Vroomers Blog

Still waiting...

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:32:32 GMT

So frustrating. The new order of silver trailer slippers was supposed to ship from the factory the end of November. Finally, around the middle of December, they finally shipped. However, it takes several weeks to get from the factory to here; if all goes smoothly. So, they are still not here. We're so sorry for the delay. A lot of people and businesses are anxiously awaiting their arrival. Hopefully it won't be too much longer.

Does anyone know of a factory in the USA that could make my slippers? I keep looking....

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Atomic Twinkie

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:56:36 GMT

In September we purchased a 1965 Avion H-24 travel trailer. Our friends Kirk & Beth own a 1964 Avion H-24. While camping in August I said if I ever owned one I'd be tempted to give it a logo, replicating the nose art from World War II. So, this was in my mind after we purchased the Avion. (Read about that purchase here.)

Then, in November I joined Sisters on the Fly. One of the things they ask is if your trailer has a name. Hmmm, nope. I needed one. I kept thinking about it and finally landed on Atomic Twinkie. It combines our love for Mid Century Modern style and the trailer just kinda looks like a giant Twinkie. Now, with a name, I need a graphic.

So I started searching the internet for nifty pin-up art women I could integrate into a logo for the trailer. I came up with a bunch of different designs, getting input from my friends from the Loyal Order of the Glampers Facebook group. I kept playing with fonts, images, etc. but nothing seemed quite right.

Then I stumbled across Hilda, the work of artist Duane Bryers, and started to play with her image as well.

This lady hit the mark. Maybe a little too close to home, but I think I have the winner. She's wearing a pair of Vroomers sliver trailer slippers and enjoying a good laugh. So, if you see an Avion, look for the Atomic Twinkie. If you see her, stop by and say hello.

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Vroomers brush with almost fame

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:22:49 GMT

So close, and yet so far.

This spring we sold one of each color of both of our car designs to a production company in California. They were going to use one of the designs in a Progressive commercial with Flo. HOW EXCITING! However, we had to keep it to ourselves. We can do that.

But, then, alas, the art department made their own pair of slippers and ours weren't used. So close, and yet so far.

All this time we've been waiting for the commercial to air, so we could see what our Vroomers car slippers would have appeared in. Today my good friend Demaree contacted me saying she saw the commercial. Of course, when I got home I had to immediately look it up. The slippers are made to look like the Progressive product boxes they use in the various commercials. Not cars at all.

The company kept our slippers, so who knows, maybe one day, in a commercial or movie or something our cute little Vroomers will show up. But, in the meantime Flo, we still love you, but you'd sure look stylish in our Vroomers!

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The Grandma Book

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:41:40 GMT

I'm taking a moment to plug a FastTrack classmate's wife's book - The Grandma Book. This is Deborah's first book, and she's working on others.

Jeff, my classmate, owns Reveal Publishing. He helps others publish their own book. Mom ... you need to talk to him!

Check out The Grandma Book. It'd make a great gift.

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Junkin' Lasko toaster treasure

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:11:56 GMT

Going to the flea market is always an experience. Sometimes you find great things - sometimes you find nothing. Sometimes you pass on things that you later kick yourself about (a Weinberg horse cart will forever be the "one that got away" cause I didn't want to spend another $20 that day).

During a recent trip to the flea maket this funky toaster caught my eye. I'm not a big "appliance" kinda girl. My husband Mark is always bringing home vintage toasters and perculators. Me, not so much. But, this one was different. It was weird. It was a little scary. It belonged in a vintage travel trailer. We ended up bundling it with some other stuff; so in the end, it was free.

We brought the Lasko toaster/stove/warmer home and tried to find it on the internet. The only reference we can find is at the Cyber Toaster Museum (you really can find anything on the internet). It's called a Toastove. (how creative - LOL) Theirs doesn't have a model number. Ours does, and the patent number. Cool.

While investigating the Lasko I found that the "all-in-one" kitchen appliance is still going strong. I found the following gems:

This gem allows you to toast, fry an egg and make your coffee all at once.

Poach an egg and make your toast!

Or, microwave and toast all at once.

We'll probably end up selling the Lasco, or maybe keep it for our 1948 United since it's a 1940's Toastove. (funny word that) We'll see. In any case, we can toast our bread, warm a cup of coffee and cook eggs all at once.

