CrossRoads RV has agreed to provide the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds with a 2011 Slingshot RV Travel Trailer to award as a grand prize in a sweepstakes competition designed to promote camping and RVing.

Cal-ARVC Executive Director Debbie Sipe and CrossRoads RV President Mark Lucas announced the promotion last week during the association’s annual convention and tradeshow in Reno, Nev.

“I can’t tell you how excited we are to have a partnership with CrossRoads RV,” Sipe said. “They understand the importance of promoting RV and camping options in California. Our members and the camping public will benefit from this partnership for years to come.”

Lucas, for his part, said he, too, is excited about the promotion. “The California State Fair is a great opportunity to showcase the family friendly activities available throughout the state and we’re thrilled to have our Slingshot as the grand prize, he said, adding, “Just as camping is accessible to all types of families, this trailer, the lightest in the industry, can be towed by all types of vehicles. There is no need for a special heavy duty truck because fuel-efficient minivans, small SUVs and crossovers are the perfect tow vehicle for this unit.”

The Slingshot travel trailer to be awarded at the State Fair will be provided by Happy Daze RVs in Sacramento. “We think this is a great opportunity. RVing is about spending time with family. It’s also a great way to see California,” said Ronnie Radigan, general sales manager for Happy Daze RVs.

The CrossRoads Slingshot Travel Trailer and other RVs will be on display along with other camping equipment during a four-day period at the California State Fair from July 24 to 27 at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

Campgrounds, RV parks and resorts and travel destinations will also be featured at the State Fair, which will include a 2,500-square foot display that shows people how they can camp in different parts of the state. “We’ll have hands on activities, such as geocaching, demonstrations on how to set up a tent and use a Coleman stove as well as classic outdoor games, such as sack races and water balloon tosses,” Sipe said.

Consumers can obtain RVing Rewards! Scratchers to participate in the competition by camping at least one night at one of nearly 30 campgrounds and RV parks that are participating in the promotion. The winning ticket will be selected July 27th at the California State Fair in Sacramento.

Monthly drawings are already being held to determine the semifinalists who will compete for the Slingshot Travel Travel in the drawing that takes place on the final day of the California State Fair. Scratchers will also be available at the fair. All finalists will be invited to appear on stage July 27th at the California State Fair and all finalists will receive a cash award. Other prizes, including free camping opportunities and camping equipment, will also be awarded to contest participants whose scratchers are selected.

For a list of campgrounds and RV parks that are participating in the RVing Rewards! Scratcher Program as well as other rules and restrictions governing this promotion, please visit Camp-California.com.

When you buy your next new truck or SUV you may be pitched more than the usual add-on. In the past you were offered scotch-guard, under-coating, body protection, extended warranties and more. Now, you can expect your salesman to ask: "Would you like an RV to go with your new vehicle?"

GMAC Financial Services announced that it will provide consumer financing for recreation vehicles and has been selected by Thor Industries as the preferred financial provider for its retail customers.

Thor is the world's largest manufacturer of recreation vehicles, including brands such as Damon, Four Winds, Airstream, Dutchmen, Komfort, Breckenridge, CrossRoads, General Coach and Keystone RV. GMAC will begin by extending retail financing through Thor dealers in 14 high-volume states, and eventually expand nationwide to all 1,200 dealers that comprise Thor's U.S. network. The company expects to accept retail financing applications from dealers for both new and used RVs, beginning in May 2010.

"The RV financing market is a natural extension of our auto business," said GMAC President Bill Muir. "We have the infrastructure and servicing capabilities to add the RV business to our portfolio. Further, many of GMAC's current and prospective auto customers are interested in using their vehicles to pull towables, so the new relationship with Thor brands makes a lot of sense for both our business and customer base."

GMAC intends to hire current employees who manage Thor Credit services, including industry veteran Ed Arienti.

"We are pleased to select GMAC as the preferred financing provider for Thor Industries, particularly as we seek to satisfy increased demand for our recreation vehicles with a positive sales and financing experience," said Thor Chairman and CEO Peter Orthwein. "Thor dealers and their customers will benefit from having GMAC as a retail financing option."

The U.S. RV market has been growing since mid-2009, and is expected to reach more than 215,000 units in 2010. Thor Industries currently holds 27 percent of U.S. RV market share. "The RV industry represents high-quality business and is currently under-represented by the financial community," Muir said.

In addition to providing consumer retail financing, GMAC will offer remarketing services to RV dealers for used or traded-in recreation vehicles through its SmartAuction online site.

Winnebago Industries’ dealers retailed more Class A and Class C motor homes combined than any other manufacturer’s dealer group in calendar 2009, achieving 19.2 percent market share versus 18.3 percent market share for calendar 2008.

