Now live on RVBuddies, the 3rd Annual Florida Sunshine Statesman GMC Drag Race from Orlando, Florida.

Eastern correspondent and friend of the program, Jim Bounds, owner of Cooperative Motor Works, hosts this RV Buddies Online special event show-casing the historic GMC motor home.

Born of automotive heritage, the GMC boasts a 403 or 455 front-wheel-drive drive train – revolutionary for its time. These cult classics can still be seen throughout the United States and Canada.

There are a number of shops specializing in the restoration, and in some cases – "severe modification", of these classic coaches. RV Buddies is currently involved in a massive GMC project. Jim Bounds is known for his extreme projects which include dramatic styling changes, high-end audio and video systems, and of course – performance from turbos, new engines and diesel transformations.

Some GMC owners drove thousands of miles to attend the event. The camaraderie, along with the pride of ownership makes this one of the closest-knit communities within an already close RV world.

There are over 20 clubs nationwide under the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association),  umbrella dedicated to these GMC aficionados alone.

There was a lot of fun at the event. Besides the GMC RVs - motorcycles, trucks and cars ran down the drag strip. Initially, the audience was a bit taken back by the site of the motor homes. The video shows some traditional "trash-talking" as spectators and contestants alike brag, boast and predict all possible outcomes. Strategies included whether to empty the holding tank or not for better traction on the track. One racer pondered turning the TV on during his run for entertainment.

Action in the pits was ever-present. GMC owners and experts helped each other out with maintenance and upgrade issues. Fire Fight, a provider of fire suppression systems  was on hand to educate the GMC owners on the value of these life-saving devices. Besides the practical pit-side activities – much food and beverage was shared.

There is nothing as American as an RV. And RVers love NASCAR and drag races. So the idea that the front wheel drive of an RV can burn rubber down a drag strip has to be a dream-come-true.

The winner of the event who set a new record (22.514 seconds at 62 MPH), was Bob Heller, driving #9587, a 1974 GMC running a 455 big-block engine with 110,000 original miles. Bob does all his own work and maintenance.

Many more events are planned for the future; and all who participated vow to continue to set new speed records.

Mark and Dave ponder the condition of the GMC. They take a walk around and look her over, and in an un-edited piece, openly discuss the project. The camera captures the lights, the mistakes, and all the rough movements around the coach.

Finally inside the coach, the two discuss the various options - from being 100% loyal to a restoration, to the option of an interpretation of how the coach would look in the present.

"It's been in storage here for six months" says Dave. What he didn't say is that he was going to charge us for all the dust it was attracting!

It's nice to shoot this first piece of video - it symbolizes a start of the new project. After all the time has passed, the floorplan and section drawings are pretty much finalized. Now the chassis shop is delivering a bid, and the interior shop is pricing out their services. Dave at Final Touch has given us a price (help), and is now drafting up some illustrations with color treatments. We'll share those when we get them. In the meantime - here is the final-final floorplan. Really, I think!

It has been a hectic few weeks. I was supposed to get the smog certificate to the DMV by today, but alas they are closed on Saturdays. We're starting to shoot a special show on Monday (more news on that soon), and this week is hectic to say the least. So I have to hope the DMV will be understanding when I see them in two weeks.

In the meantime, I decided to take the GMC out for a drive last night, but all the house batteries were dead. It appears the converter part of the charger/converter works, but that's about it. I was upset so today, without the threat of impending darkness, I drove the coach around town and for lunch. That was fun. I have to work out some clearance issues in the remodel - I hate always hitting the drag wheels. It reminds me of when I used to own a sports car and had to be careful of the front spoiler. If this is going to be a good camper - I need to get this chassis to be a tad more functional.

Hopefully, I will get the pictures of the coach boiling over last week to show you. It's pathetic to think after all the work we've done to have over-heating be an issue, and at the same time - kind of funny. Today the drive was in range, even though traffic was stop and go. I won't tell you it was 84 degrees here today. Oh, sorry, I just did!

Part of me wants to get on the road with a simple restoration, and the other part of me is excited about a full rebuild. I think it will come down to costs. Either way, the labor should be about the same. We'll have to see what the material cost differences end up as... For now, I'm back to preparing for Monday's shoot. Have a great weekend.

Oh - here's a VERY IMPORTANT message from Jim Bounds of gmccoop:

"On the insurance people side of vintage motorhomes, take a read on my daily pose this morning about the difference in "full coverage" and "Agreed Value" coverage. An old motorhome has very little value in the book, the value comes in with all the stuff that is done to it, if there is no actual "agreed" price you will be screwed if something happens. This is a "soap box" issue that anyone with a vintage motorhome must understand - a vintage car or lawnmower too for that matter! Progressive writes agreed value policies, I do surveys for them and anyone else seeking such coverage - this is the #1 issue on insuring vintage iron."

In the few weeks following taking delivery of the GMC, I had some fun driving it, and parking it in the driveway. Some of the things I thought might be problems turned out to be okay. Other things I thought had been fixed were still in disarray. On one trip, the choke stuck in the high idel position making braking near impossible on city streets. Upon arriving at the location in the picture below, the radiator was boiling over like mad!

