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| Dixielanders at Noccalula Falls [message #134889] |
Sun, 17 July 2011 01:01  |
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jaholland
Messages: 565
Registered: June 2010
Location: Sweet Home Alebamy
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GMC Dixie Landers Vintage GMC Motor Home Rally Meets At
Noccalula Falls
By Greg Bailey
Times Associate Editor
Published: Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 10:47 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 10:53 p.m.
A unique vehicle that last was produced more than three
decades ago isn’t about to disappear
if some friendly and helpful enthusiasts have anything
to do with it.
Photo Galleries
GMC Dixie Landers in town
General Motors produced the 23- and 26-inch GMC TZE Class A
motor homes from the 1973 to 1978 model years, and restored
and maintained versions continue to be enjoyed by clubs
across the U.S. One of them, the GMC Dixie Landers, is in
Gadsden this weekend for their summer rally at Noccalula Falls
Campground. The rally began Thursday and will conclude Sunday
morning.
It’s happening because of two GMC owners, John Richardson and
John Nichols, who had been stopping in Gadsden while en route
to and returning home from a major rally annually in Bean
Station, Tenn., in the northeast part of the state. Richardson,
vice president of the Dixie Landers, is from Niceville, Fla.,
and Nichols is from Pensacola, Fla. They would meet in Greenville
in south Alabama, then head north to Gadsden and camp at the
falls. “That was sort of a ritual for us,” Richardson said.
“But it’s so beautiful here that we always wanted to stay an
extra day, so we started talking about having a rally here.”
Planning rallies is one of Richardson’s roles with the group,
so last year he set up this one, and it’s attracted 33 campers.
He and his wife, Linda, and Jim and Ethel Waters of Georgia
are the hosts. The group had a pot luck dinner Thursday —
that’s traditional on the first night, Richardson said;
campers prepare food at homeand break it out at meal time —
and will dine at local restaurants today and Saturday. They
also plan to visit various local attractions.
Visitors are welcome during the rally, and club members are
happy to talk about their motor homes. Richardson said the
Dixie Landers primarily are from the Southeast, adding,
“Roaming Dixie together is one of our slogans.”
They typically have four rallies a year — near Tampa, Fla.,
in the winter, at Bean Station in May at Kentucky Derby time
and then in the summer and fall. The last one this year will
be near Valdosta, Ga. Most members are retired — Richardson
said it’s typically a couple with a little pet — and are linked
by their love for their sleek Classic GMC Motor Homes.
About 13,000 TZEs were produced, according to the GMC Motorhomes
International website, and it’s estimated that three-fourths
still are in running condition. New parts still are being
manufactured by various vendors. Richardson said the model’s
design was “ahead of its time.” They are front-wheel drive,
with the drive train of an Oldsmobile Toronado, and earlier
versions used 455-cubic-inch Oldsmobile engines. “The engine,
transmission, final drive and steering are all in one package,”
Richardson said. The front and rear body caps are fiberglass,
but the rest of the bodies are sheet aluminum like airplanes,
and the floors are marine plywood. The TZEs also have unique
suspensions with air bags instead of springs, and the inflation
level can be controlled from the driver’s console. They are
totally self-contained, with generators and cold and hot water
tanks. And they’re still turning heads.
“An 11-year-old kid got out of the swimming pool at the camp
ground and saw these and said, ‘I like that,’” Richardson said.
Club members have a sense of camaraderie, Richardson said.
A list of volunteers called “the Black list,” after its
organizer, broken down by state and expertise, circulates for
GMC owners who need help, and there also are online venues
available for exchanging information. “It’s like a fraternity,”
Richardson said. “You’re not on your own with these. All of a
sudden, you’ve got a whole lot of friends all over the country.”
: cut and pasted from the Gasden Alabama News }
/_]*[__][] *[__|] ~ * '73 TZE063V101887 "
"
O----------OO--]* ~ '78 TZE168V100234 "
"
" Joe & Lavelle " "
"
'sweet home alebamy'
[Updated on: Sun, 17 July 2011 01:20] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dixielanders at Noccalula Falls [message #134904 is a reply to message #134889] |
Sun, 17 July 2011 08:14  |
Robin Hood
Messages: 1078
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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23 and 26 INCH????
On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 1:01 AM, J A Holland <acts238bishop@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> GMC Dixie Landers Vintage GMC Motor Home Rally Meets At Noccalula Falls
>
> By Greg Bailey
> Times Associate Editor
> Published: Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 10:47 p.m.
> Last Modified: Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 10:53 p.m.
> A unique vehicle that last was produced more than three decades ago isn’t about to disappear
> if some friendly and helpful enthusiasts have anything to do with it.
> Photo Galleries
> GMC Dixie Landers in town
> General Motors produced the 23- and 26-inch GMC TZE Class A motor homes from the 1973 to
> 1978 model years, and restored and maintained versions continue to be enjoyed by clubs across
> the U.S.
> One of them, the GMC Dixie Landers, is in Gadsden this weekend for their summer rally at Noccalula
> Falls Campground. The rally began Thursday and will conclude Sunday morning.
>
> It’s happening because of two GMC owners, John Richardson and John Nichols, who had been
> stopping in Gadsden while en route to and returning home from a major rally annually in Bean Station,
> Tenn., in the northeast part of the state. Richardson, vice president of the Dixie Landers, is from Niceville,
> Fla., and Nichols is from Pensacola, Fla. They would meet in Greenville in south Alabama, then head
> north to Gadsden and camp at the falls. “That was sort of a ritual for us,” Richardson said. “But it’s so
> beautiful here that we always wanted to stay an extra day, so we started talking about having a rally here.”
