Cool Group... AND They Make Some Great Chicken
by ANN Correspondent Mark Sletten
Where do you go if you would like to meet, oh, say 400 guys and
gals who build, fly, live and breathe Van's RV series aircraft?
Well, you might go to AirVenture, but unless Van's was unveiling a
brand-new aircraft model, you probably wouldn't see that many RV
builders standing around together in one spot... unless you go to
Camp Scholler that is, and attend the RV Builder's BBQ.
I heard about the 3rd Annual RV Builder's BBQ from my neighbor,
Curt Welge -- an RV builder -- who learned of it from an email
list. Members of the RV builder's community communicate with each
other in a number of ways, but the most common method is via email
lists and online web posts. While this allows members to share
information, lessons and successful first-flight announcements,
they may never actually meet their online friends.
Bob Collins, the event's organizer, decided while attending
AirVenture in 2003 that RV builders needed an informal venue to get
together and "put faces to names" - his solution? Why,
Wisconsin-style hospitality, of course, and that means beer,
bratwurst and chicken! The event grew from 15 attendees during the
first scheduled event in 2004 to 50 last year. Collins (above)
maintains an online newsletter for RV builders where he advertised
the event, asking those interested to sign up. He was delighted, if
a little overwhelmed, when nearly 250 people responded this
year.
"My little brushfire turned into a wildfire," said Collins whose
surprise turned to near horror when a much larger crowd than the
expected 250 showed up - all looking for chicken and bratwurst, oh,
and beer. The crowd was so much larger, Bob spent the first half of
the event shuttling back and forth between Camp Scholler and the
local grocery procuring more vittles and libations while the crowd
kept growing! According to Collins, "I got to meet many of the
folks working at Wal-Mart in Oshkosh tonight - they're very nice
people, by the way."
Apparently, word of Collins' "little" sub-event has been
circulating since opening day here at AirVenture. It wasn't just
the size of the crowd that surprised Collins, but the celebrity of
some of the attendees. Sports Aircraft Association of Australia
National President Gary Spicer; Jim Younkin, founder of TruTrak
Flight Systems; representatives from Chelton Flight systems; and a
number of vendors supplying the experimental aircraft builder's
market, including owner and proprietor of StienAir Stien Bruch (who
can sometimes be found riding around the camp on a
couch) were on hand to enjoy a little food, fun and
fellowship.
While there I spoke with many attendees including three
gentlemen that were part of a 15-ship formation flight to Oshkosh
(above). The pilots flew their aircraft from all over the country
to stage at an Illinois airport before flying to Oshkosh in
formation. They gave the folks at Oshkosh on Saturday - mostly
vendors setting up and TRUE airplane groupies - an impromptu show
as they flew several passes in formation. You can tell by the photo
they take their flying seriously!
"I know every builder's group says this, but this is the BEST
group of guys and gals you'd ever want to meet," said Collins. He
said RV builder's come from all walks of life, "I delivered
newspapers as a second job for two years so I could afford a kit.
Over there is a UPS pilot; there's a guy who runs his own
corporation; that guy is in charge of wiring for one of Boeing's
major projects - here they're all just RV builders."
Collins says most conversations
start with one builder inquiring about another's progress on their
project, "But then questions invariably turn to their personal
life, and suddenly you're not really interested in the project, you
just want to know how that person and their family are doing - and
that's how I describe a friend. Man, if that's not the best of
Oshkosh I don't what is!"
The appreciative group applauded long and loudly as Collins
thanked the many last-minute volunteers who kept the grills going
during his re-supply runs.
"I've spent the evening driving back and forth to Wal-Mart and I
haven't gotten to catch up with any old friends, so if you plan to
come next year please sign up -- and tell me if you know how to
cook chicken!" Collins told the group.
(ANN thanks Robin Vrachan for the GREAT photo of the RV
Delta formation. Beautiful!)