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Earl the Winnebago

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:24:44 GMT

Both of my grandfather's passed away when I was a little girl. One of my clearest memories of my Grandpa Barker is when he came to visit us in Columbus, Ohio. I remember waking up one morning and my parents telling my brother and I to open the door. There was a Winnebago motorhome in the driveway! They said we could go knock on the trailer door, so out we ran to see who was in the trailer. The door opened, and there was my Grandpa and Grandma.   We thought their motorhome was just the coolest thing. Grandpa died not very long after that, and the Winnebago was sold. Now, all these years later whenever I see that distinctive W on a Winnebago I think of that morning. Unfortunately, as far as I know there are no pictures from that visit. It only lives in memory.

As you probably know, we're vintage trailer nuts. One day we were driving down a side street and sitting in a lot, looking sad and neglected was an adorable little Winnebago travel trailer. Ahhhh, there's that W that makes me grin and feel warm and fuzzy inside. We left a note with a neighbor to see if the Winnie was for sale, but didn't receive a call back.

Several months later Mark turned down that road again to see if the Winnie was still there.  It was, sinking into the dirt, looking so sad. This time the owner was home, and we quickly came to an agreement on the price.

So now the cute little Winnie is home. It's adorable, but needs a little work. We'll replace the flooring where it's bad, clean it up, and probably sell it in the spring. But, for now, while we own it, I've named it Earl, in honor of my Grandpa. A little part of me still feels like I'm 5 years old when I look out and see the Winnebago in the driveway.   I just like that I get to touch base with my memories and then the trailer will go on to help another family make wonderful memories too. Now - I think I need to design some new slippers. I'm inspired!

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Inspiration - and Memories

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:22:50 GMT

Sometimes weird things just pop into my head. For some reason the Trixie Belden book series popped into my head today. I'm a bookworm. I love books. I have always loved books. For a couple of years when I was young we lived in a very small community named Marcellus. (Home of Cree Coach for you vintage travel trailer fans.) Being a small community, the library was also small. This meant there wasn't a vast selection of books for an avid reader. But, they had Trixie Belden. Below is a picture of the Marcellus library. When we lived there, the big section in the back wasn't there. The library was the smaller brick portion in the front.

We lived just a couple of blocks away from the library. So, walking back and forth to get a new book was an easy thing. Our house was an older home with floor registers that blew up. I would grab my books and a blanket and camp out over the register, tucking the blanket all around so it would puff up like a balloon when the heat would come on, wrapping me in all that wonderful warm air. Trixie was like a friend. I was mad about horses as a girl, so all of Trixie's adventures with horses were right up my alley. And, like any young girl, I would avidly read to see if something would happen between Trixie and the male counterparts in the series.

Today I learned a lot about my childhood heroine, and her series. The first Trixie Belden book was published in 1948. There were 39 Trixie novels in all. The creator of the series was Julie Campbell Tatham. She wrote the first 6 books, but then decided to stop. The rest of the books were written under the pseudonym Kathryn Kenny. There is speculation about who the other authors were; but probably no one will ever know for sure. There is a wonderful website, www.trixie-belden.com that outlines all kinds of information, breaks down the various books, the series, etc.

While reading about the series I grinned when I saw that book #2 was the Red Trailer Mystery. I thought, "I need to get this as a trailer decoration." But, since the series started in 1948, the same year as our United travel trailer, I think I need several of them. So, the hunt will begin. Yes, I know I can buy them on eBay, but I think I'm going to take the slow route, enjoying the thrill of the hunt, and discovery of each new one. I can't wait to read them again!

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Glamping

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:09:30 GMT

I've never been a "girlie girl" kinda gal. No frills, no lace, no patterns. Must explain why I love Mid Century Modern furniture.

However, as I've gotten older, I've learned to embrace my femine side. I've grown to love the color pink (my mother bemoaned the fact that I wanted her to buy me a black dress when I was little).

Through some avenue or another I've discovered Glamping. There is a fabulous website and a great Facebook page for glampers. (Glamorous Camping).

These fabulous women (and men) share all kinds of great ideas for glamping, fixing up their trailers, etc. and the fun just never ends. Many of the glampers have their own etsy stores, many are members of and fully embrace life.

