Spring 2013 - Newell Coach

NEWELL’S NEWS
Spring 2013
Take the
GOOD LIFE
with you.
View from the Corner Office
H O W A L I C E G O T A W AY W I T H I T ! O R W H E N D O Y O U N E E D A C D L ?
Rereading an article from the
October 1993 issue of Newell’s
News reminded me that Alice
(my wife) once talked her way
out of being issued a couple of
hefty traffic citations, one of
which pertained to an ongoing
issue for Newell owners: How do
you avoid being required to carry
a Commercial Driver’s License
(CDL)? The story sheds some light
on the subject and reveals how my
own perspective has changed.
Here’s the 1993 article (slightly revised):
As Alice was driving a show coach home to Miami,
Oklahoma, from a Newell rally in Winthrop, Washington, she
was pulled over by a South Dakota State Trooper. First he
commented on her speed—clocked at a cool 82 mph on
his radar. Next, he asked Alice the weight of the coach. She
didn’t know, but together they located the GVWR plate on
the coach specifying its weight rating was 45,000 pounds.
The officer then pointed out the fine print on the back of
Alice’s driver’s license. It indicated that she was not licensed
to drive any vehicle over 26,000 pounds.
He gave Alice a stern lecture directing her to obtain a
CDL upon her return home, and sent her on her way—
without issuing a ticket either for a lack of proper license or
speeding. This outcome is mysterious only if you don’t know
Alice. Her engaging ways and “control skills” are legendary.
The officer probably never had a chance.
But he was wrong that she needed a CDL. Oklahoma, like
virtually every other state, exempts motorhomes from the
26,000-pound threshold to require a CDL. But there’s not
enough room on the back of a driver’s license to print all of
the details of the state law.
We recommend that you verify your state laws
concerning CDLs.
But wait, she DID need a CDL!
That was 20 years ago! And with age comes wisdom, right? I
now know that my opinion that Alice didn’t need a CDL was
wrong. Here’s why…
Commercial vs. private use
Operating a large motorhome for private use is exempt from
the CDL requirement. If the use is commercial, however, a
CDL is required. In Alice’s case, the officer was right that
she needed a CDL, but wrong that the weight of the vehicle
was the determining factor. Alice was driving a vehicle with
“commercial” dealer plates, and she was doing so as an employee
of the company. Both indicate commercial use, so a CDL was
actually required.
Since few of us share Alice’s negotiating skills when confronted
by an officer of the law whose lights are flashing, it’s well
worth knowing how to avoid situations that would require a
CDL. So we still recommend that you check your own state’s
laws about CDLs.
As for how to get off scot-free after being caught doing 82
mph? You’ll have to ask Alice about that. Or bring her along
as your driver.
Happy spring!
Karl Blade
Newell Coach Corp. President and CEO
In This Issue...
H O W T O P R E V E N T ‘ H O T W H E E L S ’ 3
N E W E L L G A L L E R Y 4
P R O F I L E : C H U C K E VA N S 6
C U S T O M E R P R O F I L E : H A R R Y H A S T I N G S , J R . Volume 34, Issue 2
7
How to Prevent ‘Hot Wheels’
5 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR COOL ON STEEP ROADS
A distressed driver recently called to report that smoke was
pouring from his Newell’s wheel wells. Descending a long grade
had given his coach a bad—but avoidable—case of “hot wheels.”
His wheels weren’t ruined. But they could have been. Following
the tips below will help prevent hot wheels and will also help
ensure that your trip down a mountain is as safe and pleasurable
as the trip up!
1. Use your Jacobs engine brake (“Jake”) as much as possible.
The Jake brake is controlled by the OFF/ON and HIGH/LOW
switches located on the driver-side arm panel. The OFF/ON
must be ON for the Jake to work. It then works automatically
when the throttle is lifted. The exhaust valves in the engine
cylinders stay closed after the compression cycle, and the air
compression in the cylinders slows the vehicle.
2. To maximize your engine’s braking power, turn the Jake
ON and the HIGH/LOW switch to HIGH. This engages all six
cylinders. If this slows you too much, switch to LOW, and your
Jake will work on four cylinders instead of six.
3. Even with the engine brake working and both switches
on, you might need to downshift on steep grades. Start your
descent in the gear you used to climb the hill, then fine-tune
your gear and engine-brake selection based on how well the
engine brake is holding your descent speed. If you select a gear
that allows you to adjust your speed by switching between the
HIGH and LOW engine-brake positions, you will rarely, if ever,
need to use your air brakes during a descent.
