When we purchased our Airstream in 1988, I was just buying a used travel trailer. I had no idea what a joy it would be to own a piece of the Airstream legacy! We bought a 1971 Globe Trotter, to replace a later model motorhome with about 10,000 miles on the odometer ; why, it was like new! We had used the motorhome for a couple of years and decided that a trailer would be more to our liking. It was the hassle of not having a vehicle to use after the motorhome was set up on the campsite that we objected to. Plus, the construction of the motorhome left much to be desired. I wanted something better. ….And I found it!
We looked at several used trailers, but they all smelled of rotten wood. They had all leaked up around the roof vents. I saw a Scotty trailer I liked, and had decided to look for one to buy. One of the RV dealers we visited while looking for a Scotty, had an Airstream. I had heard that an Airstream was the "Cadillac" of trailers, so I decided to look. "Wow!", I thought. "No Rot! No leaks!" and the trailer we were looking at was 40 years old with a 2 by 4 holding the door closed (the door latch was broken). The RV dealer told me it was an antique and wanted an absurd price for it …like $3000 or $4000 or something. Even now, I can say he wanted too much for it. But, I was really impressed with Airstream. Now I wanted one!
We wound up purchasing our '71 Globe Trotter from Turner Airstream near Pittsburgh, PA. It was in near perfect condition. It was well maintained, and it was beautiful! I paid twice as much for it as I would have paid for any other trailer I was considering, but even then, I felt as if it was worth the investment. Now, 16 years later, I see I was correct!
When, we purchased the Globe Trotter from Turner Airstream, we got a free one year membership in the WBCCI. Our local chapter is the Pennsylvania Unit based at Penn Wood campground in Limestone, PA. We had never been members of a camping organization before. We went to Penn Wood to check out the Airstream Club. In 1988 we had 4 children, aged 7, 5, 3 and a newborn. When we got to Penn Wood, the first thing we noticed was a complete lack of children and fire rings. "What? No campfires?". "Do you have any children here?" we asked. "Oh, yes", our tour guide said, "(So and so) brings their grandchildren once in a while". Becky and I looked at each other; it seemed we were out of place in this campground. The Airstream people all appeared to be old folks. We didn't think they'd appreciate our noisy kids and all their activity ….good and bad! So, we didn't stay.
Eleven years went by. Our trailer stayed a "baldy" …no red WBCCI numbers on it. I could see that it once sported the number "942" on it, but I wasn't going to join a club of old folks. I contemplated putting "PUNXSY" (since we live in Punxsutawney) in big red letters where the numbers should be ….maybe just to annoy those Airstream people! We camped where there were fire rings! We made campfires, we made s'mores, the kids ran around and made lots of noise in a great outdoors …in other words, we enjoyed our Airstream immensely.
Then in early 1999, I found a classified ad for an old Airstream for $500. When I called the guy he said it was probably from the 1980's, because it was old looking. When I went to see the trailer it turned out to be a 1963 Globe Trotter. It was in sad shape, but for $500 it was a bargain. So I bought it. I sought help restoring the old Airstream and ran across the Vintage Airstream Club ….thus starting a new adventure in our camping life! The first guy that responded to my inquiries was Stan Baston, who actually came to my house and showed me how things worked on my old '63. He was most helpful! He also insisted that we should go to the International Rally in Dayton Ohio. He told me that I had misjudged the Airstream people and that they were not all old snobs like I thought they were! He was so nice, that we decided to go. We stayed in the Vintage section at the rally we met all the wonderful people …young and old …and we met Tom Howarth. Tom had us join the WDCU!
When we were at Dayton, I got in trouble with the kids making noise. That is something that had never happened to me since I started camping in 1963 (when I was 9 years old!). A guy in a neighboring trailer complained. It happened again the next International Rally we went to ….except the guy yelled at ME for talking …..Geeeez! What time do these old folks go to bed anyway?? It was only about 10 o'clock. It sort of confirmed my suspicion that the WBCCI was not a club for a family with 5 children. You just can't be quiet and inconspicuous with that many children. Many people do not appreciate children being around. I am happy to report, however, that I have never been in trouble at a WDCU rally!
The WDCU is such a diverse group with both young and old, old trailers and new trailers, dogs and cats, kids and no kids. It's easy to make friends. Our kids have made friends, Becky and I have made friends. It's been a lot of fun. We've spent many evenings around the campfire with our friends in the WDCU, like we did as a family with my kids, and when I was a kid camping with my Mom and Dad. We are glad we joined and look forward to many more years of fun and friendship.