VAC Rendezvous

31st VAC Rendezvous 2024

2024 VAC Rolling Rally to Sedalia and Rendezvous

Schedule:
September 28 The rolling rally begins at Tom Sawyer’s RV Park in the Memphis area for an overnight. Call Tom Sawyer’s RV Park 870-735-9770 for reservations. Hardwick’s (Co-hosts) are on site 109, dinner of pinto beans, corn bread and greens will be provided.

September 29 – October 2 we will gather at Maumelle COE Park in Little Rock, Arkansas for 3 nights. Make your reservation
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233098
Some of our participants will be taking part in the Retro Rally*.  For those not registered for that event, no problem, there are tons of activities you can do in this beautiful area. Co-hosts are in sites F01F and A10.
5pm Potluck “Happy Hour”

September 30
7am Coffee at site F01F—bring you own cup and chair
8am Retro Rally Participants Tours begin—these will be preassigned Retro Rally Participants will have a dinner at the Pavilion, others will meet for an off site dinner TBA

October 1
7am Coffee at site F01F—bring you own cup and chair
8am Retro Rally Participants Tours begin—these will be preassigned.

October 2 travel to Ozark View RV Park, Omaha AR (152 miles) for one night— Co-Hosts are in sites 26 and 27.
To reserve: https://www.bransonrvers.com/reservations-rental/

October 3  travel to Airstream Club International in Sedalia,MO (172 miles). Extra night reservation may be required based on your arrival date, contact WBCCI office to make reservations.
5pm “Side Walk Café” – Wally’s term for Happy Hour—wear your best “Wally” attire

October 4 10am meet for coffee and donuts and an informal maintenance session—bring your questions and your advice for fellow VAC experts—visits to rigs for hands on help or show & tell is encouraged.
Afternoon and evening on your own—we will have some suggested activities in the area.

* Important note about the Retro Rally
This separate event was advertised to our members earlier in the year and is currently full however if you would like to be added to a waiting list please contact Steve Blackmer steveblackmervac@gmail.com

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30th VAC Rendezvous 2023
Rally Registration is now Closed

WHAT:  2 Day Rendezvous for VAC members prior to the WBCCI International Rally in Rock Springs, WY June 2023
WHEN:  Thursday June 22 and Friday June 23, ending on Saturday June 24
WHERE:  Sweetwater Events Complex, 3320 Yellowstone Rd., Rock Springs, WY 82901

Details:  Please join us for the VAC Rendezvous 2023 immediately prior to the WBCCI International Rally 2023 at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, WY.  We will be camping at the exact site where the International Rally will be held at the conclusion of the VAC Event. The Sweetwater Event Complex is a beautiful maintained facility where we will have designated parking for VAC Members and a special area to hold our Rally activities. All sites are full hookup, back-in, with the majority on gravel.  The camping fee is $50.00 per night.

WHO:  This rally is open to all VAC members.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:
Individuals are responsible for both their registration for the VAC Rally thru the WBCCI website, as well as registering with the VAC.

 
Sweetwater Event Complex Camping Registration:
To register for the Sweetwater Event Complex Campsite, you can either request additional days before the International Rally when you register for the Rally on the WBCCI website, or if you have already registered for the Rally you can pay for these two Rendezvous nights by filling out this form on line using the following link: https://form.jotform.com/223257545189161

For those of you that wish to “ONLY” attend the VAC Rendezvous and not the International Rally, Boondocking Sites will be available by contacting Steve Blackmer directly at the following email address: 1vp@vintageairstreamclub.com

VAC Rendezvous registration is required:  Fee is $10 per person. (Register Below)

Tentative agenda:
On arrival Thursday, 06/22 we will have a casual meet and greet from 4-6 PM, dinner on your own. 
Friday, 6/23 is open for individual adventures in the local area.  A list of attractions will be provided. From 7-9 PM casual meet and greet along with Country/Western Dance Instructions for those interested.  
On Saturday 06/24 you will be treated to a catered breakfast.  After breakfast we will hitch up our trailers or unhook our motorhomes (de-camp for a short period of time) and depart for a designated location where we will assemble for the Parade which will start tentatively at 3:00PM and parade through the city and back into and throughout the Event Complex.

