Posted: 08 Aug 2009 04:57 PM PDT

The iconic rounded body of a vintage Airstream travel trailer reflects the endurance and simplicity of RVs of the 1940s, '50s and '60s. (Photo courtesy of The Saratoga Automobile Association)

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Nearly 100 classic vehicles will be parked in an encampment at Saratoga Automobile Museum's second annual "Vintage Trailer Jam" Aug. 12 through 16 at the museum in Saratoga Spa State Park. The exhibit repeats a popular event from last summer.

Many of these vintage vehicles, dating from the 1940s through the late 1970s, will be open to visitors Saturday, Aug. 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Among the vehicles on display will be travel trailers and motorhomes by Airstream, Spartan, Tagalong, Serro Scotty, Shasta, Frolic, and Argosy. Most of the vehicles will be occupied by their owners during the event.

The Vintage Trailer Jam will also include seminars for owners and would-be owners, on topics such as restoration, travel destinations, RV history and buying vintage trailers.

Walk-in admission to the seminars is $35, but the open house on Saturday is free to all.

The Vintage Trailer Jam will also include a judged concourse event with prizes and a vintage parts flea market. Early parking is available for participants on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

During the Vintage Trailer Jam, the Saratoga Automobile Museum will be exhibiting a display of convertibles from the 1940s, '50s and '60s in "Mid Century Marvels — The Dennis Dammerman Collection."

Saratoga Springs is a great location for everyone, with world-class spas, museums, great restaurants, bicycling, dozens of attractions, and great camping in nearby state parks.

Please note that activities, invited speakers and amenities are subject to change prior to event dates.

For more information or to register, go to www.vintagetrailerjam.com. For more information about the Saratoga Automobile Museum, go to www.saratogaautomuseum.org

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Camping World Launches "Cash for Campers" Recycle & Save Rebate ... - Market Wire

Posted: 11 Aug 2009 12:00 PM PDT

SOURCE: Camping World

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL--(Marketwire - August 11, 2009) - Camping World, the nation's largest RV and outdoor retailer, today announced their unique effort to mirror the government program "Cash for Clunkers" currently supported by the Automotive Industry and Department of Transportation.

Camping World's self-funded recycle and save initiative called "Cash for Campers" is aimed at current Recreational Vehicle owners. This program is focused on improving the quality of vehicles currently in circulation as well as stimulating the economy in heavy hit manufacturing states such as Iowa and Indiana. The "Cash for Campers" program incentivizes RV consumers to transition into new and more fuel efficient motorized RVs when they trade in an older, less fuel efficient model.

Camping World has aligned itself with the three top selling motorhome manufacturers in America: Damon, Winnebago and Four Winds. All are currently leading the charge towards improving environmental issues; with efforts in such areas as chassis selection, fuel savings through design and long-term durability. These changes are evident in their current motorhome line-up such as the View, Navion, Avanti and Serrano to name a few.

Marcus Lemonis, Camping World Chairman & CEO, commented, "As the market leader, Camping World currently retails over 18% of all new motorhomes sold in the U.S. We believe that an accelerated transition of the current installed base ultimately accomplishes several important goals; to remove less fuel efficient models from the roads, increase the demand for new and more efficient motorhomes which will ideally result in assisting the RV manufacturers in putting people back to work."

Camping World also plans to permanently retire less fuel efficient models ages 1984 and older through a salvage process. Lemonis further detailed, "If a consumer owns a less fuel efficient and less technologically advanced motorhome and is interested in trading it in through the 'Cash for Campers' program, their unit is eligible for a cash allowance towards select new models at Camping World."

The company expects to launch similar programs in the near future on recycling towable models as well as select RV accessories with more details to be released as plans get underway.

More details about the program can be found at www.CampingWorld.com/cashforcampers.

About Camping World

Founded in 1966, Camping World is America's largest direct marketer and specialty retailer of recreational vehicles and outdoor camping accessories and services. The company grew from a single point location in Bowling Green, KY to operating successful nationwide Supercenters.

Over the last five years, Camping World has progressively expanded their products and services offering therefore providing consumers with a vast selection, convenience and value. Camping World now operates under the department store model as a one stop shopping destination providing services to enhance and protect the RV lifestyle including: Recreational Vehicle Sales; RV Rentals; RV Service & Collision; over 8,000 RV & outdoor accessories; Performance & Tow centers; Detail & Refurbishment centers known as RV Spa; President's Club customer loyalty program; Campground reservations & directories; RV Finance and Insurance; RV Tours & Travel; and a nationally distributed magazine called RV View.

The dynamic Camping World retail network headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, currently operates in 33 states and serves over 4 million RV enthusiasts.

For more information, visit us online at www.campingworld.com

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One more time ... - ESPN.com

Posted: 16 Aug 2009 12:44 PM PDT

"So put me on a highway and show me a sign, and take it to the limit one more time."

"Take It To The Limit" by The Eagles

Don Barone

Ken Cook's last launch as an Elite pro.

One more time is the greatest gift.

One more time for our children to be babies.

One more time for our parents to be parents.

One more time for one more time.

What if you knew that this time was your last one more time?

What if you had the passion, but not the time?

When is it time …

To change,

To evolve,

To leave behind,

And move forward?

When is it time …

The right time to go?

Move on.

Try something new.

Is it when good enough becomes good enough?

When full speed is half speed?

When the flame is gone, and life is lived in the embers?

To be honest, I never really thought Bassmaster Elite pro Ken Cook would really retire.

