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It's not unusual
to meet up with RV Lifestyle Magazine sales representative,
Melanie Taylor at RV parks throughout the summer, but it's
her hobby that really causes a splash wherever she goes.
See, in addition to being a long-time RV enthusiast Melanie
races personal watercraft. She, along with her team, travels
extensively throughout the season to events around the country;
events often held far from comfort services. Melanie has
found that her two pastimes, RVing and watercraft racing,
compliment each other completely.
 Each
year August brings the climax of the Canadian watercraft-racing
season and if you happened by the carnival like atmosphere
of the Canadian Championship Personal Watercraft Races on
Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, ON, you may well have seen Melanie,
front and centre, enjoying both her passions. So as they've
done for several years her Kingsway Performance Team finished
up their season by towing their enclosed Pace race trailer
right to quayside.
This year they were using a 31-foot Shasta
miniliner, complete with factory hitch, as tow vehicle,
race headquarters and home. This unit was on loan from Bruce
Hines, owner of The Coachouse in Shelburne, ON.
With a view of downtown Barrie as a backdrop
the team set up camp on the water's edge. Race machines,
gear and living quarters right at hand, the Kingsway team
concentrated on the tuning and preparation of their watercraft
for the upcoming challenge on the waters of Lake Simcoe.
As in all racing team members Nic Wallis, Brian Kelly and
Mike Winn will take any edge they can get as they prepare
to compete against over 400 other qualified entrants in
one of the more than 10 expert classes. And throughout the
season they have found that being on-site in an organized
inclusive camp is a definite edge. (Page
Top)
On this particular weekend that edge was
important for another reason. The grand finale in Barrie
is also the precursor for the Olympics of watercraft racing,
and only the top 25 racers get a shot at it. Those that
do make it get to represent Canada at the Skat Trak World
Final Championships at Lake Havasu, AZ, each October.
 With
sleeping for six people, the Shasta was a great headquarters
for team members, including 6' 7" tall Brian who found the
eight-foot long overhead bunk more than adequate for his
stretched frame. This bed pulls out from under the built-in
entertainment centre that houses a 25-inch color television
and VCR. A ten-disc CD changer with surround sound provided
the entertainment on the road and music at the race site.
The sofa and the dinette also made into beds and a queensize
bed with bedspread was the centre of the private rear bedroom.
The windows were covered with day-night pleated shades for
privacy.
On each side of the queen bed were wardrobes
for hanging clothing and in the aisle across from the bathroom
was another large wardrobe. This bathroom was ample for
team members of all sizes, with a full-size tub and shower,
a large rectangular sink set in a counter top with wood
grain bevelled edge. The walls are washable decorative vinyl
wallboard and the ceiling is covered with Ozite carpeting
material. The galley, in the slideout, is L-shaped with
a three-burner high-output range and oven, a deep double
white sink with single handle faucet and sprayer, solid
oak doors on the cabinets, and a Dometic double-door refrigerator
with wood inserts. The ceiling lights are fluorescent and
a carousel microwave oven made food prep a cinch. A Fan-Tastic
exhaust fan on the ceiling moved hot air out of the unit
before we started up the air conditioner.
There are storage cabinets in the kitchen
area and over the dinette. Under both dinette seats there
is more storage. Since this is a slideout model, there is
good legroom in front of the sofa and plenty of floor space.
With everyone visiting back and forth we had 22 people in
the unit one evening. (Page Top)
 The
windows on this test unit were double glass winterized units
that would make it more comfortable to heat in spring and
fall. The double glass also helps in cooling the unit and
reduces sound levels from outside.
The floor in the living area and bedroom
was carpeted; the kitchen area had oak hardwood with seamless
linoleum in the bathroom and hall over a laminated Weyerhauser
Structurewood floor.
The furnace and air-condition systems are
both ducted to provide better distribution of air, and the
coach is insulated with heated holding tanks. A one-piece
rubber roof with fibreglass sidewalls and end caps makes
this a low maintenance unit. Large exterior pass-through
storage areas with locked baggage doors protected our tools,
gear and spare parts. Radius jalousie windows in the bedroom
allow the windows to be open even when it's raining.
Our test unit was built on the Ford V10
gas chassis with Mor-Ryde suspension. Stainless steel inserts
on the wheels and the bold graphics on the sides gave the
Travelmaster a look of class. The cab had power windows
and door locks, heated automotive style remote control mirrors
that were retractable, and painted fibreglass runningboards.
The unit also had power steering and brakes, cruise control,
and very comfortable driver and passenger seats.
 For
safety, the unit was equipped with carbon monoxide detector,
LP gas detector and smoke detector.
The interior decor is available in either
Jewel Ivory, Pale Sage, or Williamsburg Blue. The fabrics
are color-matched to the window treatments, carpeting and
wall coverings.
The Kingsway Performance team had a strong
showing in Barrie; strong enough that they picked up three
coveted spots that sent them on to Lake Havasu.
Melanie, who's a three-time Canadian Champion
in the ProAm Woman's division finds that her hobbies compliment
each other completely. (Page Top)
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Specifications
Shasta Travelmaster 304 SBSL
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| Length: 31' |
| Height: 11'3" |
| Width: 8'4" |
| GVW: 11,955 lb |
| GVWR: 14,050 lb |
| Furnace: 31,000 BTU |
| Air Conditioner: 15,000 BTU |
| Fresh Water: 38 gal |
| Gray Water: 35 gal |
| Black Water: 32 gal |
| Tires: 225/75R16E |
| Engine: Ford V10 |
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Suggested Retail
Price: $84,900 Unit supplied by The Coachouse, Shelburne,
ON.
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