Airstream Rally Initial Impressions (In Short: “Dude!”)

I’m taking the morning off from helping my friend Sherri at the Member Services booth at the International Airstream Rally here in Sedalia, Missouri. Sherri does not take the morning off, or any time off. She arrived a week before the 5-day rally started and will work until the very last day, something close to three full weeks. This is all volunteer, all day, every day. And that does not count the organizational work she does to prep all year long.

Member Services is where you go for info about the rally, about how to use the app for the rally (it’s far from being easy to use), as well as lost and found, complaints and suggestions, long-awaited meet-ups among friends, basically the hub of the whole shebang. And Sherri is at the center of that hub, constantly spinning to help people (and people who are helping other people) in all directions.

Gathering Members Services supplies from the We Rally container.

As I type, Tracy’s already left the trailer to do his volunteer job with Sherri’s husband, Mooch. They’re RATs, the Rally Arrival Team, who greet the Airstreams at the fairgrounds gate. (Many newcomers arrive overnight and are lined up to enter when I walk Banjo at 6:30 am). As far as I can tell, one team figures out what part of the campground the arrival should be parked in. (Are they in a regional Airstream group? An interest-based club? Just want to park with friends?) A second leads them via golf cart to their section, sometimes long lines of trailers together, and sometimes first to a staging area where they wait for the camping area to be readied.

Tracy’s RAT “uniform” includes a Smurf hat under his sun hat, thanks to Papa Smurf who runs the show.

Finally (here is where Tracy works), a third team guides each Airstream into the allotted spot. Some folks are experienced at parking their rigs, some are not. All are excited to be here and grateful for the RATs.

When Tracy and I arrived, we were taken to a camping spot with the Arkansas group. Why that group was a mystery, until we started work. Turns out (at least from my first-timer understanding), if you look into who’s behind which essential rally volunteer effort, you’ll find someone from Arkansas: RAT, Registration, Member Services, Shuttle, and others I’m embarrassed to admit I can’t remember, seeing as how I’m supposed to know this stuff at Member Services.

Arkansas people arrive early, prep for the rally, volunteer every day, and party every night. Two pop-up tents are at the front of our campground section, and starting at 4:00 when some of the booths close, food appears, chairs appear, people trickle in, until about 6:00 when the RATs stumble in, and then happy hour is fully underway.

Last night a couple brought in BBQ from Kansas City for maybe 60 of us. People made impromptu speeches to thank other people, to roast the same people, and generally to keep spirits up after a long day, before it all starts again at daybreak. (It could very well be that other regions work just as hard; I know only this one. But, dude, they work hard.)

A few impressions from the Member Services booth so far:

On the whole, Airstreamers are fit, well-dressed versions of Tracy and me. Top to bottom they are our people. Interesting straw hats, funky-framed glasses, long, silver hair tied back. It’s a joy to see hundreds of people in hiking pants even though they’re not hiking (we wear them for the pockets!), as well as comfortable shoes that ain’t those old-person Velcro-type. I could spend all day admiring hats and shoes at this place.

And the flamingos. They are everywhere. On bags, hats, shirts, pins. A woman at the booth beside me was wearing a flamingo fascinator.

They’re easy going in their friendships and serious in their travel knowledge.

The mandatory badge identifying you by your name, region (we’re “at large”), and BRN (big red number) plus other doodads is a little too much like forced fun, like when Jennifer Aniston has to wear flair in Office Space. I’m still unclear why a girl with pink hair indicated it was an honor for me to wear her clothes pin on my badge. (You betcha I’m wearing it, though. I’m sure I’ll learn.)

I’ve fielded very few complaints at the booth and met the rare grumpy person. The only true insult I felt was when a guy who couldn’t figure out how to use the app said that, unless he had his grandson with him, he didn’t know how to use the internet. Then, he looked me right in the eye and said, “You know how it is.” Sir, I do not.

I didn’t say that. I just smiled. There but for the grace ….

Seeing as how the rally starts this evening, I still have a lot of time to get an overall impression. Is this like a retired-person’s Phish tour, with Airstream references on jewelry being like obscure lyrics references on t-shirts? Old friends hugging and strangers smiling? Is it like tailgating with friends throughout a sports season? How about seeing your friends at the same fan conventions? As I get a feel, maybe I’ll see that we all feel the same vibe no matter the focus.

Here’s a video from No Expectations as they bike through the campground when it’s maybe 2/3rds full. It’s a fast ride, but maybe Tracy is parking someone in here; maybe I’m whizzing by on my bike running an errand for Member Services. Maybe next week you’ll find us sitting out in the sun drinking a beer and feeling the vibe.

19 thoughts to “Airstream Rally Initial Impressions (In Short: “Dude!”)”

  1. Wow, that sounds like a lot of work. Good on you for volunteering but maybe it would have been less stressful if spent your first rally getting acquainted with how it all goes down.
    How long does the rally last… and how many of those big silver things are there?

    1. You always catch what I’ve left out! The rally goes for ten days, give or take because the opening ceremonies are in the evening. And there will be 1,300 Airstreams. It’s not stressful, just very busy.

    2. I was wrong – the rally lasts officially five days, not ten. It’s all a bit of a blur at this point.

  2. Hey, if they like flamingos, they’re my kinda people, too. Interesting to learn about the rally; I can’t wait to hear what your overall thoughts are once you leave!

  3. I just think that first picture is a hoot (funny). It looks like to me all the Airstreams are in line for the funnel cakes. HAHA That would be a great advertising picture. I am so impressed with you and all the volunteers; you are what makes the event possible. Great job; I look forward to reading more. And be sure to include the crazy people stories. HAHAHA

    1. It does look like they’re in line for funnel cakes! I had been wishing that sign weren’t in the shot, but now I’m glad. Crazy people stories … I will start to take notes, for sure. There are fewer than I expected, actually—we’re a fairly sane bunch!

  4. Sounds full on… I’m amazed that parking spaces aren’t sorted pre-event? Hope you have a wonderful time

    1. The parking spots need to be filled spatially, so one area first, then another, so they can squeeze all the trailers in. So far we’re really enjoying ourselves, thanks!

  5. Greetings. I’m interested in how you don’t mention anything about politics. No signs? No banners or flags a flying? Thousands of people from all over hells half acre having fun and reveling in what they have in common? Maybe you have time to elaborate. Otherwise…1300 canines! Yikes!!!!

    1. Good morning California! It’s a club policy for no display of politics, hats, shirts, signs, flags, nothing. At the info booth we fielded a very small handful of reports, which got dealt with. Isn’t that wonderful?

  6. Funnel Cakes! Now there’s a midwest vibe. Sounds like a wondeeful event. Kind fo like a Sturgess event (without the leather).

    1. Yes! I think any gathering of folks with such a specific common interest will be like this. I’ve just never been to one of them, so all this is new to me. It kind of restores your faith in people that we can gather in such large groups and get along.

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