro Motorhome Club, Inc., Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc., nor any campground, restaurant, bus service (if any) or suppliers assume any responsibility, directly or indirectly, for the use or operation of a car or recreational vehicle going to or from or during the rally to any cause whatever; or for injuries within or without the rally; or damage to property of any kind during or after event.” Important: International Allegro Family Motorhome Club, Inc. has planned this event based upon claim assumptions, including a minimum number of participants. On occasion, circumstances arise which make the event impractical. Accordingly, Allegro Club reserves the right to cancel the event for any reason, at any time and without obligation. SIDE ROADS 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FOLD ALONG THIS LINE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cut form along the dotted line, and mail with your check in a standard envelope to: Allegro Club P.O. Box 1429 Red Bay, AL 35582 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FOLD ALONG THIS LINE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 SIDE ROADS  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CUT HERE- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Allegro Club Spring Rally April 25 – April 29, 2005 (Check Out 30th) Compton Ridge Campground 5040 State Hwy. 265, Branson, MO 65616 Telephone: 800/233-8648 Fax: 417/338-8773 Website: www.comptonridge.com E-mail: [email protected] Cost Includes: (5) Nights camping fee, full hook-ups (first 48 are 50 amps, the rest are 30 amps), (2) breakfasts, (1) lunch, (5) evening meals, vendor/partner seminars Thursday the 28th, (4) musical shows including the Oak Ridge Boys, chartered transportation to and from each show. Tiffin Motorhomes technicians will be available for minor repairs. Dealers will display the latest in Tiffin built motorhomes for your viewing. Plenty of food, fun and fellowship. Cost: Motorhome with two people / $695 • Each additional guest / $295 (Motorhome with one person / $475) Number of people Amount enclosed $ (At least half of total) Balance Due (Feb. 9) $ Allegro Club #: Telephone number: Chapter #: Name: Spouse Name: Mailing Address: City/State/Zip: Name of Guest in member’s Motorhome: We wish to park with our chapter (listed above) or individual: We will be in:  Allegro  Allegro Bay  Phaeton  Allegro Bus  Zephyr Motorhome length: License plate #: State: Tow vehicle: Make: License plate #: State: My chassis is:  Ford  Workhorse  Chevrolet  Oshkosh  Spartan  Freightliner  John Deere  Other: YES  / NO  This is our first Allegro Club rally. YES  / NO  We need to be placed in the handicapped section. (Enclose Handicapped Certification with your Registration). YES  / NO  We will bring our pet(s). (Participants wishing to park together must send registrations and rally fee in together. Get your reservations in early because of limited spaces of 120 sites. No reservations will be taken after the deadline of February 17, 2005. Deadline for refund is no later than February 9, 2005.) Send check, money order or fill out credit card information: Credit Card Number:  Visa  ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Master Card  Discover Expiration Date ___ ___ / ___ ___ Month Year Signature: Call 1-256-356-8522 for registration by phone. You may also fax your reservation form to 1-256-356-9746. Be sure to have credit card and pre-registration in hand when you phone during office hours Monday through Friday. Voice mail messages are returned if you call after hours. Make check payable and mail to: Allegro Club, P.O. Box 1429, Red Bay, AL 35582-1429 Attention: No refund will be given by the Club after the refund deadline (Feb. 9, 2005). Upon cancellation by Feb. 9, you will be charged a $20.00 handling fee. Trip cancellation insurance is available through outside agencies. This insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions or motorhome breakdown en-route to or before the rally. To obtain the Travel Insurance Pak, telephone Farm & City Insurance Services at 800-331-1520 within 10 days of paying your rally fee. The trip cancellation insurance is an option, but helps to insure a refund of the rally fee from the insurer in the event of a covered occurrence. No Exceptions: No reservations will be taken after the reservation deadline. Important: Allegro Motorhome Club, Inc., has planned this event based upon claim assumptions, including a minimum number of participants. On occasion, circumstances arise which make the event not viable. Accordingly, the Allegro Club reserves the right to cancel the event for any reason, at any time and without obligation. By registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following statement: “I understand that