But about that old truck. I can't tell you everything, but there is a pretty high end RV shop in Southern California that used to be in the business of repairing exotic cars. Now they do RV's and when customers pick up the finished product - they are shocked given most of the time you just hope nothing else is broken! Well, this truck is one of their little in-house pet projects. It, like all the folks there, has a story and unique personality.

We're looking at every option from a simple restoration, to the extreme end of the spectrum including frame-off restoration, modernization and a new floorplan. To see a large version of the plan on the right, just click on it and it will open in a new window on your computer. More later as things develop. It's all very exciting and I can't wait to get started on phase 2.

Well, yesterday was a good day. Pink slip and smog certificate in hand, I went for my DMV appointment, and you can see the results. A nice new custom plate is on the way.

As it turns out, the last time the original plates were tagged was in 1991. How's that for being ignored! And that's questionable given the pink only shows registration through 1985. Either way, it seems entirely possible that the coach has less than 30,000 original miles on her. A compression test will tell the tale. Either way, I'm sure she will be happy to be back on the road.

Dennis is wrapping up some lose ends - literally... A wire was loose on the circuit board and the lights would flicker with foot falls or cabinets closing. A pesky hose reared its ugly head and coolant went flying - but better now than on a freeway. Dennis and Joe have been through the entire brake system, and are pulling the rear drums to check a few final parts.

So, it would seem, that the RV Buddies GMC RV will be hitting the road soon - the plan is next Wednesday. I've been stock piling lots of things around the office for ongoing projects. The list is long - I'll post an abbreviated version sometime soon to share my vision with you. A few things I'd like to hold back as surprises though!

Hope the new year has begun well for all of you. If our new license plate is a sign of good times ahead - I'm thrilled to see what else 2009 has to offer.

I spent all of December 24th, Christmas Eve, going over page after page of punch list items on the GMC. If you think it's hard taking delivery of a new coach, it's even more important to check the details on a used or restoration. A friend of mine volunteered, reluctantly, to join me for the day - knowing full-well what he was getting into. A nice breakfast of fresh waffles and good coffee always makes for a good bribe. Being in Southern California, I won't complain to you about the weather. Our day began in the high 30's with drizzle - so that's nothing compared with what many friends endured across the country.

When we got to the coach, all looked complete. Windshield and mirrors installed. New bathroom vent (recent rains revealed a leak - so better change it out now). Then the daunting task of going down a three page spread sheet checking every switch, valve, line, socket and switch - port to starboard, stem to stern. When you're in the middle of a long-term remodel, you don't care about some things. A leak in an old coach isn't the end of the world like a new one. But propane or electrical issues are always scary. We found one leaky ground and repaired that. Strangley, the punch list was very, very short - which was a good thing.

One funny thing, the passenger wall armrest has an ash tray - a remnant of society past. It was full of rusty water. I found it comical. I'm sure others would have been beside themselves. But to me, it's just part of this evolving story. I think our coach knows she's being cared for and is responding in kind.

All systems go, it was time for a test drive. The generator fired right up - albeit a tad rich smelling. (Not very camp-ground friendly at the moment!) The engine also fired right up - strong and sure. We dropped it in gear, and oddly, the coach didn't want to move. Well, months of work later, we discovered, very quickly thankfully, that the transmission was lacking - fluid (not filled after an extensive servicing). Ooops! Having corrected that, we were on our way. The ride was amazing - GMC's suspension was decades ahead of its' time. Steering was true, although reminiscent of the over-assisted power steering of the era. The power band was awesome. Amazing what new gas can do for an engine! The brakes felt a bit odd. Too much pressure was required and the peddle was going too far to the floor.

So after many hours of inspection, we had a few incidentals on the punch list, but added a thorough inspection of the brake system - pads, rotors, drums, master cylinder, lines and vacuum system. During the test drive, some of the 12 volt lights also flickered. There's a gremlin in the fuse panel - so that's getting changed out.

So that's about it really. No RV under my Christmas tree, but things are looking great. It looks like we will have accomplished a great first phase in the upgrade of this coach. I can't wait to pick her up in the next few weeks. I've got the sofa-bed screen here by my desk just waiting to join her new mistress.

I don't have any new pictures for you this week, but it looks like next week we take delivery of the GMC. It appears that "Phase One" is near an end. The new windshield is in, along with the new RAMCO mirrors. She's as shiny as a weathered second-hand paint job could offer. With all the window tinting off, we had to at least put a levelour in the bathroom! (I'm really shy!) I have a new folding bathroom door, fire extinguisher, shower curtain track and lots of little odds and ends here ready to add final touches.

All systems are go. No plumbing leaks. The propane systems work. The water heater needs a new circuit board, which is due any day. They didn't require CO/LP/Smoke detectors in 1977, but I hate surprises so those are going in now too. It's amazing - with everything we have had to do, there were not too many surprises. One window seal was, well, a joke - but after 35 years, what can you expect?