“Achieving the top-selling position again is a tribute to the teamwork of our dealer partners and our employees,” said Winnebago Industries Vice President of Sales and Marketing Roger Martin. “We were extremely pleased with our market share performance in calendar 2009, particularly in the Class A diesel motor home market segment, due in part to the success of our new 2010 lineup. Winnebago Industries had the largest Class A diesel market share gain in the industry with 11.3 percent of this market segment in 2009 versus 8.1 percent in calendar 2008; an amazing gain of nearly 40 percent for the year.”

Winnebago Industries also led the Class A Gas market segment and the Class C market segment, both with 22.9 percent market share in calendar 2009. Winnebago Industries’ ERA was also the top-selling Class B motor home model in calendar 2009 with 17.9 percent market share.

With recent trade show attendance breaking records 2010 should bring with it an even better year.

For the record, here are the actual numbers as provided by Statistical Surveys, the key source for numbers to the RV industry:

Top 5 Class A & C Combined Manufacturers
1 Winnebago  (3,622)
2 Thor  (3,065)
3 Fleetwood  (3,011)
4 Monaco  (2,044)
5 Tiffin  (1,401)

Top 5 Class A Manufacturers - Gas & Diesel
1 Fleetwood  (2,031)
2 Winnebago  (1,831)
3 Monaco  (1,733)
4 Thor  (1,591)
5 Tiffin  (1,401)

Top 5 Diesel Class C Manufacturers
1 Winnebago  (1,791)
2 Thor  (1,474)
3 Fleetwood  (980)
4 Coachmen  (830)
5 Jayco  (813)

On November 10, 2009, Thor Industries announced that Wade Thompson had relinquished his duties as Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of the company due to illness.

On November 13, 2009, the Board of Directors announced that Mr. Thompson had passed away after a courageous and determined fight against cancer.

"As long as there's a Grand Canyon, there will be an RV industry," Mr. Thompson was fond of saying. And even though he has built RVs across the entire price spectrum including the legendary Airstream, Thompson remained grounded, in touch with his inner child and creative spirit as he throttled about in his Mini Cooper.

Wade Thompson lived life as a legend. And unlike so many other visionary artists, he did not need to die to find appreciation. As Thor continues, we mourn his loss while at the same time celebrating his contribution - to our community and the world at large.

Following is the press release issued by the company:

"Wade F. B. Thompson Co-Founder, Chairman, President and CEO Loses 14 Year Battle With Cancer.

The Board of Directors of Thor Industries, Inc. announced that its co-founder, chairman, president and CEO, Wade F. B. Thompson, died on November 13th, 2009 after a 14 year battle with five cancers. Mr. Thompson was 69 years old.

Mr. Thompson founded Thor in 1980 with Peter B. Orthwein, Thor vice-chairman, with the acquisition of Airstream, the renowned travel trailer builder. Thompson turned Airstream around from a $12 million annual loss immediately prior to purchase to a $1 million profit in its first year. Thor went public on January 11, 1984 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange on August 29, 1986, six years to the day after its founding.

Wade Thompson always said that his major business legacy was not only helping build Thor into the leading manufacturer of recreation vehicles and buses, but Thor's record of never losing money which is believed to be unique in these two industries. Even during fiscal 2009, a year of world-wide recession and a depression in the RV industry, Thor made money.

Wade Thompson devoted his last decade to helping find a cure for cancer. He founded the Drive Against Prostate Cancer in 2000. The Drive, consisting of two Airstream mobile medical vehicles, has given over 101,000 free prostate cancer screenings to men, particularly the under-served and veterans. About 5% of the men have an abnormality and The Drive has saved about 5,000 lives due to early detection. He was a major contributor to Zero - The Project to End Prostate Cancer, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Cancer Research Institute, and actively financed clinical trials for melanoma and colon cancer in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Wade Thompson was also deeply dedicated to the arts, historic preservation and conservation. He was the founder and chairman of the Seventh Regiment Armory Conservancy whose mission is to restore and revitalize the historic Park Avenue Armory at 66th Street in Manhattan into a world class venue for the performing and visual arts. The Armory's 60,000 sq. ft., seven story high Drill Hall is named in his honor. He was a major supporter of Central Park Conservancy, the Municipal Art Society, and Mystic Seaport Museum. His other interests were tennis and collecting contemporary art.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 42 years, Angela, his children, Charles A. Y. Thompson and Amanda Jane Thompson Riegel, his daughter-in-law, Olya A.Y. Thompson, son-in-law Richard E. Riegel III, and six grandchildren."