If you select a gear that
allows you to adjust your
speed by switching between
the high and low enginebrake positions, you will
rarely, if ever, need to use
your air brakes during
a descent.”
NOTE: When you downshift to increase engine braking,
don’t worry about over-revving the engine. The transmission
automatically upshifts at approximately 2,400 RPM.
4. If you must use your air brakes, DON’T pump them or
apply steady pressure during a descent. Instead, apply your
brakes just hard enough to feel a definite slowdown. When
you’ve slowed to about 5 mph below your safe speed, release the
brakes. If you’re in the correct gear, this should last for about
three seconds. When you’ve accelerated again to your safe speed,
repeat the process. If you must do this more than twice per
minute, downshift to slow down. (See Tip 3.) Again, don’t worry
about over-revving the engine. The transmission automatically
upshifts at about 2,400 RPM.
5. If you’ve used your air brakes during a descent, and they’re
“smokin’ hot,” DON’T immediately park at the bottom of
the grade. Doing so can damage your wheels, rotors and pads.
Instead, drive on for a few miles so air keeps flowing over the
wheels, rotors and pads and allows the brakes to cool.
NOTE: If the Alcoa label near the outside rim of your stock
aluminum wheels has blackened or blistered, or the blue dot on
the label has turned to a reddish color, your wheels may have
overheated. We recommend that you have the wheels and brakes
inspected by a professional.
Happy driving!
John Clark
Newell V.P. of Customer Service
Newell Gallery
SNOWBIRDS IN WINTER
Newell Snowbirds are an exotic lot whose range extends
into California and Florida when the days shorten and
temperatures in more northern latitudes drop.
They can be found roosting together at luxurious
motorcoach resorts throughout Southern California
and Florida, where they often eat, golf and socialize in
small to medium-sized flocks. You can recognize them
by their relaxed expressions, mid-winter tans, and the
thoroughness with which they enjoy their ease and the
company of friends and family.
Newell friends and family gather at Desert Shores Motorcoach Resort to
enjoy an evening together.
The rugged San Jacinto Mountains overlook the Palm Springs
area’s Motorcoach Country Club, a motorcoach-exclusive resort
popular with Newell Snowbirds.
Golf, boating and stunning scenery are all part of winter living at the
Motorcoach Country Club near Palm Springs.
Profile: Chuck Evans, Newell V.P. of Manufacturing
‘ E X C I T E D I S A N U N D E R S TAT E M E N T ’
As V.P. of Manufacturing, Chuck
Evans—who joined Newell
in August of 2012—heads up
Newell’s production team. This
is no small feat! After Newell
engineers have helped the client
create their dream coach on
paper, Chuck oversees all aspects
of the coach’s creation—from the
welding of its chassis through
the delivery of the coach some
five months later. Chuck’s
coordination of 12 work stations and over 100 highly specialized
craftspeople requires great skill and a thorough understanding
of what it takes to keep teams working together efficiently,
productively and harmoniously.
Focus at Newell
Chuck’s current focus at Newell involves working with the
engineering and procurement teams to ensure the quality
and on-time delivery of every coach the company builds.
“My projects include supporting our Quality System effort,
developing a world-class delivery process, and working with
our purchasing department to ensure that our vendors align
with Newell’s quality and cost goals. I also try to foster a work
environment that promotes high performance and fun.”
Although Chuck is a relative newcomer to Newell Coach, his
positive influence is already being felt. “Chuck has an uncanny
ability to unite a team around a common purpose,” says Grant
Kernan, Newell’s Executive V.P. and General Manager. “He’s also
helping improve the quality of our coaches and the efficiency of
our processes. We expect to see many more good things from
Chuck in the years to come.”
Fast facts
• Born and raised in Tulsa, OK.
• Took undergraduate courses in business administration at
Tulsa Community College.
• Certified as a mediator by the Oklahoma State Supreme
Court through the Tulsa Municipal Court Early Settlement
Division. Conducted mediations for Tulsa Municipal Court.
• Certified in Emotional Intelligence training/consulting.
• Lives near Joplin, MO, with wife Gretchen. Grown children
Charles, Charity, and Erinn live in Springfield, MO; Tulsa,
OK; and Republic of Ghana, West Africa; respectively.