I've been surfing the web looking for deals and found ceiling fabric for $10 a yard from a dealer buyout. The old wall paper that got demolished needs something, and I have samples on the way. So all is good. I am trying not to get too excited in case there is a delay. But I'm hopeful that maybe I can drive her and park her under a big Christmas tree in a forest somewhere for the holidays!

I've been waiting for today for weeks. With the nice long weekend, I have been wanting, longing, to spend a day with the RV seeing what lied beneath the surface. So today was the day. Earlier this week, I had a professional cleaning company come in and clean the upholstery and carpet. After who knows how many years - it needed professional help.

I walked into the RV today and WOW! The carpet didn't look half bad - except for the fading in the cab area. And the upholstery was AOK... Oddly, the passenger seat is the one that is shredded - not the drivers' seat. Try and figure that one out.

So the day was starting out nicely. First things first - this puppy needed a serious washing. Well, it was SO bad, I grabbed all the products THETFORD had sent me: RV BLACK STREAK REMOVER, BUG BUST, MILDEW STAIN REMOVER and RV WASH & WAX. I used these products "liberally" in a bucket, and sprayed directly on really bad areas - like most of the coach!

Joe got up on the roof with a scrubbing broom and after a few tries, amazing - like night and day! All the crud was gone and other than the fact that the paint was a not-so-good aftermarket paint job, it looked great! I did the sides of the coach. The streaking, stains, filth and general garbage melted away. If you are serious about easy cleaning for your RV, get these THETFORD products. I've never seen this kinds of performance - and on what started as a total disaster.

In the process, we discovered a few incredible leaks! The door seal and dinette window were pretty bad. Fortunately, Joe had a throw rug inside the door which took the filth that flew inside! With a beautiful exterior (finally), I stood back and just felt really good about things. Onward to the interior.

An RV-ing friend of mine is a fanatic with his car - and took to the cab area. The dash and associated area had decades of dust, spills and smoke covering them. In spite of that - things cleaned up very nicely. Other than a few minor cracks and one curl on the dashboard, things ended up very livable. Back in the coach area, I hit the wood with about a quart of wood cleaner/conditioner. Check out the before and after pictures. What a difference! I have to honestly tell you, I've been into "detailing" cars for decades - including an insane bout with a number of black cars which can be very picky - and your wax/cleaner, wash, bug, streak products just blew my mind.

A few final things left to do before a final systems test and trial run... It's the last details that seem to take the longest. But I knew she had good bones, and after a day of cleaning, it just felt good to stand back, gaze on her and smile. Thanks for keeping up with the progress. Please cross-post and tell your friends.

Today was a big day when we checked out the RV. One of our Executive Producers' was in town today, (the one with the check book), and it was the first time he has ever seen the coach. Well, surprise the NORCOLD refrigerator is installed. But alas the shipping company "misplaced" the new SPINFLO range. So they are looking for that.

All the window tinting is gone and WOW, you can see inside. It's not some dark 1960's walnut paneled basement anymore. Supposedly the last few details are happening before Thanksgiving. Next Friday, I'm looking forward to climbing on the roof and doing some good old fashioned wash and wax work. Dennis did one corner and it actually didn't look terrible.

A local carpet and upholstery cleaner is coming the first of the week to freshen up the old interior. We're close to being done with the first phase, and on our way to a shake down cruise. Dennis confessed today that this RV had been parked "for a while" in someone's yard. I don't know how long awhile is when a coach sinks into the ground. Either way, things are looking good and as we get closer to the end, my inner child can't wait for a drive down the open road.

After the last few visits, it's being really exciting. This time, it wasn't a disappointment, but as they say, slow and steady wins the race. We've got a new sink and faucet in the bath. A new faucet is on order for the galley. It's easier than dealing with a drip or trouble-shooting when we pressurize the system. The roof is actually in good shape - although it looks like hell. We're changing out the vent covers and sealing things up before the major cleaning to be safe.

On a brighter note, (sorry for the pun), since we'll eventually have a 15K A/C, we removed the second A/C and are installing a skylight vent. That and removing the window tint will really brighten up the coach.

Now to the fun part. I've been sitting with my sketch pad and thinking. After I have the coach in my driveway to "set a spell" with it, I can finalize my plans. But for now, I'm thinking to ultimately remove the rear bumper and "french" the lower rear of the coach for a clean finished look. The only break will be for a receiver hitch, and possibly for the stainless exhaust. We'll see. With the price of re-chroming bumpers, more than likely the front end will be brought into the present with a more integrated look. More on that later.

Anyway, so I'm crawling under the coach. The back already looks better with all that bad welding and ridiculous work someone did over 30 plus years. Funny how things are easier to spot when the mess is out of the way. Well... the alignment of the bumper is a tad off. Hmmm. The crimp in the left rear corner of the frame explains that. Not a big deal considering my plans, so - no big deal. However... while I was under there, the one drag wheel that remains in bad shape revealed some interesting news... The black water tank took a nice scrape and had a hole worn into it. YUCK! So new drag wheels are in order, and a patch on the tank while I investigate whether this tank is stock or an attempt by an old owner at larger capacity. Any input via our Yahoo Group would be helpful... More next week - stay tuned!