At the conclusion of the Parade you will escorted back to your previously assigned parking location. Please remember that Parade participation is optional, but highly encouraged, and it’s really a BLAST!

This is a “Can’t Miss Event!”
Steve Blackmer, VAC 1st VP, #1095
1vp@vintageairstreamclub.com

James Schaal, VAC 2 nd VP, #8483
2vp@vintageairstreamclub.com

Rally Registration is now Closed

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29th VAC Rendezvous 2022

Concluded 07/22/2022 

This Rendezvous was concluded on Friday 07/22/2022.  The rally was attended by 71 VAC members in 33 different Airstreams ranging from a 1954 travel trailer to a 2015 Airstream Interstate. 

What:  2 day rendezvous for VAC members prior to the WBCCI International Rally in Fryeburg Maine, July 2022

When:  Wednesday July 20 and Thursday July 21 departure on Friday July 22

Where:  Sandwich New Hampshire Fairgrounds 7 Wentworth Hill Rd Route 109 North Sandwich, NH 03227 

Details:  Please join us for the VAC Rendezvous 2022 immediately prior to the WBCCI International Rally 2022 in Fryeburg Maine.  This rally is open to all VAC members. Come and enjoy a small town experience very close to the White mountains.

We will be camping in Sandwich, New Hampshire at the Sandwich Fairgrounds for 2 nights.  89 sites with water and electric hookups are available.  We will not have access to bathrooms so please be prepared to use your onboard facilities.  Porta-Johns will be available for those who may need them.  Camping fee is $25.00 per night plus a $10 dump fee if you choose to use the dump station. 

Registration is required:

Individuals are responsible for both their registration with the fairgrounds, as well as registering with the VAC. 

Fairground registration:

To register with the fairgrounds you will need to mail a check to 

Sandwich Fair Association
P.O. Box 161 
Sandwich NH 03227 

Make your check payable to The Sandwich Fair Association.  Please enter the word “Vintage” in the check memo field.  

Include a note of explanation like the one below.  

Sample note:  Vintage Airstream Club rendezvous July 20-21. $25 per night x 2 nights, one dump fee of $10 = $60 for Lynn Talsma.  

Your canceled check is proof of registration with the Fair.  No other confirmation will be sent.  

VAC Rendezvous registration is required:

Fee is $10 per person. Register below.

Tentative agenda

On arrival Wednesday, 07/20 we will have a casual meet and greet from 4-6 pm followed by dinner on your own. 

Thursday is open for individual adventures in the local area.  A list of attractions will be provided.  

On Friday 07/22 we will be treated to a catered breakfast.  After breakfast we will depart for the International Rally at the Fryeburg Maine Fairgrounds.  The beautiful drive to Fryeburg is 35-40 miles depending on your route, and it will take you a little more than 1 hour to complete. A less direct, more scenic drive is being explored, details will follow. 

Upon your arrival in Fryeburg you may proceed directly to your assigned parking location, or you can assemble in the parade staging area and participate in the VAC parade at 4:00 pm on Friday.  At the conclusion of the parade you will then be escorted to your assigned parking location. Parade participation is optional, but highly encouraged and it’s really fun!

Y’all come! You will like it! 

Lynn Talsma, VAC 1st VP, #6098
1vp@vintageairstreamclub.com

William (Gary) Campbell, VAC Region 1 Rep, #3363
vacregion1@vintageairstreamclub.com

Registration is now CLOSED

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2021 VAC Rendezvous (28th Rally)

Wednesday, July 14 – Friday, July 16, 2021
Please join us at the beautiful Cedars of Lebanon State Park for the 2021 Vintage Rendezvous rally. This state park is only ten miles south of Lebanon, TN, so it’s a close commute to the International rally that starts a few days later.

All participants must make their own reservations (Click Here). Please pick Camping Area 2 as your first option to keep most of our group together. We will post an itinerary of activities during the rendezvous, which will include a catered dinner, swap meet, entertainment, open house, parade, etc. A rally fee will be collected at a later date.

