September 11, 2006
While our parents generation had Pearl Harbor, V-E and V-J days and knew what they were doing on those days. Our generation remembers what we were doing when President John Kennedy was assassinated and when the twin towers in New York fell. It has been five years since terrorist hijacked four planes and attacked the United States. Today it is referred to simply as 9/11. Here’s to the heroes of Flight 93.
…
We were so excited to visit Home & Park Motors, birthplace of our Roadtrek 200 Versatile Motor Home. The visitors parking area was made only for cars; Will found a spot and backed in. We entered the brick building through the double door entryway and approached the desk where a young woman sat talking into a microphone headset. The large room was divided into small cubbies where individuals sat doing what people do in these little spaces. The receptionist, a young happy girl, acknowledged us. Will asked about a part order from the Roadtrek dealer in New Castle that had gotten messed up. She went off to find out about it. Marie B., another a Roadtrek owner, was taking the tour with us. She sat in a small conference room reading a book. As the day progressed we learned that she was from Florida, up here having her five-month old Roadtrek repaired, as dealers along the way did not seem to help her with warranty items.
Our tour guide, Fred, was a nice older man, and very soft-spoken. This latter feature would be a problem for Will later, out on the production floor. He sat and listened to us share travel stories with Marie. We were interrupted a few times with others who came to give Marie information about her Roadtrek repairs, and once more when our part was brought out to us. It was the wrong part. Turns out there were two straps made for the side door in ’98, the newer version and ours. The screw holes in the new part were vertical; ours are horizontal. Besides the part, which included a rather substantial tension spring, was disassembled. Off they went to see if they had the correct one available.
Fred gave us each a Roadtrek Tour pin and a CD; we wore the pins and left the CDs on the table rather than carry them around with us. Fred made sure we each had a visitor badge and goggles for eye protection. Our tour began by walking past cubbies, smiling at the people inside; most didn’t really acknowledge us. We entered a hallway and used the restrooms, then entered the plant. Fred told us that 35 Roadtreks are made here each week. We walked around looking at vehicles in various stages of completion. There are two rows of assembly with work areas along the side where custom components are made—everything from plumbing parts and wiring harnesses to cabinets and ceiling panels. We watched a man spray water based glue on fiberglass pieces and later he covered them with material that he cut and wrapped around the edges. Gary was using a large cutting machine to cut two custom pieces for rear benches out of a large sheet of pressed finished wood. The waste was as much as the two pieces. Waste wood is tossed into a bin and ground up. Gary told us that some people use to take the good pieces, but with new management it is no longer permitted. Will suggested they pass it along to high schools; Gary just smiled.
While our parents generation had Pearl Harbor, V-E and V-J days and knew what they were doing on those days. Our generation remembers what we were doing when President John Kennedy was assassinated and when the twin towers in New York fell. It has been five years since terrorist hijacked four planes and attacked the United States. Today it is referred to simply as 9/11. Here’s to the heroes of Flight 93.
…
We were so excited to visit Home & Park Motors, birthplace of our Roadtrek 200 Versatile Motor Home. The visitors parking area was made only for cars; Will found a spot and backed in. We entered the brick building through the double door entryway and approached the desk where a young woman sat talking into a microphone headset. The large room was divided into small cubbies where individuals sat doing what people do in these little spaces. The receptionist, a young happy girl, acknowledged us. Will asked about a part order from the Roadtrek dealer in New Castle that had gotten messed up. She went off to find out about it. Marie B., another a Roadtrek owner, was taking the tour with us. She sat in a small conference room reading a book. As the day progressed we learned that she was from Florida, up here having her five-month old Roadtrek repaired, as dealers along the way did not seem to help her with warranty items.
Our tour guide, Fred, was a nice older man, and very soft-spoken. This latter feature would be a problem for Will later, out on the production floor. He sat and listened to us share travel stories with Marie. We were interrupted a few times with others who came to give Marie information about her Roadtrek repairs, and once more when our part was brought out to us. It was the wrong part. Turns out there were two straps made for the side door in ’98, the newer version and ours. The screw holes in the new part were vertical; ours are horizontal. Besides the part, which included a rather substantial tension spring, was disassembled. Off they went to see if they had the correct one available.
Fred gave us each a Roadtrek Tour pin and a CD; we wore the pins and left the CDs on the table rather than carry them around with us. Fred made sure we each had a visitor badge and goggles for eye protection. Our tour began by walking past cubbies, smiling at the people inside; most didn’t really acknowledge us. We entered a hallway and used the restrooms, then entered the plant. Fred told us that 35 Roadtreks are made here each week. We walked around looking at vehicles in various stages of completion. There are two rows of assembly with work areas along the side where custom components are made—everything from plumbing parts and wiring harnesses to cabinets and ceiling panels. We watched a man spray water based glue on fiberglass pieces and later he covered them with material that he cut and wrapped around the edges. Gary was using a large cutting machine to cut two custom pieces for rear benches out of a large sheet of pressed finished wood. The waste was as much as the two pieces. Waste wood is tossed into a bin and ground up. Gary told us that some people use to take the good pieces, but with new management it is no longer permitted. Will suggested they pass it along to high schools; Gary just smiled.
Comments