Airstream Bambi: A brief history of the silver dream

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by Holly Tribe

Airstream’s smallest and lightest ‘silver bullet’ trailer, the Airstream Bambi was introduced to British shores in 2009. Light enough to be towed by a VW Golf, they offer the vintage US dream to the UK market.

Airstream Caravans are renowned for their striking brushed aluminium exterior inspired by graceful aircraft design. Award winning architect and designer, Christopher Deam, was responsible for creating a new look for the European range.

He explained: ‘While the exterior of the Airstream was imagined using the highest technology available from the aircraft industry, the interiors often were quaint’, adding “I wanted the interior to deliver on the promise of the exterior”.

His vision has been successfully achieved with interiors sporting ultra-modern white and black maple veneer furniture. Updates for the 2010 season saw the addition of exposed aluminium interiors and a front panoramic window, launched at the National Boat and Caravan Show at the beginning of the year.

Built to last a lifetime

With an outstanding reputation for longevity, around 65 per cent of all Airstream trailers ever made are still on the roads today. The Bambi’s iconic status was cemented in 2007 when a ’63 model was displayed in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York – celebrating vehicular design and architecture.

If you fancy owning one of these iconic silver trailers, Airstream Europe today announced it will be selling the 2009 Bambi 422 demonstrator model at a bargain price. This one-off caravan is kitted out with red interior furnishings and matching red Zipdee canopy awning. Just in time for Christmas and before the VAT hike next year, it’s priced at £27,000, a saving of £6,640 on the latest RRP. For details please contact Michael Hold or Earl Briggs on 015396 24141. Full details of the Airstream Bambi can be found at www.airstreameurope.co.uk.

In other news, Airstream recently revealed it will be revising the layout of the 534 model for the 2011 season.

Oprah Winfrey goes camping in a trailer tent caravan

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by Holly Tribe

Known as American daytime TV’s first lady and the richest woman in entertainment, few would have Oprah Winfrey down as a caravan enthusiast.

Yet in the latest episode of her long running chat show ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ she went back to grass roots on a camping trip to Yosemite National Park, California. The media mogul who once gave away a car to every member of her audience hit the road to experience the caravanning lifestyle for herself.

As Oprah took to the woods with her friend Gayle King, their first task was to set up camp for the night which took the form of a pop up caravan. A camera crew was there to document the camping trip for the last season of Oprah’s chat show and follows the two friends as they erect the Coleman Niagara trailer tent.

Click here to watch Oprah and Gayle’s big Yosemite adventure, as they reverse the trailer and set up the side walls and windows of their trailer tent.

The pair were invited by park ranger Shelton Johnson in a bid to encourage more African-Americans to visit US National Parks. According to Oprah.com of the 280 million tourists that visit US parks each year, just just 1% are African-American.

Bailey Unicorn models to be fitted with TRACKER security device

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by Holly Tribe

A leading stolen vehicle recovery company has supplied its TRACKER system to Bailey Caravans‘ flagship range.

The TRACKER caravan monitor system is the only alarm system to be rigged up to all 52 of the UK’s police forces bringing unrivalled protection to owners of Bailey Unicorn and Pegasus models.

How does it work?

The caravan monitor system is fitted with an intelligent movement sensor that can detect when thieves are trying to tow the caravan away. The unit is operated by a fob, held by the owner to activate and deactivate the alarm.

Simon Howard is the Marketing Director for Bailey Caravans and he hoped customers would be reassured by the leading security device being fitted. “We chose TRACKER for all three models (and any subsequent models) in the Bailey Unicorn Range because it is the first name in stolen vehicle recovery, ensuring our customers can tow their purchase away with added peace of mind, at no extra cost.

The devise will be fitted to 11 models across both the Bailey Unicorn and Bailey Pegasus ranges, and customers will be provided with one year’s free subscription to the TRACKER service.

In other news, Bailey recently achieved its best ever sales performance at this year’s International Caravan and Motorhome Show.

Could this be the new layout in the 2011 Airstream 534 caravan?

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by Holly Tribe

A model from Airstream Europe’s iconic ‘silver bullet’ touring caravan range is set to get a new layout in 2011.

Details of the final floorplan have not yet been released, but a spokesman from the company explained the design team have been busy incorporating a higher spec washroom into the layout: “The Airstream 534 will have a new floorplan in 2011. [We’re] trying to get a full shower and a cassette toilet in there,” he said.


The current four-berth caravan houses a rear end transverse fixed bed, and front dinette with a basic all-in-one wetroom. The current vacuum toilet installed in the 534 has been criticised for its noisy functionality, so a cassette toilet will be a welcome upgrade.

Wider caravans on UK roads

A change in the law earlier this year resulted in the legal width for British touring caravans being increased from 2.3m to 2.55m, bringing the UK in line with the rest of Europe.

This new width allowance could create space for a rear end fixed bed/end washroom configuration with the toilet and shower located to one side of the bed. With this in mind we had a look at Airstream’s US portfolio which has a range of wider models, notably the Victorinox, introduced earlier this year.

