....TRAILER TRAIL HERE AND ABROAD published in 1960.
The man was a genuine promoter of AS products! Couldn't help but wonder if the non use of the AS in the WBCCI was a shrewd move to personally maintain the club after selling the Airstream company. If so, it shoots a lot of holes in the Save Wally contingent's arguement.
I also suspect that if Wally was still around, He would drum the guy in Region 11 (I hope I got that right) that turned down the FCU charter right out of the club. The FCU appears to address the concepts Wally promoted in the formation of the WBCCI.
As soon as the FCU is chartered, I'll send in my application for membership.
Funny, I just finished it too. Great read and an interesting way to get to know Wally a little bit. He sure knew how to promote the product and motivate people. Be interesting to see if the upcoming Capetown to Cairo Caravan will follow closely the same route of its predecesor. I purchased my copy on Ebay after watching every one that came up on auction. It had many more pages than I thought.
Try this link: Google Book Search and type in Wally Byam. You can find the book for loan, check the results on libraries. It's all over the west coast at state and collage libraries. Your search will show which libraries carry it in your state.
Try this link: Google Book Search and type in Wally Byam. You can find the book for loan, check the results on libraries. It's all over the west coast at state and collage libraries. Your search will show which libraries carry it in your state.
Ditto that!
I read it about a year ago.
It took my local library about a week to get a copy from the Illinois State library.
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Dennis
Air#4056
"Oooh - They have the Internet on computers now!" - Homer Simpson
"...then you can try and elaborate if you wish..."
From my perspective, I see the WBCCI relationship with AirStream in the same way I relate the Good Sam Club/Art Rouse and TraiLer Life Publications and the Harley Owners Group (HOG) and Harley-Davidson. One hand washes the other!
I know that there are some who think that Wally walked on water and to change the name of the WBCCI is to dishonor his memory. Quite frankly, after reading the book, I came to the conclusion that Wally was a progressive thinker and a name change to include "AirStream" in the same breath as Wally Byam wouldn't hurt his feelings a bit.
I have read David Schwamborn's posting before. The fact that his mother was on the AirStream payroll pretty much confirms my thoughts that the WBCCI was as much a promotional vehicle for AS as it was for the pleasure of AS owners.
It's too bad we can't get somebody to do an electronic secance(sp?) with Wally and find out what he really thinks about a name change and put the issue to rest!
...I know that there are some who think that Wally walked on water and to change the name of the WBCCI is to dishonor his memory...
I don't think it's so much about dishonoring anything other than the club as a whole. I don't know how many times the issues need to be repeated before some get it, but let's try it again...
Why Change the name? (not because something else sounds better -- WHY change the name?)
For what REAL benefits? (you own an AS and you KNOW there's a club -- any other REAL tangible benefit you can think of?)
What justified cost? (Take everything ever produced and currently used by the club and just TOSS it to make way for something new) WHY?
Why break the history and continuity of a 51+ year old club? WHY?
Why sign a licensing agreement that does not give your club a PERMANENT name?
Why put OUR club under the supervision of another corporation?
How about you start a brand new company and I'll give you a word you can license and I'll control how, when, where, and on WHAT items you will be ALLOWED to use MY NAME.
Am I getting through?
I think you'll find that having the club named after Wally was to honor him for all of his efforts -- all of the people that he led all over the world. He died in '62 yet the name and the club lives on. Why do you want to change that now specifically?
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Great cartoon. I wonder if such a book will ever be created.
There is so much information on this forum, on the web, and in print that someone should consolidate all the Airstream maintenance, restoration advice, safety tips, etc., and put it between two covers and sell it.
People in the Save Wally contingent seem to have reading comprehension problems. I did not advocate a name change, only wondered out loud what Wally might think of the issue. Quite frankly, I have a great deal of admiration for his promotional skills. That said, the WBCCI is still a promotional tool for Thor with little or any financial investment on their part.
Quite frankly, combining Wally Byam with AirStream would be a fitting tribute to the guy that started both organizations.
Finally, the strident additude of some of the WBCCI members is probably one of the reasons that membership is not growing in relation to the number of units sold.
This might be a good string to close before somebody gets hurt beating a dead horse!
I did not advocate a name change, only wondered out loud... ...Quite frankly, combining Wally Byam with AirStream would be a fitting tribute to the guy that started both organizations.
No reading comprehension problems here -- there you go again!
Actually I do think you are right though. I hope the good folks at Thor are paying attention to your suggestion that they rename their company to Wally Byam's Airstream Corporation... I'm just not so sure that in believing we know who Wally was -- that he'd approve of the current designs or the past and current sins of Thor (squarestreams, 5th wheels, SQUARE motor homes, the BASECAMP)...
It will be nice when you finally get off the fence and join. You're far too interested in WBCCI issues to not be a member. I'm actually surprised you didn't see fit to join the Denver Colorado Unit. There are a good number of members of that unit right here on the forums.
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My own view of this issue is that the history of airstream and wally Byam
is just a part of the whole allure of the vintage airstream for alot of folks.
The people that were involved in the caravans and rallys ,the way of life.
See More Do More Live More (wally byam) in an airstream ..was the idea.
So there is a connection with the man and the machine and many do not want to dissolve the two ,and so the desire to keep it together is important .Wally certainly was an idealist and wanted the airstream to be
more than just another trailer ,and its an icon today .Today,s world definately
has changed from the past and many want the the airstream experience
so the popularity is strong. It is fitting to continue to recognize Wally Byam
for his airstream trailer and his successes with it ,after all are we not all
benefitting from him right now? Each of us owning an airstream ? No he didn't
walk on water for sure ,but he did get airstream a legacy and a following
that no other travel trailer company could ever imagine .I myself am not
going to mix business politics in here as Im sure there were some as there
are in any company for alot of reasons .Frankly ,Im not interested in any of that .the fact of the matter is WBCCI is airstream they started together
and so it seems logical that they stay that way .Im enjoying my 60 trdwnd
immensly and thank Wally byam for it .
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I'm just not so sure that in believing we know who Wally was -- that he'd approve of the current designs or the past and current sins of Thor (squarestreams, 5th wheels, SQUARE motor homes, the BASECAMP)... 
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