Oregon State Fairgrounds Turning Into 'Silver City' (AUDIO)

The silver bullet style trailers will be in Salem now through July 6th. Organizers say the weeklong event should pump about $3 million dollars into the Salem-area economy.

The State Fairgrounds goes Silver through July 6th. Photo By: Kevin Hays

(SALEM) - The Oregon State Fairgrounds is turning silver, as an estimated 1,200 Airstream trailers and RV`s from across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada converge on the fairgrounds for the 49th Annual Wally Byam Caravan Club International Rally. Margaret and Carl Morris traveled to Salem from New Castle Delaware. The couple says they plan to spend this weekend attending the Salem Farmers Market and the World Beat Festival. The `Silver City" features a post office, water and disposal services and activities for attendees. Although the rally is private, a public open house event will take place on June 30th, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Organizers said the weeklong event should pump about $3 million dollars into the Salem-area economy. * Wallace Merle Byam, Airstream`s founder, was practically born a traveler. As a young child he traveled extensively with his grandfather, who led a mule train in Baker, Oregon. Later, as an adolescent, he was a shepherd, living in a two-wheeled donkey cart outfitted with a kerosene cookstove, a sleeping bag, and wash pail. These early experiences undoubtedly contributed to the direction his life would eventually take As a young man, Wally signed on with the merchant marines, graduated Stanford University`s Law School in 1923, owned an advertising agency, and became a magazine publisher. A do-it-yourself magazine he published featured an article describing how to build a travel trailer. When readers began complaining about the plans, Wally tried them out for himself. Indeed, the plans turned out to be flawed. Wally`s innovative spirit drove him to build his own model. While he considered it primitive, his design forever changed the history of travel trailers. By dropping the floor down between the wheels and raising the ceiling height, the revolutionary design made it possible for campers to stand up straight when inside the trailer. Wally wrote an article describing how to build his trailer for under $100 — this time drawing an enthusiastic response from his readers. During the late 1920`s, Americans were beginning to take to the roads in greater and greater numbers. Wally`s new trailer was a perfect match for the new mobile lifestyle. Wally began making a living selling sets of plans for five dollars each, complete trailer kits, and finished trailers he built in his Los Angeles backyard. The fledgling business survived the crash of 1929, and by 1930 he had abandoned law, advertising, and publishing to become a full-time builder of travel trailers During the mid 1930`s, Wally perfected his skill of fusing form and functionality. By incorporating aircraft construction methods to lessen wind resistance and improving the trailer`s strength-to-weight ratio, his designs began taking on a more aerodynamic and contemporary look. On January 17, 1936, the Airstream Trailer Co. introduced the `Clipper," and an American legend was born. The Clipper was truly revolutionary. With its monocoque, riveted aluminum body, it had more in common with the aircraft of its day than with its predecessors. It could sleep four, thanks to its tubular steel-framed dinette which could convert to a bed, carried its own water supply, had an enclosed galley, and was fitted with electric lights throughout. The Clipper boasted of its advanced insulation and ventilation system, and even offered "air conditioning" that used dry ice. At $1200, the Clipper was expensive, especially during the Depression years, yet the company could not build them fast enough to keep up with the orders that poured in. And Wally Byam's meticulous attention to quality would prove crucial. Of more than 300 trailer builders operating in 1936, Airstream was the only one to emerge from the Depression years. However, with the onset of World War II, leisure travel and the materials necessary to build trailers both became luxuries the country could not afford. Airstream Trailer Co. closed its doors. Wally decided that the best way to help the war effort was to use his experience with aluminum fabricating in the aircraft industry — taking positions at Lockheed and Curtis Wright for the duration of the war. When World War II ended, the economy boomed and people`s attention once again turned towards the open road. By 1948 the demand for Airstream trailers seemed to know no bounds, and like the Coca-Cola™ bottle and Zippo™ lighter, Airstreams became one of the most recognizable products in the world. With the help of an extremely dedicated and loyal Airstreamer community, Airstream continues to innovate and flourish. Airstream is currently undergoing a renaissance — with more new products being developed than at any other time in the company`s history. Motorhomes with Skydecks™ and ultra-stylish CCD travel trailers are just some of Airstream's originative products currently creating waves throughout the RV industry As a testament to Airstream`s long tradition of design and manufacturing excellence, Airstreams can be found in both the Smithsonian Institution and Henry Ford Museum. NASA selected an Airstream trailer to house the first astronauts back from the moon and still uses Airstream motorhomes as an integral part of the space shuttle program. As another example, John F. Kennedy chose an Airstream as his mobile presidential office. Today, Airstreams can be found in the lobby of MTV, on movie sets, and on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Airstream`s appeal is as strong as ever. The Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) is 10,000 member-strong and holds nearly 1,500 rallies annually. Airstreams are regularly seen in movies and on television. They can be found at Airstream-only campgrounds, used as traveling medical facilities, and of course, cruising into the sunset. Over 60% of all Airstreams ever built — including some built from the original five-dollar plans — are still rolling down the highways. Airstreams have survived millions of miles across some of the roughest roads in the world and Airstreamers have enjoyed the freedom to go where others only dream of traveling. Airstreams are truly an American legend. * (Information provided by airstream.com)