neither Allegro Motorhome Club, Inc., Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc., nor any campground, restaurant, bus service or supplier assume any responsibility, directly or indirectly, for the use or operation of a car or recreational vehicle going to or from or during the rally; or for injuries before, during or after the rally; or damage to property of any kind before, during or after event.” SIDE ROADS 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FOLD ALONG THIS LINE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cut form along the dotted line, and mail with your check in a standard envelope to: Allegro Club P.O. Box 1429 Red Bay, AL 35582 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FOLD ALONG THIS LINE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 SIDE ROADS Chapter Chatter: Next time you pass this way Restaurants The Central Ohio Allegros say the Alpine House in Baylor Beach, deep in Ohio’s Amish country, is most enjoyable. The chapter’s camp out was at Back Forty Campground in April. Home Town Buffet in Arlington, Tx., is a favorite of the North Texas Allegros. One of that chapter’s members says cook (as in to cook) is “just another four-letter word.” Surrey House in Harrison, Mi., offers good food in a private room for the Allegro Ramblers from the Auburn, Mi., area. That chapter also recommends Windmill Farms Restaurant in Mancelona, Mi. A new restaurant alert from the Central Texas Allegros in Austin: The Texas Steak House near the camp out site, Skyline Ranch. The Central Texas Allegros enjoyed a four-course meal at the Stage Coach Inn in Salado, Tx., especially the Strawberry Kiss dessert. The chapter also touts three eateries in Kerrville, near the Bluff Trails Ranch RV Resort in Ingram: Patrick’s, the Lakeside and Java Trading Company. The Mississippi Allegros from the Magee, Ms. area, like Ida’s restaurant in Slidell, La., where the chapter had a March camp out at Pine Crest RV Park. Ida’s specializes in fresh seafood, “cooked to perfection.” The Michigan Allegro Pathmakers (Cadillac, Mi.) hit the large boiled shrimp and Alaskan king crab legs at the Willows Dining Room almost as hard as they hit the slot machines in May. The camp out was at Little River Casino Resort Campground in Monistee, Mi. The chapter also smiles on the Ruddy Dux Restaurant in Stanwood, Mi. near the Mecosta Pines Campground in Morley. Looking for rock shrimp? The Citrus Allegros of Central Florida (Orlando area) recommend Dixie Crossroads in Titusville, near the Seasons in the Sun campground in Mims, Fl. You can watch alligators in the ditch near the clubhouse. Mossy Oak Schoolhouse near Troy, Al., caught the eye of a member of the Capital City Allegros in Montgomery, Al. The schoolhouse lived up to its magazine reviews, especially for the seafood. You can’t escape Texas without chicken fried steak, and the Comanche Allegros of Granbury, Tx., recommend Babes Restaurant while camping in Sanger, Tx., at the Texas Sundown Ranch RV Resort. The chicken and catfish are also good, we’re told. Pizza and organ music? You can find them at Roaring Twenties Pipes and Pizza in Ellenton, Fl., reports the Tampa Bay Allegros from a February camp out at Hidden River RV Resort in Riverview, Fl. If you have a taste for walleye, the Crossroads Restaurant near Hickory Shores Campground in Carlyle, Il., has an all-you-can-eat deal, reports the Allegro Prairie Roadrunners of Champaign, Il. Near the Suwannee Valley Campground in White Springs, Fl., the Allegros in the Heart (Macon) of Georgia discovered the Grand China Buffet, which, the chapter members say, is a “great Chinese restaurant.” When the Heart of Georgia folks had a camp out at the Sugar Mill Plantation in Thomasville, Ga., they raved about the Market Diner at the farmer’s market – especially the Friday seafood buffet. Campgrounds, RV parks & resorts The Park on the Lake in Willis, Tx., gets the nod from the Allegro Roadrunners in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. It’s “a quiet park with good parking spaces and a nice club room.” That chapter also recommends Frontier Park and Marina in Hemphill, Tx., for a great clubhouse and nice people. The Lone Star Allegros (Huntsville, Tx.) say they always enjoy the Gulf Coast RV Park in Beaumont because it is close to many restaurants and shopping places. It pays to visit Rapid River Campground in Kalkaska, Mi., reports the Allegro Ramblers from the Auburn, Mi., area. The campground owners provided promotional slips to chapter members for $10 in coins at Victories Casino. The Space Coast Allegros in Melbourne, Fl., rave about strawberry shortcake and Rally Park in Seffner, Fl. The campground provides full hookups, breakfast and lunch, a daily newspaper, a giant recreation hall, wireless internet, a pool