New Entry Into The Grey Nomad Market

BOLWELL, a name best known for its muscle cars, has made a move on the "grey nomads" market with its new-age caravan, called The Edge. 


Every once in a while somebody comes up with something different to try and capture their share of the market. Details are a little light but will be interesting to see how this penetrates the established market
Full story is here  http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2010/11/18/260181_enthusiast.html

Nice to see good news

Every once in a while it is nice to see good news published tell it how it is. This story was in the Sunday Telegraph by Wendy Harmer. Well worth the read.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/hit-the-road-before-it-hits-back/story-e6frezz0-1225953086275

'No need' for special caravan licences

Well I suppose that is the sort of spiel you would expect from a caravan salesman but many would disagree after they see the carnage on the roads from inexperienced drivers who paid the ultimate price with loss of theri pride and joy or even worse, serious injury.

Full story here

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/09/3061298.htm?section=business

Nice to see Success

With the ever increasing number of Grey Nomads on the road it is nice to see success growing out of it. While the more on the road will no doubt bring a few problems with camp sites and crowding etc it will also bring opportunities  for those in the business.

Here is one success story.
http://www.thereporter.com.au/story/2010/11/08/logan-company-in-top-40/

And the Minister has declined to comment

Ever once in a while you come a cross a story that just has you sitting there with your jaw dropped. Earlier in this blog I wrote a piece about caravan towing a crashes. Now this one takes the cake, but it could only happen in Queensland; but; I wonder what the regulations are in other states or maybe it is just one of those things that the powers that be just didn't think of.

See the full story here

http://www.caravanningnews.com/towhell.htm

Have You Checked Your Tyres Lately

No I don't mean have you checked the pressure which of course you should do on a regular basis but this video which is a story from ABC America has just as much reference to us here in Australia. Tyres age and have a use by date and they can be years old before you buy them. Watch is video and you just might save the lives of you and your family, not to mention other road users.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Sometimes I scratch my head.

Sometimes I have to wonder when you read news reports and wonder politicians are really made of. Here we are on the one hand having politicians singing there own praises and telling us how much the RV industry has grown and the community benefited by their actions
 http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/855793/caravaning-booms-as-stamp-duty-axed-nsw 
and than at the same times they take actions which are totally counter productive like closing NSW show-grounds to camping, 
http://www.tweednews.com.au/story/2010/03/29/showground-camping-ban-nsw-tourist/

Is it no wonder that the public has so little confidence in politicians at all level of government. On one hand they brag about increasing the market by 33% by their actions then take action to restrict them from having somewhere to camp.

Grey Nomad Enquiry

Further to my post of the 14th May it appears that things are moving along, the written submissions are now closed and the Enquiry have requested certain submitters to appear in person before the enquiry. Many RVers will be pinning their hopes on the submission from the CMCA and Mr Frans Hamer to combat the often and usually biased presentations from the Caravan Park Owners Associations.

It will be very interesting to see the outcome of this enquiry. The hearing will be on the 21st August in Brisbane.

Submissions can be viewed here at 
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/committees/EDC.asp?SubArea=inquiries_greynomad_submissions

Motorhomes get together

Been a bit slack for a while working on my own rig and others things. back to blogging now.

Auswide is having a national rally at Dayboro. Don't hear much of this club unless you go looking for it.
Full story here.
http://www.thewesterner.com.au/pages/blogs.aspx?ID=3295