SIGN-UP FOR TWO 2024 VAC NATIONAL EVENTS!
HELEN’S HOMECOMING RALLY
MAY 30 – JUNE 2, 2024
2024 AROUND THE WORLD CARAVAN
MAY 26 – JUNE 2, 2024
Please review the Caravan and Rally Announcement at the bottom of this page for details before completing this sign-up form!
Sign-Up Period: 12/6/23 – 1/15/2024
Lottery Selection Notification: 1/16 – 1/19/2024
Caravan Payment Due (if selected): 1/31/2024
Important Notes:
- You must be a current VAC Member at the time of the Caravan and Rally to participate.
- While there is no limit on attendance for Helen’s Homecoming Rally, the “On-Site” Rally Camping is capped at 50 rigs total (including Caravan rigs), and there is no limit for “Off-Site Camping.
- The Caravan is capped at 25 rigs (“On-Site” Rally camping included, if desired).
- Selection for “On-Site” Rally camping and Caravan participation will be by lottery.
- “Waitlists” will be maintained for those not initially selected in the lotteries
- “Waitlists” will be maintained for those not initially selected in the lotteries
- There will be no late sign-ups after 1/15/2024, though you may be offered “On-Site” Rally camping or a Caravan position if a cancellation occurs after that date.
- The $70/person Rally Fee will be collected at the time of application.
- The “Additional” $90/person Caravan Fee will be invoiced and collected when notified of Caravan lottery selection.
- After Caravan lottery selection, failure to pay the Caravan Fee by 1/31/2024 will forfeit your position in the Caravan and it will be offered to the next member on the Caravan waitlist.
- “Caravan Participants” will be responsible to directly pay $30/rig for one night camping per campground request (Details will be communicated after selection).
- “Off-Site Rally Participants” are responsible to make and pay for their own campground reservations. (Suggested campgrounds, where we have already secured a number of sites, will be provided.)
- If you must cancel your participation, please alert the VAC as soon as possible so that your spot may be offered to the next member on the waitlist. (For any cancellations the VAC Cancellation Policy will apply)
- Individual re-selling of “Caravan” or “On-Site” Rally Participation is NOT permitted.
Should you have any questions about the events or the sign-up process, please eMail steveblackmervac@gmail.com
Registration is now closed!
Announcing a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity!
2024 VAC National Events!
This year, the Vintage Airstream Club will be offering two special activities for VAC Members:
- “Helen’s Homecoming Rally!” at the Club Headquarters in Jackson Center, OH, to celebrate Helen Byam Schwamborn as the founder of our WBCCI / ACI Club and as the key organizer of the ATWC.
- A 2024 VAC “Around the World Caravan” to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan (ATWC).
The following represents the details of both VAC sponsored activities:
Helen’s Homecoming Rally
May 30 – June 2, 2024
- This Rally will celebrate the contributions made by Helen Byam Schwamborn, Wally’s Byam’s cousin, who formed WBCCI in 1955 and nurtured it for 25 years
- The 60th anniversary of the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan will also be celebrated as it could not have happened without Helen
- The Rally is restricted to Regular and Associate VAC Members only
- While there is no limit on attendance for Helen’s Homecoming Rally, the “On-site” Camping (Boondocking) at WBCCI/ACI Headquarters is capped at 50 rigs total (including Caravan rigs), there is no limit for “Off-Site” Camping.
- 25 Rigs from 2024 VAC ATW Caravan plus . . .
- 25 Rally additional “On-Site” Rigs will be determined by a Random Lottery
- Additional “Off-Site” Participants beyond the 50 Rigs, or those specifically wanting hookups, must secure their own camping at a nearby campground
- These “off-site” participants must still register for the Rally during the sign-up period and pay the Rally Fee to be able to participate in Rally activities
- A list of nearby campgrounds will be provided to “Off-Site” registrants
- The Rally Fee will be $70 / Person for both “On-Site” and “Off-Site” Participants, and will be collected at the time of application.
- There will be no additional Camping Fee for the On-site Participants
- Off-site Participants must pay their campground fee directly to the campground they select
- Meals will not be provided, but on-site group dining will be encouraged, similar to what occurred at Rallys and on Caravans back when our club was founded by Helen. (Bring your grill if desired)
- Critical Dates:
- Sign up Period: 12/6/2023 – 1/15/2024 (must request “On-Site” or “Off-Site” Camping)
- Notification of Selection for On-site (Boondocking) Participants: 1/16/2024 – 1/19/2024.
- An “On-Site” Waitlist will be created for those not initially selected by Random Lottery.
- Those not selected for “On-Site” may opt to become “Off-Site” participants.
- Confirmation of “Off-Site” Participants will also occur 1/16/2024 – 1/19/2024
- If you must cancel your participation, please alert the VAC as soon as possible so that your spot may be offered to the next member on the waitlist.