>
> Planning rallies is one of Richardson’s roles with the group, so last year he set up this one, and it’s attracted
> 33 campers. He and his wife, Linda, and Jim and Ethel Waters of Georgia are the hosts. The group had a pot l
> uck dinner Thursday — that’s traditional on the first night, Richardson said; campers prepare food at home
> and break it out at meal time — and will dine at local restaurants today and Saturday. They also plan to visit
> various local attractions.
>
> Visitors are welcome during the rally, and club members are happy to talk about their motor homes. Richardson
> said the Dixie Landers primarily are from the Southeast, adding, “Roaming Dixie together is one of our slogans.”
> They typically have four rallies a year — near Tampa, Fla., in the winter, at Bean Station in May at Kentucky
> Derby time and then in the summer and fall. The last one this year will be near Valdosta, Ga. Most members are
> retired — Richardson said it’s typically a couple with a little pet — and are linked by their love for their sleek GMC
> motor homes.
>
> About 13,000 TZEs were produced, according to the GMC Motorhomes International website, and it’s estimated that three-fourths still are in running condition. New parts still are being manufactured by various vendors. Richardson said the model’s design was “ahead of its time.” They are front-wheel drive, with the drive train of an Oldsmobile Toronado, and earlier versions used 455-cubic-inch Oldsmobile engines. “The engine, transmission, final drive and steering are all in one package,” Richardson said. The front and rear body caps are fiberglass, but the rest of the bodies are sheet aluminum like airplanes, and the floors are marine plywood. The TZEs also have unique suspensions with air bags instead of springs, and the inflation level can be controlled from the driver’s console. They are totally self-contained,
> with generators and cold and hot water tanks. And they’re still turning heads.
>
> “An 11-year-old kid got out of the swimming pool at the campground and saw these and said, ‘I like that,’” Richardson said. Club members have a sense of camaraderie, Richardson said. A list of volunteers called “the Black list,” after its organizer, broken down by state and expertise, circulates for GMC owners who need help, and there also are online venues available for exchanging information. “It’s like a fraternity,” Richardson said. “You’re not on your own with these. All of a sudden, you’ve got a whole lot of friends all over the country.”
>
> --
> /_]*[__][] *[__|] ~ * '73 TZE063V101887 ""
> O---------OO--]* ~ '78 TZE168V100234 ""
> " Joe & Lavelle " ""
> 'sweet home alebamy'
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2003 Buick Lesabre
1968 Pontiac Catalina
1978 GMC Royale motorhome
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dixielanders at Noccalula Falls [message #134970 is a reply to message #134942] |
Sun, 17 July 2011 21:36 |
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jaholland
Messages: 565
Registered: June 2010
Location: Sweet Home Alebamy
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Ken;
It Was A Real Nice Report On The 10:00 PM Newscast
At Birmingham's ABC Chanel 33/40 Friday Night ~
Only thing that they got wrong was "The Black List"
They Reported Thet The GMC Motorhomes Were On The
'Black List' because there were no replacment parts
readily availabl3e ~
! Joe ~
/_]*[__][] *[__|] ~ * '73 TZE063V101887 "
"
O----------OO--]* ~ '78 TZE168V100234 "
"
" Joe & Lavelle " "
"
'sweet home alebamy'
[Updated on: Sun, 17 July 2011 21:37] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Dixielanders at Noccalula Falls [message #134994 is a reply to message #134970] |
Mon, 18 July 2011 07:26 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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All in all, excellent p.r.
And I have to say, from a new guy's perspective, YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!
Good companionship, good food, good advice in a pleasant setting.... what else would one want? And everyone - including the smaller dogs - thought Jazz was a nice guy. He wanted to stay and be petted some more, now that he's home he has to take 3rd place behind his Pop and his Great Uncle. He was enjoying being "cock of the walk."
A big THANKS!!!! to particularly our hosts, and everyone else as well.
--johnny
--- On Mon, 7/18/11, J A Holland <acts238bishop@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: J A Holland <acts238bishop@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Dixielanders at Noccalula Falls
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Monday, July 18, 2011, 2:36 AM
Ken Henderson wrote on Sun, 17 July 2011 15:32
> Here's a better view:
>
> http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20110714/NEWS/110719833?Title=GMC-Dixie-Landers-vintage-motor-home-rally-meets-at-Noccalula-Falls
>
> http://goo.gl/FkNdz
>
> We also got a brief spot on TV, but I missed that.
>
> Ken H.
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 2:01 AM, J A Holland wrote:
> >
> >
> > GMC Dixie Landers Vintage GMC Motor Home Rally Meets At Noccalula Falls
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Ken;
It Was A Real Nice Report On The 10:00 PM Newscast
At Birmingham's ABC Chanel 33/40 ~
Only thing that they got wrong was "The Black List"
They Reported Thet The GMC Motorhomes Were On The
'Black List' because there were no replacment parts
readily availabl3e ~
! Joe ~
--
/_]*[__][] *[__|] ~ * '73 TZE063V101887 ""
O---------OO--]* ~ '78 TZE168V100234 ""
" Joe & Lavelle " ""
'sweet home alebamy'
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GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: Dixielanders at Noccalula Falls [message #135217 is a reply to message #134889] |
Tue, 19 July 2011 15:18 |
stick miller
Messages: 1036
Registered: March 2010
Location: Americus, Georgia
Karma: 0
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| jaholland wrote on Sun, 17 July 2011 02:01 |
GMC Dixie Landers Vintage GMC Motor Home Rally Meets At
Noccalula Falls
|
Great story and good press for GMCs and the Dixielanders. Only one spelling thing I'd change:
"Dixie Landers" sounds like a southern gossip columnist. Then again, I guess when your name is Stick you can't be too picky!
Stick Miller
'78 Royale - "White Trash" - she left me for another man
'76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie" Sold
'84 Bluebird Wanderlodge - "Past Tents"
Americus, GA
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