The model was introduced in the United States in conjunction with Victorinox, makers of the iconic Swiss Army Knife, to celebrate their 125th anniversary. It has a rear nearside fixed bed with a rear end shower and toilet unit contained in a separate washroom. This could be a great new layout for the 534 if Airstream decide to increase the width of the cabin.

The European arm of Airstream Caravans anticipate the new model will be ready by spring next year. The single axle 534 model is currently priced at £46,865. Weights and prices for the redesigned model will be confirmed in die course.

South Lakeland council hosts caravan conference

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by Chris Malone

The Lake District National Park is often a popular spot for caravanners, campers and walkers.

However, it was not the beautiful scenery or stunning water features that attracted mobile home owners to the area earlier this week.

South Lakeland District Council held its first caravan conference yesterday (November 9th), the Westmorland Gazette reported.

The event was run in conjunction with other local authorities in Lancaster and Cumbria and focused on raising health and safety awareness in caravan sites.

The discussions covered health and safety in a number of formats ranging from gas and electricity to fire risk assessments.

Grounds maintenance, water supplies and play areas were also on the agenda, the newspaper reported.

More than 100 people visited the Fallbarrow Caravan Park in Windermere for the conference, with both site owners and caravan enthusiasts in attendance.

Meanwhile, caravan enthusiasts visiting parks in the south-west may wish to attend the famous Bath Christmas Market.

South-west caravanners could head to famous Christmas market

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by Chris Malone

Caravan enthusiasts visiting parks in the south-west may wish to attend the famous Bath Christmas Market.

The event runs from November 25th to December 12th and has been extended by a week to mark its ten-year anniversary.

According to organisers Bath Tourism Plus, the market is the premier Christmas shopping experience in the south-west and is not to be missed.

More than 130 retailers sell unique and handcrafted items that make great festive gifts and shoppers can warm themselves up with a tasty treat or hot drink from one of the numerous vendors on site.

A great deal of hard work has gone in to make sure the event is a great success, explained Bath Tourism Plus chief executive Robin Bischert.

“We have a small team dedicated to making the Christmas Market a success for all involved including businesses in and around the city centre that benefit from the influx of people to the area,” he said.

Meanwhile, a mid-Wales based caravan dealership has reported record earnings of £4 million for the month of October.

Caravan Times reader spots The Queen at Braemar Gathering

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by Robert W Reed

Every year in September Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family depart to Balmoral, and during their stay enjoy the festivities at the Braemar Gathering. The event in Aberdeenshire is where thousands of locals, tourists and royal-watchers gather to watch traditional Highland Games including tug-of-war and the tossing of the caber.

Her Majesty is the patron of the Gathering and took her place alongside the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal. All stayed to watch performances from Highland dancers accompanied by 11 pipe bands.

This year Caravan Times reader Robert W Reed was in attendance, and he recalls the events of a special day.

I attended the rally organised by the Northern Section of the Caravan Club on the field adjacent to Braemar Castle, which coincides with the Gathering every September. We had been staying at the Invercauld Caravan Club Site earlier that week, and had to move off to the rally field on the Friday as the site was fully booked for that weekend.

My wife and I were in the public stand adjacent to the Royal Enclosure which enabled me to take some great photos of the Royal Family. The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence arrived to warm applause and took their seats in a heather-clad Royal Pavilion. Camilla, the Duchess of Rothsay had another engagement and was not present.

The games were a fantastic event featuring competitions for all ages; young children’s sack races etc, athletic track events, fell races, Scottish and Irish dancing, alongside the usual tossing the hammer and caber. The day also featured an Inter-Services competition of athletics and a tug-of-war.

It was a very full day from 9:30am to 5pm with ongoing entertainment by 11 pipe bands. The town was closed to all but emergency traffic all day, and the 14,000 people in attendance created a friendly and lively atmosphere. I can confidently say that a great day was had by all.

At the end of their visit the Royal party were escorted from the arena in a spectacular parade led by a muster of the eleven massed pipe bands. And as President of the Scottish Caravan Club, the Duke of Edinburgh traditionally slows his car when passing the rally field on his return journey to Balmoral to give the Rally a friendly wave.

Do you have a story that you would like to share with the Caravan Times readership? If so you can click here to get in touch with our news team.

Caravan dealer Salop Leisure posts record sales

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by Chris Malone

The success of the caravan industry in recent times has been underlined by the latest figures from a Shropshire and mid-Wales-based dealership.

According to the Shropshire Star, Salop Leisure reported record earnings of £4 million for the month of October.

It sold in excess of 100 touring caravans and motorhomes and a similar number of caravan holiday homes last month.

Part of the success may be down to the West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Show, which the firm hosted during October.

The ten-day event attracted more than 12,000 visitors from around the UK and abroad and was considered a great success.

In other news, the Hartlepool Mail has reported that a derelict caravan has been used as a dumping ground after its owners were evicted six months ago.

The newspaper revealed that a former councillor has complained about the mobile home, which is located at a property on Waverley Terrace.

Swift Challenger caravan stolen from driveway in Witney

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by Chris Malone

Caravan owners should make sure that their mobile home is fully covered in the event of theft or any other stroke of bad luck.

The case for doing so was once again highlighted last week when a £15,000 caravan was stolen from a home in Long Hanborough.