The Tennessee State Parks website is easy to use and very informative. You can also call them to reserve your spot (a real human actually answers). Please don’t delay making your reservation even though this rally is still months away, if you want to camp with the other VAC members. Camping and RVing have become extremely popular these days, and campgrounds fill up fast. TN State Parks will issue a refund if you cancel within 48 hours of your arrival. NOTE: The $5 reservation fee per site is non-refundable.

Further info:
Cedars of Lebanon State Park
https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cedars-of-lebanon
328 Cedar Forest Road
Lebanon, TN 37090
Phone 615-453-2769

UPDATE

Antsy McClain to perform!!  Friday evening July 16, 2021!!

Antsy McClain brings his unique blend of music and “humor with heart” to the stage, combining his original songs with a hilarious slide show, including Antsy’s own life observations, social commentary and imaginary sponsors from his home town trailer park of Pine View Heights. As a master storyteller with the likes of PBS, NPR and TEDTalks under his belt, Antsy includes humorous and serious songs in his shows. Songs such as “One Less Trailer Here in Pine View Heights,” My Baby Whistles When She Walks,” and “The Junk Drawer of Your Heart,” are keenly humorous observations about love and loss, while his more serious songs, like “Field Trip,” “I’m Everyone,” or “Falling in Love in America,” are more akin to personal journal entries written in the act of living. It’s this tightrope walk between humor and heart that makes Antsy McClain a true original.

Please contact Lisa Sly, VAC First VP, at lisa.sly@att.net for questions. I look forward to seeing
all VAC members in July in Lebanon, TN.

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I am asking all attendees to consider decorating their Airstream with lights for a nighttime display around the campground. With the plentiful selection of solar lights, LED lights, battery-operated lights and candles, laser lights, Christmas lights, you can make your vintage Airstream campsite a beautiful sight to see in the evening. Ambient light inside a trailer is also beautiful. An evening Open House is optional. Feel free to decorate all you’d like. We will walk through the campground each evening to see what you’ve created and will award a prize for the best display.

A tentative agenda is as follows:

Wednesday 14^th:  Arrival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park throughout the day.  Happy hour at 5 p.m. in Area 2, Site 74.  Bring an appetizer, your own chairs and plates/utensils.  Dinner on your own.  Evening stroll to see Airstream light display.  

Thursday, 15^th:  9 am Axel and Brakes presentation by Rod Sly at Site 74. Bring your own chairs.  This is an extremely important topic.  A sound travel trailer begins with properly functioning axels and brakes.  Explore on your own the rest of the day.  Happy hour at 5 p.m., then potluck dinner afterward–bring something to share.  After dinner, play Viking Bowling.  Evening stroll around the campground to see Airstream light display.  

Friday 16^th:  Complimentary continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. with presentation given by JJ & Sandy Johnjulio, Ambassadors for Sky Med, an emergency evacuation travel company.  Explore the rest of the day on your own.  Catered BBQ dinner at Pavilion 1 at 6 p.m.  Entertainment by local Nashville star Antsy McClain.  There is no charge for the BBQ dinner.  However, only those Rendezvous attendees camped at Cedars of Lebanon will be allowed to attend the dinner and show.  Proof of current VAC membership or affiliate is required.

Saturday 17^th.  Pack up and drive to location in Lebanon where the parade will begin at noon.  Please arrive at the staging area by 11. Rigs will be lined up by decade.  Details forthcoming.  

I’m very much looking forward to seeing our large VAC family in Lebanon in July.  Please contact me if you have any questions at lisa.sly@att.net.

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2020 VAC Rendezvous (27th Rally)

We are sad to say, the 2020 Rendezvous has been canceled due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of the 2020 WBCCI International Rally.  But we are hosting a Virtual Open House on June 20th, 2020.  Check your email for updates from the VAC on this event.

We are pleased to announce the VAC 2020 Virtual Rendezvous June 20 ,2020 starting at 3:30 CT. The event will be hosted via Zoom.  We are asking VAC members participating in the virtual open house to provide a short video (1 to 2 1/2 minutes in duration) of their vintage trailer.  Participants of the virtual Rendezvous are not required to submit a video to partake in this event.  It is recommended your video entail a brief introduction and a limited tour of your trailer highlighting the uniqueness of the unit.  Prior to the virtual Rendezvous an outline of events and video scheduling will be provided. The VAC board is looking forward to greeting all participants and an eventful Rendezvous.  We hope you will join us for this unique event.

