Journey to Jerome

What better way to take a vacation than a driving vacation? You get to take your time, see the sights and experience this beautiful country first hand, not blurry eyed from the bar car of a train or soaring over it in a plane (again blurry eyed), but from the ground like nature intended it. On top of this, what better way to take a vacation when you have all the amenities of home right on your back, literally. Recently, we had the opportunity to test drive the new 2003 Winnebago Vista, a 21-foot, fully-equipped Class C motorhome built on the sturdy Volkswagen EuroVan chassis. Instead of merely taking it around the block like you would expect from other magazines, we decided to take it for a spin around the country, a 2043-mile spin to be precise. And of course, why waste a perfectly good vacation at some lame RV park to sit and watch screaming kids swim in a pool and poodles scamper at the feet of the elderly? Instead, we decided to trek to the Arizona Bus Club's annual Jerome Jamboree XII held in the middle of September at the Gold King Mine in the historic, quaint town of Jerome, Ariz. (approximately 50 miles north of Phoenix).

On our way, we enjoyed the benefits of the motorhome's spacious cabin with a surprising abundance of sleeping space (for four to five adults) and a full galley and bathroom. The galley is equipped with stainless steel sink, Norcold refrigerator/freezer and a range with microwave (instead of standard oven). Kitchen storage space is more than enough for any family, considering the vehicle's small size. Serious chefs, however, will find the kitchen terribly lacking in counter space, but then again, serious chefs don't camp. The bathroom offers a full-size shower with flexible showerhead, powered roof vent, toilet, sink, medicine cabinet and a wardrobe that is ample enough for all of our clothes. Despite its small length, the Vista offers a large amount of general storage space with a full "basement," making storage of the new gates for the Single Cab, the tent for the VWT booth and other large items very easy.

The front of the motorhome is all Volkswagen, as the same equipment you'd find on a current EuroVan is found here: an analog dash, cruise control, dual airbags, heater and a/c, available aluminum wheels, am/fm radio with CD and power windows and locks. To power all of this extra weight is Volkswagen's 2.8L V6 engine with 201hp, with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 7275lbs. Its compact size coupled with the Volkswagen engine gives the front-wheel-drive Vista great handling, and acceptable fuel efficiency. On our 2043-mile trip, we used 162.852 gallons of gas which equals approximately 12.545 miles per gallon. No bad for a fully loaded motorhome.

On the downside, rear visibility is virtually non-existent, despite the rear-view mirror and the rear window in the bathroom, and the side mirrors don't offer the breadth necessary to confidently change lanes. We felt that the bathroom sink could have been a little larger, given that it was difficult to wash two hands simultaneously, and the shower needed a larger basin so water didn't splash out so easily. The microwave oven (as well as all outlets) was a refreshing change from the conventional oven, but could only be used if the Vista was plugged into a 110V campsite or if you ran the optional generator. High winds and speeding big rigs made stability slightly unnerving, and the benefit of dual rear wheels would have been very helpful.

Overall, we were pleased with the Vista's performance, it's agility and versatility. The mileage we achieved was much better than veteran RVers suggested we'd get, and the whole camping experience was relatively affordable, if you don't include the Vista's 56K sticker price.

Rolling into the Jerome Jamboree event area on the plateau just below the Gold King Mine, in Jerome, Ariz., our "camper" was, by far, the largest one of the 254 Volkswagens entered in the event. Upon arriving, we were greeted by Arizona Bus Club's patriarch and weekend emcee Jerry Jess. For our own piece of quiet space, he suggested that we set up camp near the main stage and the front entrance, as the other side of the campground can get a little "enthusiastic" as the evening wears on. Plus, setting up the VWT booth at the main entrance, we were privy to see the coming and going of almost every VW at the show.

You may remember our 2000 Jerome Jamboree X coverage (VWT February 2001), and our depicting the event as nothing like it in the VW community. This principle still holds true, as this year's Jamboree was just as relaxing and sedated as any other we've been to. The people are friendly, the environment was pleasing and the weather was mild, making it extra nice for those that had driven a great distance to get there. The roughly 2000 people in attendance over the two-day event hailed from 12 different states and represented 19 Volkswagen clubs around the Southwest, and it is interesting to note that these people are a vastly diverse collection of individuals, from doctors to students, housewives to widows and young to the old.

The show officially started when the caravan from Phoenix lumbered up the hill to Jerome, and this year, 65 Buses made the 50-mile trip. People set up camp and get settled in, raffles begin, games start up and the camp fills with the smell of chili as pots are prepared for the cook-off. Waddling through camp, and through our campsite had to be the fattest dog I'd ever seen. If you pushed it over, it would have easily rolled away. As it turned out, the dog was pregnant, very pregnant, and roughly around 2:30 Sunday morning, it was time. In honor of the 12th Jerome Jamboree, this dog from Ashfork, Ariz., appropriately had 12 puppies in the back of a truck in the parking lot.

Of course, as they have done for the last 11 years, the Arizona Bus Club has restored and given away a Split-Screen Type II at every Jerome Jamboree, and this year was no different.

For the past year, the club has been working on a 1966 Single Cab which turned out great. With the help of many sponsors (See www.arizonabusclub .com for the complete list), donations poured in to help make the Single Cab 100 percent complete, most notably from Lorenzo Pearson of West Coast Metric, Lenny Copp of West Coast Classic VWs, Chirco's Super Center, and Ronnie's Old Volks Home.

Only one lucky person could win, but you had to buy the ticket at the show and you had to be present to win. This year's winner was Phoenix-resident Keith Williams, a member of the Terrible Twos, another Arizona Bus club that caters to the wilder side of the hobby.

Thanks to the raffle prizes and the Bus grand prize, roughly 2000 people bought approximately 17,000 raffle tickets and helped raise $3500 for the Animal Benefits Club and the Jerome Volunteer Fire Department. Next year's event, the Jerome Jamboree XIII, will be held on September 13, 14, 15, 2003, and this time they will be giving away a 1966 13-Window DeLuxe.

Remember, you have to attend to win!