Then I heard him say this: "db, I'm not as mad at the fish as I used to be. Used to be, I wanted to catch all of them, every last one. Not anymore."

And then I knew: His one last time was done.

Philosophy in a truck camper

For one moment in time, Cook was the best in the world at what he does. Bassmaster Classic champion.

Anglers today are in this sport because of what Cook did back in 1991. When you take to the stage and you stand there alone, there is no doubt as to who or what you are.

Champion.

For Cook, winning championships has grown more difficult.

"You can't retire from your passion, but my energy is just not there anymore," he said. "And once you lose the energy, you get chinks in the armor. Lately, there have been lots of chinks."

Cook's son Hunter, a young man in medical school, told me, "When Dad was young, he could do all of this, everyday, and only use about 75 percent of his energy; he could still do other things. Now it takes 100 percent of everything he's got; it's much harder for him now. It's a good time for him to move on."

Cook's family waits as Cook weighs in.

To put this in perspective, Cook has fished 300 tournaments. When he did the math, "I was shocked to see I've spent almost 1,800 days on the water either in practicing or competing. 1,800 days."

I did the math, too. That worked out to be almost five years of competing, five years of head-to-head competition against the best, battling the boat next to you and the bass underneath.

Although the flame is still there, there's a flicker in it.

"Lately, my success was not there to feed the joy. I'm not surprised I haven't done as well."

A stranger on the boat

I have my Costas on high. Wraparound protection from the sun and crowd. I'm at a picnic table trying to sleep sitting up, reporter notebook in hand, snoozing behind the polarization.

Suddenly, my end of the table goes up and then back down as two guys climb aboard on the other side.

I'm awake now, but drifting. Sip, sip, then two cans hit the table. One of the drinkers lifts his ball cap and scratches; I smell coconut as his compatriot lathers up for another bout without shade.

Don Barone

The last bag.

Suddenly, the public behind me starts talking.

Some stranger: "So how was your day out there?"

The other stranger: "Cool. … I was with this pro on his last day; the guy told me he was retiring. …"

I'm awake now.

One of the strangers: "Jeez, what did you say?"

The other stranger: "Not much -- what do you say? But I was there as he made his last cast as a pro. It was something I will never forget."

When I got up, I turned to them and said exactly this: "Thank you."

I'm sure they had no idea why a half-awake guy at a picnic table at a bass event would do that, so you stranger guys, if you read this, here's why I said thanks:

For the honor you gave to a man on his boat.

For the show of respect you gave a man who gave his sport his total respect when he stepped away, when he knew his time had come.

To sacrifice your desire for the good of the game completes your role as a champion.

Sunrise, sunset

Don Barone

Somewhere out there in the line, Ken is heading into the sunrise ... and a new life.

I was there on the end of a long, shaky dock when Ken Cook took off into the sunrise for what would be his last day as an Elite pro. I was at the same exact spot when he came back in.

I shot the launch with a wide-angle lens; the return with a telephoto.

I wanted to give the man his space. His "one more time," alone.

With the telephoto lens, I could see his eyes, and when I swung the camera to see what he was looking at, as the auto-focus made things right, his three boys came into view.

And I knew that the picture, as a whole, was right.

Ken was leaving the sport for his boys on the beach and his wife, Tammy, in the crowd.

"He's invested so much in the sport," said Alyson Cook, Ken's daughter-in-law for just over a year. "I'm so happy for him that now he can invest so much time in his family. He just loves taking his granddaughter, Rylee [Jason's 6-year-old daughter], fishing. … It's going to be great for the whole family."

With tears welling in her eyes as she looked at me, then over to Ken, Tammy told me, "db, this year was for his family. He did it for the boys, but he did it especially for me. He did it so I would have closure."

Closure to the family bass — in preparation for retirement.

Elite pro guys, when you read this, you need to know one thing: You made the dinner at the firehouse a night Ken will remember for the rest of his life.

Don Barone

Goodbye, Ken, and thank you. db

He said, "I had no idea people think of me the way they do. I was shocked by how many people came up to me and by the things they said."

Son Tanner, who was there by his father's side, told me, "db, it was amazing, simply amazing. Some guys came up to Dad and remembered what Dad told them word for word almost 18 years ago. His peers telling him what he meant to them was very special for him … and us."

What I said to strangers at a picnic table also applies to the Elite guys at the event.

Thank you.

Please know it's his turn to never forget what you told him that night.

Changes

If you took away my words, I would be speechless.

I am the words on the page.

Is it possible ever to leave what it is that we do?

"db, I'm not retiring from life, just tournament fishing."

After all the hugs, goodbyes and wiping of the eyes, I sat in my db RV trying to figure out what I could say to my good friend Ken Cook.

I knew it had to be words on the screen because I could never say the goodbye face-to-face.

As I was staring out the window, I just happened see the Ken Cook Outdoors camper and boat go by, and I watched it as it drove out of the campground toward a new life.

And I knew I never would have better words to end with than those Tanner told me: "Most people retire from their jobs to go bass fishing. My dad is retiring to enjoy bass fishing like everyone else does. He's just leaving the tournaments behind, but he will never stop fishing. It's what he does, and now he will do it with us."

"I watch the ripples change their size but never leave the stream."

"Changes" by David Bowie

— db

Don Barone is an award-winning outdoors writer and a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association and the Outdoor Writers Guild of the U.K. You can reach db at www.donbaroneoutdoors.com.

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