Sierra Nevada Airstreams -|- Sierra Nevada Unit

Enjoyment of the whispering winds, the zephyrs, the airstreams of the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin areas of the United States in a recreational vehicle.

Unique Tow Vehicle

For many years my parents, Dale and Virginia Leipper (#1183), towed their Bambi with a late 1960's International Harvester (IH). This trusty vehicle was the source of two incidents that are almost legend with the Monterey Bay California Unit.

One incident involves the time Mom and Dad were on the way to a rally near Davenport, CA. Driving through Santa Cruz, the IH developed brake troubles. Thank goodness they discovered this while coming to a stop at a traffic light and were able to pull to the side without any harm to themselves or anyone else on the road. After calling for assistance and getting to a garage, they were left without a tow vehicle. Missing a rally was not an option so some alternative had to be figured out. After much searching, the only vehicle that could be found that could tow the Bambi was a Ryder truck. The truck was big enough the Bambi could have easily been put inside with room to spare. Needless to say, Dale and Virginia made a grand entrance to the rally site. The incident was so unexpected and so unique that it became etched in the collective memories of all the MBCU members at the rally. Years later when some of these people were asked to write their memories on the occasion of Dale and Virginia's Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary, almost every single one of them mentioned this incident.

One such memory was from Lloyd and Ruth Brown #17330

The Big Tree Lumber Company had kindly allowed us to hold the rally on their storage lot, and the view of the Pacific ocean was outstanding. The Leipper's trusty International broke down. With the trailer parked along side the road, a search was made for a rental tow vehicle. The only rig available was a TREMENDOUS storage truck. It was an unbelievable site. The BIG truck with the tiny Airstream Bambi on behind. In fact the Lumber Company owner raced over to investigate. Thought we were hauling away his lumber and/or logs. He joined us in a laugh at this most unusual sight.

As usual, the rally was well worth the effort to find a suitable tow vehicle. Mom and Dad's grand entrance just added an unexpected source of entertainment. After the rally they picked up the IH, returned the Ryder truck and went home without further incident.

Article Source

Diane Leipper WBCCI # 772, Member since 1994. Sierra Nevada #157.

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