The Good Old Days of BCM

[rv_safetyman]

Well, MAK has taken a lot of heat in the past few months for some obvious reasons.  I thought maybe it might be appropriate to recall some of the good things that MAK has orchestrated for our hobby.  In addition to many years of a the BCM publication, there were some great rallies.

Pat and I were doing some digging out of 30+ years of junk and ran into a zippered file folio from the 2002 Costa Mesa BCM rally (May 31-June 2).  It really brought back fun memories.  We attended all but one of the BCM rallies (didn't make Biloxi).

So, I got to digging through my old issues of BCM to find out when the first rally was held.  It was April 21-24 1994 in Laughlin, NV.  What an extravaganza it was!!!! 

The event was reviewed in the June 1994 issue and reading it really brought back great memories.  The story talks about Eagle Bus having a representative at the event.  There was a photo of the six modified Hondas that had been modified to fit inside the bay of various Eagles.  Lastly there a Prevost H5-60 articulated bus that was being converted.  It was unbelievable - even had a basement play room for the owner's grandkids.

I looked at the Jan. '95 issue to remind me where the second rally was held.....March 30-April 2 in Laughlin again.  Again, it was a fabulous event. 

I don't have time to research the rest of the BCM rallies right now.  Anyone have a list?

While going through the Jan. 95 issue, I was blown away by the huge number of advertisers.  There were 21 conversion companies listed, including the infamous Sam Walker. 

As they say, those were the good old days!!

Jim

[rv_safetyman]

Forgot to add the great week-long bus conversion classes sponsored by BCM and presented by Tom Winterhaulter.  I attended in '98 and it was an amazing class.  Tom was an excellent teacher and had a lot of reference material. 

I used a lot of his techniques for my Toterhome and later my Eagle. 

Jim

[gumpy]

Yeah, well, what's he done for us lately??

Seriously, though, Jim you are absolutely correct. Mike had done a considerable amount for this hobby, and I know he's done a lot of it out of his own pocket, and own time.
It can't be a lucrative business. I know he tries to make a profit, but I suspect profits are few and far in between. And as can be seen from the comments from some of the
new comers to the hobby it also comes with little or no appreciation.

[usbusin]

Tom Winterhaulter, yes, a good man.  Back in the late 80's when I was converting my 4104, Tom put in my Naugahyde headliner, front to rear.  It was one piece (actually 3 pieces sewn together).  He installed it on top of 1/2" foam.  Did a wonderful job.  I had the bus for 16 years and never a problem with it coming unglued.  He must have had three people helping hold it up and spraying contact cement.

Yes, MAK in those days did a lot for us bus converters.  No internet to do your research and ask questions.  It was just do what you thought was best by looking at "sticks and staples" units and boats. 

I did have some experience though.  In 1963-64 I built a 16' travel trailer during my last year in the Marine Corps at Camp LeJeune, NC.  I bought a frame and axle assembly from Elkhart, IN and went from there.  Used 2x4's cut three times to make 1-1/2" studs.  Luan-plywood on the inside and aluminum skin on the outside.  Talk about winging-it!  Got a lot of my ideas from the Airstream "Bambi".  Lots of fun!  Hauled it all around the country behind a Plymouth Valiant "Slant-Six".

OK, enough reminiscing.

[Geoff]

So, Gumpy, what ever happened to your buddy "Cold Feet"?

--Geoff

[luvrbus]

It was a good magazine at one time I never knew what happen but he could never keep a editor the book when down hill when Sandy quit after one of the caverns rally she was doing a good job

[Mike in GA]

I picked up the hobby in the late '90s. When BC magazine arrived I would sit back and read it cover to cover. I bought the three (?) videos Mike produced, and bought almost every instructive manual and conversion related book advertised therein. Most were excellent.
     I was never able to make a rally - most were in the opposite end of the country from me - but I wished I could have.
     If it had not been for MAK and his publications and videos I am sure I would have made a less well-informed choice in buying a shell. For that matter, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to convert a shell, and would have, at most, bought one already done.
     BC Magazine and the bulletin board gave me the confidence to plunge in, and lay out a nice floor plan 'my way.'
     Thanks Mike.
Mike in GA

[eddieboy]

The good old days,, I have several of the older issues in my "executive reading room".  It's very hard to justify to the rest of the family that I need a computer in the can so I can read up on my hobby.  Sure miss the good old paper issues.  Funny thing is that one of the "from the editor" articles is all about how there are crooked people in the bus business. It was of course written by Mike K.  I hope he has the fortitude to make right with all of us and at least give us some kind of indicator that he is still with us.  Whenever I write to the BCM contact, I get a form letter back thanking me for my interest and somebody will be contacting me soon...
...............feels bad to be left hanging.
Ed

[Geoff]

Funny thing is that one of the "from the editor" articles is all about how there are crooked people in the bus business. It was of course written by Mike K.

You had me rolling with that one!  For those of us that have been around for the last 15 years we have stories to tell that we can't discuss on this board.

--Geoff
'82 RTS AZ

[eddieboy]

I'm going off topic for a second.  How long do you have to be on the bulletin board to no longer be considered a "newbie"?  I have been on here since 9/2008.  I see others who have been on less and have different status.
Ed

[FloridaCliff]

Ed,

Goes by # of posts...I think 50 changes your "status" to member.

Cliff

[akroyaleagle]

Jim, what great memories your comments inspired. 

As I read the bad comments about the state of the magazine, I think of the good that Mike has done for the bussin' folks. This Board is probably the best example. It has always been free for everyone. I don't think any of us has ever contributed one dime toward the cost to maintain it. There are some commercial contributors I believe.

Mike has never censored things or exhibited the "It's my Board. I decide what gets posted" attitude that owners of other Boards have. I have quit a couple of Boards because of that.

I too, remember the days of those rallies. 

We attended Costa Mesa. Next to a huge flea market. I never made it to the flea market, my wife did everyday. I didn't sleep for nearly the whole rally. As I recall there were several hundred buses there and a lot of vendors. It was like the best candy store I'd ever been in. Wasn't that at the Orange county Fairgrounds?

We also made a couple in Laughlin, two or three in Las Vegas, all the ones at the Caverns, and seems like he sponsored the one in Primm, NV. I've probably forgotten some we attended.

I have attended a lot of rallies. The ones put on by BCM were the best.

The other question about how long do you have to be a member before your status changes, I, also, think it has to do with the number of posts. I recall sitting at the round table discussion in Laughlin when we discussed the possibility of starting a Board.

There have been a lot of great members of the bussin community that have passed on or just quit contributing for various reasons. They are sorely missed by some of us that remember them.

It's easy to join the group that is throwing rocks, but I tend to consider as Garner Ted Armstrong use to say "The rest of the Story."

[larryc]

The good old days.

I remember being a full-timer at a GMC Bus Nuts Rally in Southern California and seeing the first copy of BCM. Being a "Nit Picker" by inclination and having been taught before "phonics" were introduced I could see that while the magazine had great potential it could lose credibility if the proofos were not cleaned up. (There are no typos - only proofos.) So I went to Mike and got myself hired as the first editor.

What a ride!

[luvrbus]

Sorry I forgot about you Larry you did a job the magazine has more editors than you can keep track of lol

[gumpy]

So, Gumpy, what ever happened to your buddy "Cold Feet"?

--Geoff

Wow, Geoff! That one hit me out of the blue! I had actually forgotten about that handle.

I have absolutely no idea what happened to him. Like so many others who come and go through this hobby,
I assume he moved on to other hobbies and interests.

Maybe someday he'll come back and catch us up on where he's been and what he's been up to. Some do that from time, to time, don't they, Geoff