and a tram service. The campground is part of the Lazy Days Tiffin dealership complex, which also includes a Camping World store, a Cracker Barrel Restaurant and a Flying J Service Plaza. Across the country, the Puget Sound Allegros in Tacoma, Wa., speak highly of the Outback RV Park in Rochester, Wa., a quaint little town about 10 miles west of I-5. Rochester was a logging center established at the turn of the century, SIDE ROADS 11 and we’re not talking about four years ago. That chapter has been to this park four times and is already scheduled to return next year. Also recommended by the Puget Sound Allegros is the American Sunset RV Park in Westport, Wa. Westport was once dependent on salmon fishing, but now tourism is its mainstay. Activities include whale watching, crabbing, fishing, shopping and beach combing. Fort Amarillo RV Resort in West Amarillo, Tx., is lauded by the Allegro Fun Seekers in Amarillo. Chapter members say it’s a great facility with owners who “are working to make it better and bent over backwards to make sure everything was just right for us.” The Amarillo chapter ventured into Elk City, Ok., for a camp out at Elk Creek RV Park, where they found new owners who are very accommodating – to the point of trimming low-hanging limbs to avoid scratches on shiny Tiffin motorhomes. Realtors talk about location, location, location. The South Alabama Allegros rave about Palm Lake in Foley, Al. Near the campground: Tanger’s Outlet Stores, the Gulf of Mexico, a four-lane from I-65 and “wonderful restaurants specializing in fresh seafood.” The South Alabama Allegros must also recommend Farmers Opry House Campground in Chumuckla, Fl., since the chapter scheduled camp outs there in July and August. The campground is in a farming district. Large trees provide shade from the blistering summer heat, if you left the air-conditioned and immaculate clubhouse. The big attraction is the Farmers Opry House, with the Sawmill Band and an Elvis impersonator competition. In August, a visitor camping with the chapter sang two numbers with the Sawmill Band. The Central Texas Allegros based in Austin lists Bluff Trails Ranch RV Resort in Ingram, Tx., as a chapter favorite, since the owners only allow chapters. The visiting chapter has exclusive use of the campground for the week. Two visitors did sneak in for the Central Texas Allegros camp out in April: a pair of male cardinals who pecked “just about every reflective surface they could find.” Other wildlife spotted at the resort: a black buck with rings around its eyes, wild turkeys, axis deer, white tail deer and a barking fox. If that’s not enough wildlife, try Guajome Regional Park in San Diego County, Ca., as recommended by the Allegro Classy Chassies of Southern California. Guajome has a spring-fed lake and is host to 186 species, including long-tailed weasels and bobcats. The park also has an adobe house built in the 1850s. The Allegro Classy Chassies also recommends the Golden Village Palms Resort in Helmet, Ca. for less wildlife What a Way to Travel: From left, Charles and Lenchen Radle and David and Diane Friedel navigate Amana Colonies RV Park on motorscooters during the Late Summer Getaway Rally. 12 SIDE ROADS but great amenities, such as exercise rooms, a championship shuffleboard court with eight lanes and tournament bleachers, a ballroom, heated pools, spas, meeting rooms and internet access stations. The resort is near Diamond Valley Lake, built recently for municipal water storage and transfer. You can boat and fish in this drinking water, but swimming is prohibited. Deer Run Campground near Troy, Al., is all about peace and quiet, according to the Capital City Allegros in Montgomery, Al. The campground owners are upgrading facilities. Two new lakes are pretty and peaceful. Shallow Creek Gold and RV Resort near Gladewater, Tx., gets the nod from the Comanche Allegros of Granbury, Tx. The park is new, immaculately maintained, surrounded by lush green East Texas scenery and has “just about any amenity imaginable.” There’s good Mexican food nearby in Longview. Destination attractions Columbus, Ms., in April: Historic District with Victorian, ante-bellum and Greek Revival homes, Temple Heights, azaleas in bloom, reports the Allegro Family of the Shoals, Florence, Al., camping at Dwayne Hayes Campground. If you’re staying at the Vinehard RV Park in Vacaville, Ca., as the Allegro Golden Bears have, don’t miss the Jelly Bean Factory. The café features jelly bean-shaped hamburgers and pizza. A membership requirement of the Chesapeake Allegros (Baltimore) must be the love of seafood. Try to get invited to the chapter’s annual seafood festival, which occurred this year in July at Duncan Family Camp Ground in Waysons Corner, Md. The campground hosts allowed the chapter to use