So grab a cup of cocoa, put on your Vroomers travel trailer slippers and check out Glamping. Warning, if you spend too much time with these fun people, you can't say you weren't warned.

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From slipper to real trailer...

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:58:00 GMT

We designed the silver trailer slipper with a nod toward the silver beauties such as Airstream, Boles Aero and Avalair. However, our personal vintage trailers were all wood frame. Were.

This spring we spent time in our friends Kirk & Beth's '64 Avion H-24; and our friends George and JoEllyn's Avion (also an H-24 I think). We kept commenting on how nice and roomy they were inside, and how comfortable they were. However, we were happy with our 1948 United, even if it is a little small for us now. We also have that 1958 Holly sitting waiting for some love and attention.

While camping with Kirk & Beth (and another friend Tom who also has lovely silver trailers) my husband mentioned an ad he had seen for a 1965 Avion H-24 that was for sale. Bowing to peer pressure, we made the call. I have to confess, we had been talking about how more room would be nice, and more storage. They didn't need to do much arm twisting. <grin>

Mark had to head out of town, so Beth and my son Tyler went on a road trip with me to look at the Avion. I don't think the owner was too thriled with "two women" coming to look at his 20 years in the woods hunting cabin, but he was "surprised" by how thorough we were. Hmmm...

After much negotiation, and thinking the trailer was not going to be ours for a few weeks (the price went up instead of down during negotiations - huh?) we finally got the call, and the trailer was ours. We picked it up on September 11th. We were scheduled to camp at the Tin Can Tourists Fall Gathering on September 21st. Yikes! Kirk and Beth came over that night to admire our new baby, and brought us gifts of cleaning supplies. What good pals.

Mark did a hero's job of working his tail end off from dawn to dark every day; even washing the exterior in the rain (he said the rain helped loosen the 20 years of crud off the exterior). We cleaned out the 20 years of mouse poop and other nasties, we disinfected, and disinfected and then disinfected some more. I painted the bathroom, scrubbed the floor, bought mattresses for the beds and made valances. And, 10 days after we brought it home, we were camping in it.

I ran out of time to make the goucho cushions, but thankfully the cushions from the United fit, so while they didn't match, they gave us a place to sit.

It was so cute, my silver Vroomers sitting inside my silver Avion. (yes, I'm a dork) I guess my slippers were telling me something. I now have a silver trailer to go with my silver slippers. Yay!

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Tin Can Tourists Annual Gathering

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Sat, 14 May 2011 16:55:00 GMT

It's almost here! The 2011 Tin Can Tourists Annual Gathering officially begins Thursday, May 19 at Camp Dearborn in Milford, Michigan. People pulling their vintage travel trailers and driving their classic motorhomes are heading toward Milford to gather, admire all the gorgeous trailers, and maybe tell a few tall tales around a campfire.

Saturday is the official Open House, which is open to the general public. Come on out, tour the lovely trailers and have a great time. We'll see you there!

Photo of our 1948 United Sports Tour last year after a rainstorm.

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FIRST in Michigan State Robotics Championship

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:55:00 GMT

Enjoy the FIRST in Michigan State Robotics Championship as aired on ABC. Vroomers is proud to donate a portion of the sale price of every pair of robot slippers sold to robotics teams. All of these teams will be contenders in St. Louis for the World Championship title. Good luck teams!

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We meet the most interesting people ... Alex Attard

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:32:00 GMT

Alex Attard is a creative man with boundless energy. A former body shop owner, he has spent the last 30+ years creating a 1900’s village on his nine acre homestead in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It started with a chicken coop that was on the property when he purchased it. He liked how it looked, so he took it to the back and turned it into the stable. It went on from there.

Using recycled materials, he has recreated many of the shops of the early days of the last century. Alex’s remarkable building collection includes a bank, church, jail, saloon, stable, livery, blacksmith shop, general store, Chinese laundry, outhouse and a dentist office. The indoor and outdoor displays include scores of antique cars, buggies, a train, wagons, farm implements and artifacts. Goodies inside the buildings include signs, pedal cars, light fixtures, trench art, trucks, car emblems, keychains, toys, appliances, and much more. WHEW! I think you could walk through these barns every day for a month and see new things each time.