Training, coaching, leadership development
Chuck’s strengths include extensive experience in manufacturing
and systems development. He also has a passion for helping
others develop their skills. “Before coming to Newell, I spent 14
years at Kimberly-Clark where I taught, consulted and coached
performance and leadership,” he says. “I also helped set up an
experimental prototype manufacturing plant based on fully
autonomous self-managing teams. This taught me a great deal
about how to use high-performance work systems and Total
Quality Management effectively.”
‘It’s a delight to come to work’
When asked what he likes best about working at Newell Coach,
Chuck is unabashedly enthusiastic. “It’s a delight to come
to work every day and see the most outrageously gorgeous
and sophisticated coaches in the world,” he says. “Plus, the
Newell production leaders are the most committed I’ve ever
seen. Without prompting, they work holidays, evenings and
weekends, doing whatever it takes to delight our customers.
When I think about Newell’s business leadership and
commitment to customers and imagine adding a few new twists
of my own, the word ‘excited’ is an understatement!”
It’s a delight to come to
work every day and see the
most outrageously gorgeous
and sophisticated coaches
in the world.”
Chuck Evans,
V.P. of Manufacturing,
Newell Coach
Customer Profile: Harry Hastings, Jr.
A TRUE ORIGINAL
flair, expanding and shaping them into his own impressive
conglomerate of enterprises that included banking, industrial
supplies and numerous other concerns.
In those years, Harry also met and married his wife Rosalyn
(whom he calls “the love of my life”). They had three children
who have also taken their place in the family businesses. At 86,
Harry Jr. is still active in these companies, but his children now
handle their day-to-day operation. The boldness, integrity and
drive with which Harry Jr. has always conducted his businesses
remain their core principles.
Longtime Newell enthusiasts, Harry and Roslyn Hastings also enjoy
travel by water. Here they strike a pose on their yacht, the Hasty IV.
Newell’s “family” of customers includes many remarkable people
who have combined hard work and success with a zest for the
outdoors and the companionship of family and friends. Harry
Hastings, Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas, is the epitome of this
spirited approach to life. “In our group of highly accomplished
individuals,” says Newell President and CEO, Karl Blade,
“Harry stands out as a true original.”
Early days
Harry’s love of camping was instilled 75 years ago when
he started going on deer hunting trips with his dad, Harry
Hastings, Sr. In those days, their microwave was a portable
wood stove, their LED lighting was a Coleman lantern, their
slide-out was a tent flap, and their air conditioning was the
evening breeze.
The family moved from camping to RV’ing when Harry Sr.
purchased an aluminum Spartan travel trailer immediately after
World War II. It was the Newell of its day. Harry Jr. fondly
remembers pulling it from Tulsa to Little Rock with his spiffy
1950 Chevy convertible. Luckily for him—and the Chevy’s
92-horsepower engine—there were no hills along the way.
From father to son
Harry Sr. imparted not only a love of the outdoors to his son,
but also a strong work ethic and the ability to see and seize an
opportunity. Harry Sr.’s successful ventures included a propertydevelopment business and a liquor and wine distribution
company that is still in operation to this day.
When Harry Jr. grew up and completed college, he took
over managing the family businesses. He did so with great
Contributions to Newell
In keeping with the Hastings tradition of enjoying their play
every bit as much as their work, Harry and Rosalyn purchased
their first Newell in 1982. Since then, they’ve purchased five
more coaches, and each time, Harry has offered his own unique
ideas to their design. Indeed, the Newell in its current form owes
much to Harry’s contributions.
“In 1987, Harry asked us to raise the coach roofline six inches
so he could have a walk-in closet over the rear engine,” Karl
Blade explains. “Our assembly-area ceilings were too low, so we
remodeled a building to accommodate his request. And we’re
glad we did. Harry’s roofline design allowed us to develop our
popular rear-bath floorplan and to also offer more headroom
than our competition.”
Many adventures, lifelong friends
Harry and Rosalyn have been married 60 years and travelling
with Newell for 30. “Rosalyn and I have seen the world,” Harry
says. “We’ve had many adventures and have met many lifelong
friends along the way. We’ve enjoyed every minute of it, but we
both agree—there’s nothing like traveling in a Newell!”
According to Karl, this endorsement is hard to beat.
In our group of highly
accomplished individuals,
Harry stands out as a
true original.”
Karl Blade,
President and CEO,
Newell Coach
Announcing Newell’s Summer
2013 Rally
It’s not too early to put our Northern
Michigan Rally on your calendar!
When: August 19-23, 2013
Where: The elegant Hearthside Grove
Luxury Motorhome Resort, Petosky, MI
Stay tuned for details!
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PO Box 511 • Miami, OK 74355