If you where not able to join live, here are the videos that the VAC members submitted.

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2019 VAC Rendezvous (26th Rally)

“Flamingo A Go-Go” VAC Rendezvous July 17-20,2019 in Powhatan, VA at Cozy Acres Campground.  Rally fee is $25.00 per person that includes dinner with entertainment and a flamingo lawn ornament.  There is a decorating contest for the best looking flamingo.  Bring clothing depicting your decade of your trailer. (Example: I have a 1962, so I would wear hippie clothes). So dust off your poodle skirts, bell bottoms, high top shoes and polyester pants! Potluck and social hour will be going on as well.

 

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2018 VAC Rendezvous (25th Rally)

…and: VAC Caravan, VAC Bend Classic 25th Anniversary Rally.

By Dave Morrison, VAC President 2018-2019

Description coming soon…

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2017 VAC Rendezvous

by Victor Blood, VAC President 2017-2018

The 2017 Pre-International Rendezvous Rally was held July 17 to July 19 at the Summer Breeze Campground and RV Park in Iron Mountain, Michigan. This was about 1 hour West of Escanaba. 31 vintage Airstream trailers and 59 VAC members from across the country gathered for fun and fellowship. The park featured very large wooded sites, a swimming pool, canvas pavilion and was located out of town in the country. The new owners had only owned this park for 4 months and went out of their way to accommodate our rally as did the local Chamber of Commerce.

The rally was unstructured except for happy hour and evening meals so participants could go to the many attractions in the area. Among those were the Cornish Pump and Mining Museum, Big John’s Iron Mine, fishing, boating, hiking, river rafting, kayaking, canoeing, bird watching, golf and a great show by the nationally ranked “Ski-ters” water skiing team.

Evening meals were excellent and included a potluck on Monday, a charity fundraiser Tuesday served by the local Kiwanis Club and “Pasties” on Wednesday served by the local Pastie Kitchen Restaurant. A “Pastie” is a 16oz. meat, potatoes and veggie filled dough crust that the local miners took to work for lunch.

There was at least 50 feet of grass between my Trailer and the next, so, we easily set up seating in a big circle under the trees for meetings and meals. Tuesdays meal was at the pavilion because of a brief rain, but, that quit just in time to serve the meal.

The conclusion of the rally saw almost all participants travel to Escanaba where they joined other Airstreamers for the VAC parade thru town and into the International Rally.

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2016 VAC Rendezvous

by Steve Laxton VAC President 2016-2017

This Rendezvous was canceled due to severe weather and flooding at the campground.

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2015 VAC Rendezvous

by Iain Cameron VAC President 2015-2016

Friday June 19 to Monday June 22, 2015
Vallecito Resort, Bayfield CO
www.vallecitoresort.com

Story by Mary Doster #3794 and photos by Rhonda Cooper #1967

The VAC Rendezvous was a huge success with 42 Airstreams in attendance, including a few people on cross country travels from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.  We met at Vallecito Resort, just east of Durango CO, where we had great accommodations and a friendly, very helpful campground.  Iain Cameron did a wonderful job in planning this vintage gathering with the assistance of resort staff.  On Saturday night, we indulged in sinfully good marinated meats arranged by Iain and the Sunday night BBQ was a great evening of burgers grilled by our Airstream BBQ chefs on several barbques provided by the campground.  Of course, none of this would have worked if it had not been for the great dishes prepared by the participants to accompany the protein.

There were restoration seminars each morning and everyone then had the afternoon to enjoy the area.  The surrounding lakes were a special treat and Durango was not far away.  We had an open house and invited the full timers living and working in the park to see the beautiful Airstreams.

On Monday, we made our way to the bullpen at McGee Park in Farmington NM, and lined up for our traditional VAC parade into the international rally.  Of the 42 rigs present at the Rendezvous, 21 of us went onto the international rally, made our way slowly around all the parking areas, and into our parking spots around the big white VAC tent.

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