Volunteers setting up for motor coach rally

The annual gathering - the sixth in the county - will draw 7,000 people and about 2,000 motor coaches for a parade, seminars and entertainment.

By JENNIFER LIBERTO
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 3, 2003

BROOKSVILLE -- Organizers started planning for this year's Family Motor Coach Association rally weeks after the last one ended.

Some of the nearly 700 volunteers arrived two months ago to prepare the site, setting up the main office, the people-moving trams and the giant tents.

When the behemoths start rolling down the newly widened U.S. 41 this week to turn into the Hernando County Airport, they will become part of a finely orchestrated event, planned and packed with activities to entertain down to the last second.

More than 7,000 people -- and some 2,000 motor coaches -- will arrive at the airport by midweek for the annual Southeast area rally of the motor coach association. It will mark the sixth year the event has come to Hernando County.

More people are expected to attend this year's rally than last year's, which was drenched with rain for a day or two, said Mary Lawler, the association's national vice president over the Southeast area.

"I just hope the stores are ready for us, because ready or not, we're coming," Lawler said.

The rally runs Wednesday through Saturday.

Motor coach enthusiasts can spend their days browsing new display coaches and cars, including towable Saturns. They also can shop at some of the 224 vendor booths or attend the multitude of seminars, which focus on motor coach upkeep. One of the highlights is a parade Thursday, which many people dress up for.

"It's really an excuse to act stupid, basically," said Beth Osterhout, who is in charge of the 5,000-seat entertainment tent, which will feature singing cowboys on horseback, among other acts.

Each year, the Family Motor Coach Association spends $200,000 on the event.

And so far, the rally has regularly boosted the local economy, said Sue Rupe, director of the Hernando County Tourism Development Department. Rupe said she always sees an increase in restaurant, grocery and gas taxes collected during February.

"We're hoping they get out and travel around, see and enjoy some of activities while they're here," Rupe said.

The volunteers are the driving force that help make the event run smoothly, organizers say.

"It's really something to see,"said Myrtle Florence of Opelika, Ala., who is treasurer for the Southeast area group. "They come here, and they work like Trojans. They'd just about fight you if you tried to stop them."

This year's theme is patriotic: America the Beautiful.

-- Jennifer Liberto covers business and development in Hernando County and can be reached at 848-1434. Send e-mail to liberto@sptimes.com .

If you go

You don't have to own a motor coach or be a member of the Family Motor Coach Association to catch a glimpse of some 2,000 motor coaches that will be lined up at the Hernando County Airport this week.

WHAT: Southeast area rally of the Family Motor Coach Association.

WHERE: Hernando County Airport. Entry is off U.S. 41, just south of Rivard Golf and Country Club.

WHEN: Wednesday through Saturday. Gates are open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

ADMISSION: The daily entry fee is $3 per person. That does not include nighttime entertainment, which is not open to the public.

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