The “African Queen” is docked next to one barn. Upstairs is a pirate’s lair, complete with complete with a ship’s wheel and treasure chests filled with “gold” coins and “jewels”. Walk around the property and you’ll come across a cemetery, a dinosaur and a train. There are little surprises tucked everywhere you look.

And then there are the vehicles. From a 1913 (?) Princess (the car I wanted to take home), to a Franklin, from a 1930s Auburn convertible to a Crosley, from a Dodge Brothers truck to an Austin Taxi Cab to.... over 100 of them were spread throughout the property.

Each building had its own unique feel to it. The accessories gave them a fun reality. During a car club visit last summer, a few club members were found behind bars in the jail. Other club members were found behind bars of a different nature. It’s a good thing his barns were not “antique stores” because I would have gone broke buying all the cool things I saw!

The neat thing is unless you knew his place was there, you’d never notice it driving down the road. Many of our members commented on how many times they’ve gone by his place and had no idea what a fun place lay behind the gates.

What a wonderfully creative mind Alex has! I've had the good fortune to visit Alex's on two separate occasions. His collection is more than just buildings full of things behind glass, this was an experience on many levels.

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Faces of GM - and FIRST robotics - Dave Verbrugge

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:19:00 GMT

Fun article featuring Dave Verbrugge - Heroes of Tomorrow HOT Team #67 Mentor, FIRST robotics Master of Ceremonies (MC) and all around good guy. Click the link below.

Faces of GM

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Step back in time - Flamingo Trailer Court

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:48:00 GMT

Sometimes a wrong turn brings rewards. This was the case recently when I was on my way to a Special Olympics basketball game in an unfamiliar area. I missed my road and ended up in the wrong place. But - what is that? Oh my goodness, its a giant Pink Flamingo sign in front of a time-warp trailer park! I figured out where I was and went to the game. When we left the game, I told my son we were heading back to take some photos.

This trailer park is virtually untouched by time. Modern vehicles outside of vintage trailers. The few modern trailers that were in there stood out like sore thumbs. The entire place screamed out for John Waters. How has a movie not been filmed here? I want to fill this place with vintage cars - can you imagine the photos! I snapped a few pictures and will go back when the weather is nicer. FUN! Sometimes those wrong turns become right. I want a giant pink flamingo in my front yard! I wonder what it would cost to buy the whole place, replace the boring modern trailers and rent them out. Ahhh... it's nice to dream.

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FIRST Robotics Logo Motion

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:42:00 GMT

Vroomers congratulates the FIRST robotics Logo Motion Regional champions from this past weekend's competitions:

Finger Lakes Regional - Teams 217 (Thunder Chickens), Team 1518 (The Raiders) and Team 2056

Alamo Regional - Team 3481, Team 16 (Baxter Bomb Squad) and Team 148 (Robowranglers)

New Jersey Regional - Team 25 (Raider Robotix), Team 303 (Panther Robotics) and Team 1676 (Pi-oneers)

Traverse City District Competition - Team 201 (The FEDS), Team 141 (WOBOT) and Team 1918 (NC Gears)

Kettering University District - Team 33 (Killer Bees), Team 1 (Juggernauts) and Team 2137 (Robocats)

BAE Systems Granite State Regional - Team 175 (Buzz Robotics), Team 176 (Aces High) and Team 1519 (Mechanical Mayhem)

We're looking for the next round of matches! To the winning teams - we'll see you in St. Louis. Congratulations!

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If I had a million dollars....

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:19:00 GMT

If I had a dollar for every time I've said that - I'd have a million dollars for sure! Today, I said it again.

While surfing Craigslist (a dangerous thing to be sure - I was looking for a pink stove) I came across a listing for Deer Forest in Coloma. It's for sale, again.

Deer Forest, if you're not from Michigan and have never been to this particular location, holds a special place in my heart. My first exposure to Deer Forest came when we lived in Marcellus and my parents decided to take us to "Deer Park Funland". Deer Park Funland has since become Michigan Adventure. It has rollercoasters, etc. - Michigan's smaller version of Cedar Point or Six Flags. Deer Park Funland is in Muskegon, Michigan.

Instead, my Dad headed to Deer Forest, in Coloma, Michigan.