a tent site for canopies needed to prepare steamed crabs, fried fish and a Low Country Boil of shrimp, potatoes, carrots, onions and corn. (continued) “The air is clean and the water is sweet” at Tucalota Springs Campground in Sage, Ca., according to the Allegro Classy Chassies of Southern California, but that’s not all. Sage is close to San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside and Palm Springs. Temecula, also nearby, is known for hot air balloon rides, many wineries, historic buildings and amazing population growth. The Lapham Patterson House in Thomasville, Ga., is an architectural marvel or nightmare, reports the Allegros in the Heart of Georgia chapter from Macon. The Victorian house was built as a winter cottage for a prosperous shoe merchant. The house has no right angles, no two windows are the same size, the chimney has a double flue and the staircase is a walk-through. The house has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975, and it’s not far from Sugar Mill Plantation, where the chapter camped. Local Travel & Camping Advice Joe and Pat Tanguay are usually the first to arrive for a Citrus Allegros of Central Florida camp out. But when the chapter headed to Haines Creek Village RV Park in Leesburg in July, the Tanguay’s two-hour trip from Melbourne took five hours. Joe blames all the Highway 44s in the area: 44E, 44W, 44A, 44B, Country Road 44, State Road 44… (May we recommend a visit to a Tiffin dealer, for a look at a new model with the navigation package?) Bob Hackney of the Allegro Ramblers from the Auburn, Mi., area has visited too many campgrounds with low power. He’s added a power booster to his Tiffin motorhome. When meat bees invaded the California (San Jose) Allegro Roadrunners’ August camp out at Pine Acres Resort in Pine Grove, Ca., the most effective defense was a concoction of margarita mix and cat food in a hanging bee/wasp trap. Don’t leave home without margarita mix and cat food.  Quirky occurrences Larry Thrall will not be the last to leave a camp out again. In May, the Allegro Ramblers from the Auburn, Mi., area, were leaving River Ridge Campground in Breckenridge, Mi. Larry had no one to hail when his tires were spinning in mud. A good Samaritan with a big truck pulled him to pavement. It’s no coincidence, Jay Cann’s first name and what happened to her at the Allegro Classy Chassies camp out at Tucalota Springs Campground in June. A large scrub jay made an aerial assault, landed on Jay and gave her a new hairdo. Even the folks in Amarillo, Tx. (Allegro Fun Seekers) can appreciate an Okie from Muskogee, or at least his son. The chapter was enjoying a June camp out at the Amarillo Ranch RV Park, but it got even better when Marty Haggard, son of country music legend Merle Haggard, treated the chapter to a gospel concert. Too bad a rainstorm cut the performance short. Chris Thell, owner of the St. Cloud Campground and RV Park in St. Cloud, Mn., just smiled, laughed and shook his head when the Minnesota-GoFor-Allegro chapter from Minneapolis replaced the park’s Monaco Avenue sign with one that read Allegro Lane. The fellow on the corner in a Monaco was not amused. The chapter members dutifully replaced the sign when they broke camp.  Become an Allegro Club Member If you’re reading this newsletter, you’re enjoying one of the benefits of Allegro Club membership. Other benefits include rallies, caravans, local chapters, discounted insurance, and a 10% discount on Camper’s Choice store and catalog purchases. When you buy a new Tiffin Motorhome, the first year of Allegro Club membership is free. After that, a one-year membership is $25, a two-year membership is $46, and a three-year membership is $70, payable by check. We want you to continue your membership and help us build our numbers by recruiting other owners of Tiffin Motorhomes. Names: Nicknames for Allegro Club ID badge #1: Nicknames for Allegro Club ID badge #2: Address: City: State: Zip: Email: Home Phone: ( Alternate Phone: ( ) – ) – Serial No. of Your Tiffin Motorhome: Chassis type: Does your motorhome have slides? If so, on which side or sides? VIN: Name of dealer where motorhome was purchased: Date of Purchase: SIDE ROADS 13 Tiffin’s 2005 models feature designer interiors RED BAY–No matter what the dictionary says, the Zephyr is no gentle breeze. Tiffin Motorhomes heralds the return of its top-of-the line coach, which hasn’t been produced in the past two model years. “There’s a lot of pent-up demand, especially from previous customers,” says General Manager Tim Tiffin, “but we are taking a slow, methodical building approach to bringing the Zephyr back into production. We will probably build 50-75 units a year.” The upscale Zephyr will capture the dreamy eye of many motorhome enthusiasts, especially with its new side-vision cameras and accommodations for king size beds and full-size sofas. The new model year news for the other Tiffin models, Allegro, Allegro Bay, Allegro Bus and Phaeton, is elegant and bold designer interiors, additional floor plans and many new options, including fullbody paint. For the first time since Tiffin built two motorhomes in a cotton warehouse in 1972, the Red Bay, Al.