*(For any cancellation the VAC Cancellation Policy will apply)*
Helen’s Homecoming Rally Tentative Schedule
(Subject to Change)
Thursday May 30th
- Non-Caravan “On-Site” Rally Participants arrive at Jackson Center to be parked in “newly acquired” Club Headquarters area
- “Off-Site” Rally Participants to arrive at their selected campgrounds at or after the campground arrival time
- Caravan Participants arrive at Parade Staging Area
- “Caravan Participants” Parade into Jackson Center (time TBD)
- “Caravan Participants” to be parked at “current” Club Headquarters, unless they opt for “Off-Site” camping
- Afternoon – Self-Guided Tour of the Museum
- All Day – Factory Tours will be available, a sign-up list will be offered at a later date for those attending
- “Sidewalk Café” (Wally Byam’s term for Happy Hour)
- Explore Jackson Center and Around (See Special Note Below)
- Food – On Your Own
Friday May 31st
- All Day Self-Guided Tour of the Museum
- Morning – Factory Tour, “Helen” and ATWC Sessions
- Afternoon – Around the World Movie, “How to” Sessions
- Explore Jackson Center and Around
- Food – On Your Own
Saturday June 1st
- Morning – Open Panel and “How To” Sessions
- Noon – Open House for Rally Participants
- Afternoon – Annual VAC Members Business Meeting
- Explore Jackson Center and Around
- Food – On Your Own
- Saturday Night – “Special Night with Dale” at the Museum (Fund Raiser Sign-up to be announced at Rally)
Sunday June 2nd
- Depart at your leisure
Special Note: Jackson Center Community Days will be happening during this time.
(Food Stand / Beer Stand / Carnival Rides / Entertainment)
Around the World Caravan
- The Caravan from the RV/MH Museum in Elkhart, IN to the Helen’s Homecoming Rally in Jackson Center, OH
- Dates: May 26 to June 2, 2024 (including Helen’s Homecoming Rally dates)
- The Caravan will visit approximately 20 cities and towns along its route that have names from “Around the World” (See Caravan Itinerary below)
- Electric and water connections at some locations, but some stops will be “boondocking” with no hookups in the spirit of the original Around the World Caravan
- Meals will not be provided, but on-site group dining will be encouraged, similar to the original Around the World Caravan. (Bring your grill if desired)
- The Caravan is restricted to Regular and Associate VAC Members
- The Caravan is limited to Twenty-five (25) participating rigs
- Several Around the World Trailers & Supporting Staff
- Remaining Participants will be determined by a Random Lottery
- Caravan Fee will be an additional $90/person (above the $70/person Rally Fee that you will have already paid at sign-up time.)
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- Camping is provided at no cost in Elkhart, IN and Peru, IN
- An additional Camping Fee for Fort Recovery ($30.00) will be paid directly by participant per campground requirements.
- Instructions on how to make this payment will be provided when notified of participation.
- A small additional fee for sewer dumping if needed.
- Critical Dates:
- Sign-up Period: 12/6/2023 – 1/15/2024
- Notification of Selection: 1/16/2024 – 1/19/2024. (Those notified will also receive an invoice for $90/person at that time) A Waitlist will be created for those not initially selected by Random Lottery.
- Caravan Payment Due(If Selected): 1/31/2024 (failure to pay by this date will forfeit your position in the Caravan and the next member on the waitlist will be offered the position.)
- If you must cancel your participation, please alert the VAC as soon as possible so that your spot may be offered to the next member on the waitlist.
*(For any cancellation the VAC Cancellation Policy will apply)*
Caravan Tentative Itinerary
(subject to change)
Caravan Rendezvous/Arrival:
- Arrive @ RV Hall of Fame, Elkhart, IN on Sunday, May 26 or Memorial Day, Monday May 27, 2024 (Earlier arrival may be permitted)
- Meet and greet with other caravan participants.
- Tour of the RV Hall of Fame included in the Caravan Fee
- Caravan “Drivers Meeting” the evening of Monday, May 27, 2024
Day 1 – Tuesday, May 28, 2024: Elkhart to Peru
- You will caravan through “worldly” places such as Paris, Warsaw, Palestine, Athens, Mexico, and end in Peru
- You will camp overnight at Dan Piper’s Vintage Campers in Peru, IN
- Tour and shop for parts at Dan’s Vintage Campers facility
- Sidewalk Café’(Happy Hour) and Firepit Chats.
Day 2 – Wednesday, May 29, 2024: Peru to Fort Recovery
- You will caravan through “worldly” places such as Miami, London, Frankfurt, Alexandria, Dunkirk, Montpelier, Geneva, Ceylon, Berne, Vera Cruz, and end at Fort Recovery
- You will camp overnight at Ambassador Park in Fort Recovery, OH
- Tour Fort Recovery Historical Museum, explore the community, Sidewalk Café’, Story Swapping.
Day 3 – Thursday, May 30, 2024: Fort Recovery to Jackson Center
- You will caravan through both “worldly” places and places important to Airstream history, including, Versailles, Russia, Sidney, Cairo, Lewistown, and end in Jackson Center
- You will learn of the importance of some of these locations to Airstream history during the caravan
- You will parade as a group into Jackson Center
- Caravan participants will be offered “On-Site” camping at “Helen’s Homecoming Rally.”
Days 3 to 6 – May 30 to June 2, 2024: Jackson Center, OH
- Participate in the Helen’s Homecoming Rally