Special to the Journal
Even this far out from the arrival date, their thunder may be heard.
Such may be the case for hundreds of motorhomes and a variety of accessory merchandisers who will assemble in Perry in mid-March in a display of recreation vehicles at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.
The motorhome exhibition is slated to run March 19-22 as part of a convention of an international motorhome owners’ club, the Family Motor Coach Association, based in Cincinnati.
March 19, from 3-7 p.m., a special viewing of the motorhome exhibits for visitors will take place.
In addition, those who wish to learn more about the motorhome lifestyle can attend the “Selecting The Right Motorhome For Your Needs” seminar that will be conducted from 5:15-6:30 p.m. in Heritage Hall.
Hours for viewing motorhome exhibits are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. that Tuesday-Thursday. Booth display hours on those days are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. as well.
More than 1,000 motorhomes are expected to be on display.
The daily fee for viewing motorhomes and booth displays is $7 per person; children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Active duty military are also admitted free.
To save $2 off the admission price, bring a canned good or paper product to benefit Perry Volunteer Outreach.
A Daily Passport that provides admittance to the exhibits, seminars, and daytime and evening entertainment is available for $45 per person. The admission fee on Monday covers admission on Tuesday as well. Public parking will be available at the West Gate.
Also, nearly 100 motorhome manufacturers and dealers from across the U. S. and Canada will display the latest luxuries and innovations available in motorhomes.
Some of the displays will feature production-line units, and others will demo custom-built coaches for uses ranging from family camping to transporting high-tech business equipment, or for use as conference coaches.
According to a release, “A great variety of motorhome styles and a broad price range will be represented.”
In addition, nearly 325 companies will fill booths with RV accessories, components, supplies, campground information, and more.
According to the release, motorhomes are an increasingly popular travel option. “A recent consumer study conducted by the University of Michigan finds U.S. ownership of RVs has reached record levels. Nearly one in 12 U.S. vehicle-owning households now owns an RV.”
“In addition, the potential for future growth in RV ownership in general in the United States is considerable.
Sales of recreation vehicles are expected to continue to increase as baby boomers move into their prime RV-buying years.”
The RV exhibition is just one element of the Family Motor Coach Association motorhome owners convention. Nearly 5,000 motorhomes and some 10,000 to 12,000 people are expected to gather for the event, which includes seminars on topics relative to RVing, topflight professional entertainment, and various social events.
The Family Motor Coach Association offers to its members benefits such as: mail forwarding service, trip routing, accidental death insurance coverage, a medical evacuation program, group rates for an emergency roadside assistance plan, a fuel discount program and much more, along with its monthly magazine, Family Motor Coaching, which is filled with helpful information for the motorhome enthusiast. The organization’s national office is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and can be reached toll-free by calling Pamela Kay or Robbin Gould at 1-800-543-3622 or 513-474-3622 or on the web at www.fmca.com.
