20-and 30-something Airstreamers - Page 5

cccamper · 10-11-2005, 09:03 PM

if we had read tim champ's comments and known where Air Stream stands on one their best advertising tools, there is a big question we would have purchased our AS last July. of course it didn't benefit the company.

while robert was in texas at an auto parts store to get the brakes rolling for the trip home, (after he'd just picked it up) there was a guy in his 20's or so who drove up. he was really enthused and said, "boy, i can't wait till i can buy one of those".

so even while she had never made it to our home yet, our baby was advertising AS's. even though she is a usless '78!

duh

the letter to AS is already being written in my head (a diplomatic one, of course

e

SilverRanger · 10-12-2005, 12:48 AM

As someone who is well beyond 20 something, has a vintage Airstream, and who just purchased a new one, I resent Champ's attitude. It was partially because of the quality of the vintage AS that I bought the new one. If he thinks the product will sell itself to a younger market based on the premise that "they know who we are", I believe he's in for a surprise.

And like others here, I'm constantly surprised by the number of people that have said "I didn't know they still made them". My own 20 something daughter was one of them. Furthermore, based on the quality control issues I have experienced with the 2005 AS, I can't say I would recommend buying a new one to friends and family. Any success the company enjoys today are primarily due to what they've done in the past. I'm still very enthusiastic about Airstreams, but less than enthusiastic about Airstream (the company).

LuminumTraila · 10-12-2005, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

I think the WBCCI is like that. It's a chance to have regular opportunitites to meet up with people and go camping and have fun. That fun isn't defined, you have to go and spend the time finding it yourself. But if we don't sit still for a minute and give it that chance, we'll never know what we're missing.

I was ready to quit after my first year, but I've stuck it out and I'm oh so glad I did. And I'm glad I got involved, although I don't have a lot of time to spare. I've met a lot of really interesting people, and gone to some places I didn't even know existed, and I have friends who are almost like family. It's something for which there is no tangible payoff, and there are tradeoffs to make it happen, but in this case, it is something that is worth doing if only to learn to sit still and enjoy life for a little while, before rushing back to our daily lives.

Stef -- I agree with you about joining WBCCI and sticking with it. One of the reasons our local unit has worked well for me and my family is that they have been more flexible than I would have expected them to be in accommodating the busy schedule we keep these days with jobs and family. We hope that in future years we can attend more rallies, and be more involved in the club, but for now we can only do what we can do, and the local unit has been very nice about this. It seems to me that planning flexible rally schedules that allow for members to attend the parts they can is one of the keys to recruiting and hanging on to the younger members.

-J

66Overlander · 10-12-2005, 11:51 PM

I gotta find time to go back and read this entire message thread, but before I do I want to add that I'm a young 40-something and have now attended 4 WBCCI events and had a great time at all of them (well maybe less than great at the International Rally last year, but the rest have been great). Lorrie and I are generally the youngest or almost the youngest at the events we have attended, but we have always been warmly welcomed at those events. We have formed some great friendships with some of the "older" members we have met at those events and we genuinely look forward to seeing each of them again at the next event we can jointly attend.

JeepinAudiophile · 10-14-2005, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

...I've met a lot of really interesting people, and gone to some places I didn't even know existed, and I have friends who are almost like family. It's something for which there is no tangible payoff, and there are tradeoffs to make it happen, but in this case, it is something that is worth doing if only to learn to sit still and enjoy life for a little while, before rushing back to our daily lives.

WOW- Have you ever been published? lol

This thread has taken over my work...lol My eyes are buzzing from reading through it staring at the computer screen. I have been reading forums for years, and this is easilly my favorite ever, I feel like I'm learning so much about all the people that I already enjoy at rallies, about how everyone else perceives the WBCCI, Airstream, and life in general.

BrockLives · 03-03-2008, 02:22 PM

[bump]

Doesn't look like anything has come of this, but what a great idea to have a spot on the forums for the younger demographic. Personally, I am far more interested in something when my peers are involved.

Kristara7 · 05-29-2008, 10:06 PM

I think a "youth" meet or rally etc. should be discussed. I would love to go to one where I would have people near my age instead of just ones old enough to be my parents/grand parents (no offense intended) we are 20 & 25.

When it comes to events etc. I don't think money is AS big of an issue as length of the meet, and distance from home. As us "youngsters" are generally tight on time because of eagerly trying to build our future (at least ones who are interested in this type of stuff to begin with).

Just trying to help.

Tara & Chris

DIMMER · 05-30-2008, 05:01 PM

I would love to do a singles rally!!! Find someone with the luv, for the road and all!!!!!!!!!

JeepinAudiophile · 06-19-2008, 08:52 AM

I'm just dying to get back up north to Massachusetts where my poor trailer sits unfinished in restoration! SOOOO close, I moved to Fort Myers, Florida and have no place to park it here to work on it. I traveled in it as a shell, but transporting it with a full load of the parts that go back into it makes me nervous also... Anyway, I would be happy to stop in at a younger rally if it was relatively close to where I live. I see that "Kristara7" is not too far north of me. I have been somewhat absent from the forums as it hurts, I want to take my trailer out for the weekends but it is not here with me and not ready to travel yet! I would like to become re-involved with the forum and Airstream thinking in hopes that Karma can bring me the right situation that would enable me to get my trailer finished and get out camping!!!

jsutro · 06-19-2008, 11:55 PM

Hi Jeepin
Good luck getting back to work on your TW. This thread went comatose for 3 years, and came back to life.

We all do what we expect will benefit our situation, though it doesn't always work out that way. And families come first.

My 72 TW has a rotten rear end - one sheet of plywood and 6 feet of frame are shot, but I'm going to spend the whole weekend marrying new wood and new steel to the frame aft of the axles. Wish me luck.

And I'm getting encouragement from your desire to get back to work on your own project - these karma things are very contagious. jim

JeepinAudiophile · 06-21-2008, 10:06 AM

I just put together a web album of all my restoration photos last night, about 700 photos in all! If anyone wants to take a look, go ahead.

Picasa Web Albums - Chad