Imagine our surprise when we pulled up expecting to be greeted by rollercoasters and rides galore. Instead, it's the small Mom & Pop tourist location where you can (as the advertising jingle says "feed the deer, ride the ponies, feed the deer & ride the train"). Needless to say, this wasn't our plan. Some tense "marital moments" later, Dad figured out where we were supposed to go and we made the trip north to Muskegon to Deer Park Funland - where we had a wonderful day despite our detour.

Some years later we moved closer to Coloma. Their catchy jingle would play in the radio, bringing back memories of that first visit.

Move forward more years to 2001. While visiting my family who still lives in the area, we decided to take the kids to Deer Forest.

It was a sad place. WAY too many deer who rushed the fences when you approached making you feel like they were going to bust through the fence and stampede your child into the mud. Storybook
Lane needed a repaint, and the animals were sad and lethargic. The whole place had an air of neglect and looked like a remnant of its former glory.

However, the kids didn't see it that way. We fed the deer, rode the train, took goofy pictures, rode the very scary ferris wheel (I have heard the ferris wheel and train have been sold - shame) and other rides. The kids had a blast. And, in the end, we enjoyed it too once we saw it through their eyes.

So, in a perfect world, I'd buy Deer Forest and bring it back to what it should be. Golly, there'd even be room for a nifty vintage trailer park. We could sell Vroomers slippers in the gift shop. We could host car shows in the parking lot with admission to the park. And, generations could continue to bring their kids to the place that they remember from their childhood. A small, local neighborhood attraction where you can let the world pass you by for a while and simply enjoy being together. A day of fun. Now, where's that winning lotto ticket?

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Dew Drop Trailers at Autorama

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:08:00 GMT

Cullen Tate of Dew Drop Trailers shows off his newest creations at the 2011 Detroit Autorama. Dew Drop Trailers uses Vroomers slippers as their give-away item at shows for people who sign up for their mailing list. We use a Dew Drop trailer when travelling in our 1958 Nash Metropolitan . It's perfect for our little car, holds an astonishing amount of things in the back and looks great going down the road.

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The Chicken Dance - HOT Team style

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 02:40:00 GMT

The 2011 FIRST robotics competition season kicked off this weekend with Regional events "Alamo Regional" in San Antonio, TX, "BAE Systems Granite State Regional" in Manchester NH, "Finger Lakes Regional" in Rochester NY, "New Jersey Regional" in Trenton, NJ, "Kettering University District Competition" in Flint, MI and "Traverse City District Competition" in Traverse City, MI.

Heroes of Tomorrow (HOT) team #67 competed at the Kettering University District Competition. Here is their version of the Chicken Dance.

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U-turn for Smart

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:18:00 GMT

Almost every day I pass by the Smart USA headquarters on Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Being a small car kinda gal, I always smile at the little cars and think how fun it would be to own one. I've been on one test drive - but that's another story.

While driving past the headquarters one day something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. When my brain processed what I saw, I whipped into a turnabout to head back to the store to see what had caught my eye. "What in the world are you doing" my girlfriend Demaree who was in the car with me asked. Then, when I pulled into the lot we both started laughing. We had to get out of my car to walk around them we were so taken with what we were seeing.

Smart now offers their "Smart Expressions", car wraps to customize your cars. I had received an email about it, but this was the first I had seen one in person. TOO FUN! The wrap was well done, with all the lines meeting appropriately and it didn't look cheesy like I thought they would.

Very fun - and it made my afternoon. Thanks Smart! (I've GOT to design slippers with a nod to the Smart car!)

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Oh those PINK Metropolitans!

Rhonda@vroomersonline.com (Vroomers) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:53:00 GMT

While surfing the internet one day I came across a website that featured cars that had been "pinked". This got me thinking about the pink Mets I’ve seen over the years. So, doing a little more research on the internet I found all kinds of pink Mets. We’re all familiar with the pink Metropolitan Fifth Avenue that AMC used as a show car. However, I found many more custom pink Metropolitans out there. I thought I’d share a few of them here.

Some of you have seen a few of these cars at MOCNA events through the years. There was also that hot pink and black convertible that was at the Orphan Car Show one year. We never saw that Met again and don’t know who owned it.

Thanks to everyone who submitted pictures for this article. I wonder how many more pink Mets are out there...

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