-based manufacturer has looked to a consultant for interior design guidance. “In the past, Tiffin interiors have been very understated with no bold statements,” explains Tim Tiffin. “We were very plain. Our theory was that our customers would use their accessories to dress things up. We turned to an interior design consultant who has worked with a number of other leading manufacturers in the recreational vehicle industry. Our new interiors are rich, elegant, fantastic and different, but they still reflect the good taste that we have always enjoyed.” 14 SIDE ROADS “Sometimes, a radical change takes some paradigm breaking,” Tim Tiffin adds. “Industry tastes have changed, and while we like to think of ourselves as leaders, we are really followers. We do what our customers and dealers tell us. We are constantly changing, and that sets Tiffin apart from the rest of the industry. If we see something that needs to be changed, we can change it right away. We don’t need to go through 15 levels of management.” Founder, President and CEO Bob Tiffin has a practical and simple approach to product development at Tiffin: “The market is never wrong. You can have what you think is a great idea, but if you don’t listen to the market and the market doesn’t like it, you’re wrong.” Tim Tiffin acknowledges that Tiffin Motorhomes has learned to heed the dictates of its customers and dealers. “Some of our biggest changes at Tiffin came between 1999 and 2001,” he says. “We were behind in floor plans and features. We overcame that, and we will never get behind again.” With the acquisition of an additional manufacturing facility in Belmont, Mississippi, about seven miles from Red Bay, Tiffin Motorhomes has significantly expanded its full-body painting capacity. Full-body paint is currently offered on Tiffin’s Zephyr, Allegro Bus, Phaeton and Allegro Bay models. The new Zephyr boasts a 500-hp engine for its 45-foot length. A king size bed is standard, along with quad-slide, a 32-in. LCD TV, solid surface countertops in the galley, three A/C units, keyless entry remote and compartment doors, Hydro-hot heating and waterheating systems, On-Star, seamless front and rear caps, a 10,000-watt generator and many other features. The roll-off of the 2005 line is not the end of changes on Tiffin models for the coming year, however. “Between now and the end of the year, we will probably come out with four more floor plans, and then we will add two or three more in the first half of 2005,” Tim Tiffin says. “The Zephyr will grow as we develop and mold it,” Tim Tiffin adds. “Next, we will grow a lower-end diesel and a lower-end gas model.”   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CUT HERE- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Allegro Club Newsletter Readership Survey Dear Allegro Club Member: This is the sixteenth year the Allegro Club has published a quarterly newsletter. We have made some changes with this issue. To make sure that our newsletter continues to meet your needs and expectations, we need a bit of feedback from you. We promise it will require no more than a few minutes to complete this survey and return it to us. 1. Have you been receiving the newsletter regularly since you joined the Allegro Club?  Yes  No 2. About how much time do you usually spend reading each issue?  30 min.  10 min.  more than 10 min. 8. What else should we consider to make the newsletter even more effective for you? 9. What year and model Tiffin Motorhome do you own? 10. Your age:  56-65   Under 35  35-45 66-75  Over 75  46-55 COMMENTS: 3. Which newsletter features do you usually read? (Mark as many as you wish.)  President’s Column  Rally Announcements  Chapter News  Tiffin Motorhomes News  Allegro Club Store Products  Dealer Information  Maintenance Tips  RV Trend News  Other (please explain) 4. Are there any newsletter features you would like to see changed or eliminated? (Please explain.) 5. What additional features or information would you like to see in the newsletter? Please put this completed survey in an envelope and mail it to The Allegro Club, Box 1429 Red Bay, AL 35582. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, 6. Would you be interested in receiving the newsletter by  No email?  Yes 7. Would you read the newsletter on the Allegro Club web  No page?  Yes Jimmy Johnson Allegro Club President Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. SIDE ROADS 15