According to the Witney Gazette, the Swift Challenger 540 was taken from a driveway on Witney Road at 12:55 GMT last Tuesday (November 2nd).

Police are seeking information regarding the crime, which has been linked to a dark blue Vauxhall Zafira.

“This vehicle was seen in the vicinity at the time of the theft and was last seen heading along the Witney Road, towards Witney,” PC Laura Pagan told the newspaper.

She asked anyone who can provide information to come forward while it is still fresh in their mind.

The policewoman added that this could be anything from a sighting of the caravan being towed to being offered the chance to buy the mobile home.

In other news, X Factor contestant Cher Lloyd has revealed that she was brought up in a caravan by her parents who are descendants of Romany gypsies.

Caravan club raises cash for charities

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by Chris Malone

A caravan club has raised hundreds of pounds for charity as part of its anniversary celebrations.

The Freedom North East 2000 Caravan Club is now in its tenth year and recently held a three-day rally to mark the occasion.

According to the Northern Echo, it conducted a number of fund-raising events and brought in more than £624, which will be donated to the mayor of Durham’s charity fund.

It is not the first time Freedom North East 2000 Caravan Club has raised money for charity.

The club has a history of donations to bodies including the Great North Air Ambulance and Hartlepool and District Hospice.

A check will now be presented to mayor Mamie Simmons at Durham Town hall later this month and club secretary Elaine Bell told the newspaper that the politician’s charity was chosen after members heard of the good work she was doing when she visited the celebration.

“The club’s donation to my charity appeal is very generous and I am grateful to everyone who took part in the fundraising activities,” Ms Simmons told the Northern Echo.

“The money will be well spent by St Cuthbert’s Hospice and Diabetes UK.”

In other news, X Factor star Cher Lloyd has revealed that she spent part of her childhood living in a caravan.

X Factor star Cher Lloyd was raised in a caravan

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by Chris Malone

X Factor hopeful Cher Lloyd may enjoy performing songs on the show with her own urban twist, but she has revealed that her roots lie not in the city, but in the Welsh countryside.

The young singer spent the early years of her life living in a caravan as a Romany traveller, just as her family had for generations.

Cher is said to have spent some of her childhood in a second-hand tourer from Buccaneer Caravans that was parked in lay-bys around Wales. As a result, children at her school used the playground taunt “pikey” to disparage her Romany lifestyle.

The road to stardom

Aged just 17, Lloyd has already made a name for herself on the show with her fierce renditions of urban classics and her penchant for rapping. She is considered among the front runners to scoop the lucrative record deal prize offered to winners of the X Factor.

However, her uncle Jessy Smith told the Daily Mirror that the star’s upbringing was far-removed from the glitz and glamour she is currently experiencing.

“Cher was just a few months old when they moved out of her mum’s,” he said.

“[Her parents] Diane and Darren bought an old Buccaneer six-berth caravan with plastic windows and a battered Ford Transit Mark II pick-up for £200.”

Mr Smith explained that life was not easy for the young family, but spoke with pride that his niece had made it so far in her quest to become a pop star.

Camping and Caravanning Club win three gold rosettes for 2011

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by Marcus Dubois

The Camping and Caravanning Club has triumphed again in this year’s David Bellamy Conservation Awards achieving three gold rosettes for 2011.

Club Sites that were lauded for “the exceptional lengths they have gone to in order to protect and enhance the natural environment” are Corfe Castle (Dorset), Delamere Forest (Cheshire) and Oban (Scotland).

The Friendly Club also received a silver rosette for the Chipping Norton Club Site in Oxfordshire.

“A commitment to environmental excellence”

Awards assessor Tom Pridmore commented on the success of the Cheshire site and noted “the commitment to environmental excellence at Delamere Forest is evident on arrival with the park obviously an integral part of the adjacent forest park. The managers are clearly striving to develop and improve the park in harmony with nature.”

Meanwhile, Oban and Corfe Castle Club Sites were also commended by their respective assessors for being good neighbours, as well as for their sustainability and ecological management.

Bellamy himself added: “2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and the sites can be proud of the fact that they are doing vital work for Britain’s environment and wildlife.”

Caravan sites for conservationists

An impressive seventy-seven percent of the Club’s site entries have achieved gold rosettes since the Club first entered the Awards Scheme in 2002.

Bob Hill is the Sites Director of the Friendly Club, and he was proud of the “fantastic achievement” for the Club while immediately looking to the future.

“We are continuously working to develop our site facilities to ensure that they are environmentally friendly and this is a great indication of our efforts so far.”

David Bellamy Conservation Awards are given to those sites that have shown the steps they have taken to; support their local community, manage their land as a haven for wildlife, lessen their use of energy, water and other resources and reduce, reuse and recycle the waste they produce.
The David Bellamy Conservation Award scheme is one of the longest running green tourism awards in the UK and is a joint partnership between the Conservation Foundation and the British Holiday & Homes Parks Association.

If you’re interested in staying on any of the Club’s gold rosette-winning sites, then inquiries can be made via the Club’s Contact Centre on 0845 130 7633 or 024 7647 5426. Alternatively via the website: campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk