July 2012 - Challenge Magazine

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JULY 2012

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4 C H A L L E N G E j u ly 2 0 1 2 w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m

w w w. p t c c h a l l e n g e . c o m j u ly 2 0 1 2 C H A L L E N G E 5

contents

brenda villa

18 aMeRicaN pRiDeOn the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Service One Transport owner Rob-ert Walker decided to do something lasting and spe-cial to honor those lost on that tragic day.

17 shaRiNg the RoaD with ... A chance meeting led Keith Field to hit the road helping disabled veterans around the country.

22 aiMiNg foR golDBrenda Villa leads a womens water polo team determined to win gold at the London Olympic Games.

32 DeBt ReDUctioNGet some tips on managing and then decreasing your debt so you can get on a path toward financial stability.

30 athletes to watch The U.S. has won more medals than any other country in the history of the Olympic Games. We spotlight a few athletes who are sure to add to our medal haul and also offer some interesting facts on the London event.

36 RV joURNeySani-Star is making RV dump sta-tions accessible again, Chad shares a roadside emergency story and a visit to Graceland Too is a must for any Elvis fan.

july 2012 volume 8 issue 7 cover & features

COVER PHOTO: US PRESSWiREPHOTO: MiCHAEL LARSEN

challeNge MagaziNes QR coDe Download a free QR reader and scan this QR Code to get a direct link to our website where youll find a full electronic version of the magazine and links to our Facebook and Twitter pages.

40 the Voices of MRNGet to know the men behind the voices of Motor Racing Network. 44 cRaig MoRgaNWhen Craig Morgan isnt making hit country albums, hes star and host of All Access Outdoors on the Outdoor Chan-nel. See how Morgan takes life by the horns and takes his fans along for the ride.


54 DRiViNg thRU D.c.Mike reviews the FMCSAs recently released strategic plan.

48 chew oN thisCharles wants to squash the roadway litterslugs.

contentsjuly 2012 volume 8 issue 7 in every issue

53 aRoUND the tRackThey just dont make them like iron Man Ricky Rudd anymore.

52 gettiN oUtDooRsLights, camera, action! Brenda takes us behind the scenes at the Camp-bell Outdoor Videography School.

50 tRUckeR tRaiNeRBob shares the story of one truck driver who is replacing bad habits with healthy choices.

12 letteRs to the eDitoRReaders share their thoughts and opin-ions on industry issues and stories from Challenge Magazine.

64 gaRMiN galleRyPictures from the road. Send in your pho-tos and see them published in Challenge Magazine and you may be a winner.

66 pilot flyiNg j staRsDrivers recognize these STAR employees who make Pilot Flying J a place you can rely on.

67 whats happeNiNgDealer profile and the new Moes part-nership.58 UNiQUe UNiteD statesi scream, you scream, we all scream for

ice cream. We highlight a handful of artisan masters that have crafted the perfect summer treat. 68 pilot flyiNg j DiRectoRyThe comprehensive Pilot Flying J direc-

tory lists everything from location addresses to ser-vices available.

10 fRoM the eDitoRHolding out hope.

62 gaMesSudoku, word search and crossword puzzles - a great way to pass the time and exercise the brain. Some clues for the puzzle come from this issue of Challenge Magazine.

sponsored by:

60 tRUckeRs coRNeRThe creative side of truck drivers.sponsored by: 82 loyaltyLearn about the lucky winner of the

$10,000 MyRewards sweepstakes and a MyRewards member profile.

14 shoRt RUNsBroadening the mind with the interesting and inane.

I still hold out hope of competing in the Olympics one day. Its one of those dreams I cant seem to let go. The Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 is when my dream really took hold. Still in the midst of the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc countries boycotted the event in response to the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Games held in Moscow. There seemed to be an added patriotic buzz about those games. It was the Olympics of Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton, Edwin Moses, Greg Louganis and Tracy Caulkins. The U.S. dominated, winning 174 medals (121 more than second-place Romania), and I was hooked. I will admit the number of sports I can qualify for is narrowing af-ter 28 years. Track and field doesnt look promising anymore. I thought about diving, but one wrong spin and Ill be on YouTube under the title Most Painful Belly Flop in History. Maybe rowing, although they tend to practice really early in the morning. Then I came upon the sport of trampoline. Really, who cant bounce up and down? I do it all the time with my kids in the back yard. It felt like this was the answer until I learned trampolinists bounce more than 30 feet in the air and contort their bodies in ways not practical for a man nearing the start of his fifth decade of life. I rue the day they got rid of pigeon shooting after the 1900 Olympics. It would seem my only hope is the winter games, where my favorite event, curling, takes place. Yes, shuffleboard on ice is my ticket to Olym-pic glory. I can still eat and drink whatever I want, I just need to learn how to sweep ice and knock my opponents deformed hockey puck away from the center circle. Remember to look for me in Sochi, Russia, for the 2014 games. Our cover story this month on water polo ace Brenda Villa (Page 22) will give you insight on the dedication of true Olympic athletes. The in-tense training, the strict nutrition and the year-round competitions are a way of life for these athletes in pursuit of their dream, and Villa is no exception. Her leadership in and out of the pool is worth celebrating. Speaking of someone living a dream: When Craig Morgan (Page 42) isnt singing in front of thousands of fans on stage or making another country music album, he hosts his own Outdoor Channel show where he hunts, sky dives and races off-road at locations around the world. Not a bad way to go through life. Hes proved a few times over that doing what you love is the best way to live. My dream of Olympic glory may be a bit far-fetched at this point, but I cant help being inspired by all the athletes competing. Their focus, drive and determination toward excellence are worth emu-lating in whatever passions we pursue in life. Safe driving.

holdingout hope

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Challenge Magazine is published monthly by Victory Publishing, inc. Copyright 2012, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without writ-ten permission is prohibited. Challenge Magazine is a registered trademark of Victory Publishing, Inc. All advertisers for Challenge Magazine are accepted and published by Victory Publishing, Inc. on the representation that the ad-vertiser and/or advertising agency as well as a supplier of editorial content are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency or supplier of editorial content will de-fend, indemnify and hold Victory Publishing, inc. harmless from and against any loss, expenses or other liability resulting from any claims or suits for libel violations of right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark, infringement and any other claims or suits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement or editorial.

july 2012volume 8 issue 7

by greg girard

pilot flyiNg jCUSTOMER SERViCE1-877-866-7378


Human TraffickingI picked up the May issue of Challenge like I have done for the past year, and I just want-ed to say thank you so much for shining a light on human trafficking! Its out here on the road more than people would like to think it is and something needs to be done to those people who force other people into it. No one deserves to live in constant fear for their lives or made to feel worthless. Its a shame its still going on! Thank you again for bringing it up in the magazine.

Avid reader,Nika Smith

Everywhere, USA

Kellie PicklerHow wonderful to see Kellie on the cover! The article was fantastic. Thanks so much!

Kira Youssef Via Facebook

RE: Considerate DriversShirley G., your presumption is incorrect. I want to dispose of this myth about flash-ing your lights to let one know when they are safe to come back over. I hear this a

lot. I have been out here 34 years and have logged more than 3.5 million miles. I am an independent driver with a lot of experience, mostly oversize. We never flashed our head-lights unless there was a reason for a driver to come over sooner than they should, e.g., traffic backed up behind them, fog, rain, or if they were oversize. This has been taught wrongly now by these trucking schools and classrooms. Now since this has been misin-terpreted, it seems that a lot of drivers ex-pect to start back over as soon as they are past the truck. We once flashed our lights to let someone waiting to pull out into the road to let them know that we see them, but that too got all confusing as new drivers came along and with the wrecks it was stopped.

Thomas DuncanOn the road

Id like to respond to Shirley G.s letter in the May 2012 issue. Automotive technology has changed significantly since 1956. Your father used to flash his lights from off to low in 1956, and even that low beam had sig-nificantly lower light output. Unfortunately, what seemingly courteous folks are now doing is flashing from low to high, which is honestly so blinding in our large mirrors that I truly wish they would stop doing it. Furthermore, the roads are so bumpy that car and pickup truck lights are constantly flashing both ahead of me and in my mir-rors, so I can never be sure the flashing is intentional. And then if you flash them too fast, I cant be sure I saw it at all. Keep in mind, I am primarily looking forward, not

in my mirrors. Its not that I dont appreciate courtesy, and if I am sure of what I saw, I do flash my lights as a thank you, but I cant afford to misread that four-wheelers intentions as the law is on his or her side in any incident. So if your car has an off position for the headlights, please go on flashing, just dont assume that I saw it and am being discourte-ous by not thanking you. But please, dont flash your high beams at me!

Trish FenwickOntario, Canada

I have been driving trucks and cars for 28 years now. My dad gave me simple instruc-tions about driving, one of which was re-spect the other cars and trucks. To Shirley G. from Walnut Creek, Calif., dont flash your lights to tell me I can come back to the lane. Please reach down just a little further toward your dashboard and turn your lights off then back on. Im already looking in my mirror at your lights. I dont need them any brighter. Thanks from that truck that just passed you, from any paved road in the United States.

Richard KlinePensacola, Fla.

Favorite Sports ComebacksI would say the Cards World Series but Im a Braves fan. BC Eagles Doug Flutie throws a last-ditch Hail Mary to beat the heavily favored Miami Hurricanes and win the Or-ange Bowl in 1984.

Mike SingletonVia Facebook

Question, comment or criticism? Drop us a note or email us with your opinion. We want to hear from you. Note: Letters may be edited for clarity or space. Although we try to respond to all communications, emails get first priority. Written letters take more time to process and edit.

MAIl COMMENTS TO Challenge Magazine P.O. Box 2300 Southern Pines, NC 28388

EMAIl [email protected]

SuBMIT A lETTER:


RuNSSHORT Imagine hopping into a capsule that can get you to New Zealand in a few hours to go surfing or impress-ing a date with dinner in Paris and getting back home before midnight. Thats what Evacuated Tube Transport (ETT) promises to do. With the potential to revolution-ize the travel industry, ETT is space travel on Earth. The idea is to have a network of tube freeways worldwide with capsules that can transport you to your destination as fast as 4,000 mph. According to the ETT website, the capsules are faster than jets and run on electricity, and can be built

for a fraction of the cost of high-speed rail or freeway systems. Essentially, travelers would climb into tubes and be launched through a pipeline (both above and below ground) that looks similar to an oil pipeline. ETT hasnt revealed much on the technology behind the tube transport and a major obstacle is figuring out where to put the tubes and who will pay for them. In the mean-time though, its still fun to think of the possibilities. A day trip to the pyramids, a weekend hike on the Great Wall of China ....

RuNSSHORTSay Goodbye to Jet Lag

July 2012 Tour Dates

Date City, State Store

10-july Freemont, IN 29

PM Ottawa Lake, MI 26

11-july Monroe, MI 284

PM Dexter, MI 296

12-july Grand Ledge, MI 667

PM Battle Creek, MI 17

13-july Benton Harbor, MI 666

14-july South Bend, IN 35

PM Hebron, IN 448

15-july Bloomington, IL 299

PM Decatur, IL 368

16-july Pontoon Beach, IL 645

PM E. St. Louis, IL 313

17-july Alorton, IL 642

18-july Effingham, IN 165

PM Effingham, IN 643

19-july Terre Haute, IN 297

PM Brazil, IN 444

20-july Haubstadt, IN 647

PM Evansville, IN 447

Dates subject to change.

Check www.facebook.com/DriverAppreciationTourfor changes and updates.

If you live in a city, youve probably seen the electric buses connected to overhead wires. Siemens, a German electronics company, wants to take that idea out of the city and onto the freeway with its new eHighway sys-tem. The system would enable an ELFA diesel-electric hybrid truck to run on electricity when connected to the overhead wires. Where wires are not available, the truck would run on traditional diesel. Siemens is testing the project on a freeway lead-ing to Los Angeles and Long Beach ports where its not uncommon to see mile-long lines of idling 18-wheelers waiting to load freight. While the new system doesnt curb congestion, Seimens claims it will cost less. The

system is 1/19th of the cost of a traditional electrified railroad, the diesel-electric trucks are less expensive to fuel and maintain (although they do have a higher upfront cost), and overall environmental damage is reduced. If these highways catch on, driving will never be the same.

Trolley Trucks PHOTO: SiEMENS


By the numbers: FOuRTH OF july

Statistics from www.usflag.org, www.ushistory.org and www.history.com

27

236

56

number of official flags the United States has had. The first one flew in 1777; the most current has been waving since 1959.

the age of the United States this year. Thats a lot of candles on the cake.

number of signers on the Declaration of Independence.

1931

1959

151

year The Star Spangled Banner became the official national anthem.

year that Hawaii joined the union, rounding out our 50 states.

in feet, the height of the Statue of Liberty (not including her pedestal), which weighs an impressive 450,000 pounds.

Innovega is hoping to change the view of the world, one set of eyes at a time. The companys new iOptik contact lenses could give you Terminator-like vi-sion, but without the red tint. Just like in the Terminator movies, whatever data is sent to the lenses is laid over what the eye is already seeing. The lenses are designed to enhance rather than block vision. Imagine: While trying to find an address in a new city, you could have the information sent to your lenses to show you the way. No GPS, no map, no asking a random person on the street. Even cooler are the augmented reality applications that have the capabil-ity of fully immersing users into video games. You dont just see the game; youre in the game. The Department of Defense has already ordered a prototype to test its uses in combat and doctors are looking into the lenses potential in helping cataract patients. Versions of the lenses for gaming systems are slated to be avail-able in 2014.

The Eye of the Beholder


5 Driving Apps to Check Out Driving can take a toll on the body, and heres proof that your face is no excep-tion. The New England Journal of Medicine published a report on the damage caused by UVA radiation. The man shown here has been a truck driver for 28 years and he was recently diagnosed with unilateral derma-toheliosis. Sitting behind the wheel of a truck for nearly three decades has caused the left side of his face to age much more rapidly. And he says most of the time his window was up, not realizing that UVA rays can pass through glass to penetrate the skin. We all know we should wear sunscreen, but it can be difficult to remember to apply it every day, especially when youre not technically outside while driving. Theres not much medicine can do once the damage is done, so its important for all drivers to put on sunscreen every day. Try to make it part of your daily morning routine, like putting on deodorant. Now that summer is here, and the suns rays are even stronger, pick up a bottle of SPF 15 or higher and protect yourself. And get checked regularly for skin cancer.

Sunscreen, anyone???MyPilot We may be a little biased, but we think the MyPilot app has some-thing for profes-sional drivers, RVers and four-wheeler traffic alike. Get up-dated gas prices,

DEF availability and even check out how many loyalty points you have. No matter where you find yourself, the MyPilot app will lead you to the nearest Pilot Flying J travel center. Available free on Apple products and Android.

Road Trip Scavenger HuntSimilar to the classic game of I Spy, but instead of family members asking what they spy, this app will tell you what to keep your eyes peeled for. The best part is that the whole family can play; the app can keep track of up to six players at a time. A great way to kill some travel time, this app will keep track of found items and point totals of all players. Sure beats the unending license plate game. Available for 99 cents on Apple products and free on Android.

YelpLets face it, youre more likely to go a restaurant

that your friends recommend. With Yelp you have friends in every city you stop in. Yelp can help you choose the best place to eat, the hottest cof-fee joints, even the most honest mechanics. Dont waste any time or money guessing where to go. Let your friends help you out, even if youve never met them before. Available free for Apple products and Android.

TrapsterWere not telling you to break the law, no, we wouldnt do that. Despite its name, Trapster is more than a speed trap locator. This app offers real-time traffic conditions as well as locations of red light cameras and speed zone changes that tend to sneak up on drivers. With more than 14 million us-ers around the world reporting more than 5 million speed traps, its safe to say that lead-footed drivers can avoid a big ticket. Available free on Apple prod-ucts and Android.

PostagramShow everyone how amazing your vacation is. Post-agram allows you to send a personalized postcard to anyone in the U.S. for just 99 cents or internationally for just $1.99 and that includes the postage. Snap a photo with your smartphone, write a short message (140 characters) and click send. Make sure to send one to grandma; she hasnt heard from you in ages. Available free for Apple products and Android.

PHOTO: NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE


It was a chance meeting with a Vietnam veteran named Buck that led Keith Field down a path of serving Americas dis-abled veterans. During their conversation, Buck de-

scribed to Field how difficult it is for dis-abled veterans to travel for their medical needs the expense and distance often forc-ing veterans to neglect medical procedures and let prescriptions lapse.

Not one to chalk moments up to mere chance, Field felt the meeting with Buck was more than just a casual conversation and he

set out to find a solution to the problem. In 2009, he founded Serving Project Inc., a non-profit dedicated to helping the needs of dis-abled veterans and the mobility challenged. As far as Im concerned, says Field, these guys have already paid. They have sacrificed some of themselves for their na-tion. And so we need to respect them, ap-preciate them and take the time with them to show we actually care and are not taking them for granted. Field, who has a background in refur-bishing motor homes, found a bus and re-fit it to make it fully accessible to the dis-abled. We have built what Ive been told is the first vehicle with a full wheelchair-accessible washroom to transport disabled veterans. The bus is 60 feet long, has hardwood flooring, a stonewall facade and five wheel-chair docks, each with outlet plugs and lighting. The washroom has a heated ce-ramic tile floor and a walk-in tub with thera-peutic massage. It also has a full kitchen and a customizable room with beds and extra seating, and meets all the requirements un-der the American Disabilities Act. When I started, I was changing light bulbs for amputees, Field recalls. We

started by saying, Hey, let us come and help you do those little things that you used to be able to do. Were not talking about rebuilding a house but were talking about changing a hot water tank, putting a fence back up after a storm, simple things. And it grew from there. I know groups all over the country do-ing this now, says Field. And were try-ing to connect with other groups so when a person calls me from Spokane, Wash., we can refer them to a local handyman or group that will help. Field relies on donations and sponsor-ships to keep the bus going. I love what I do. Im not in it for the money because there isnt any. Weve taken an idea and made it real. Now Field in addition to continuing his work helping with transportation and odd jobs speaks on behalf of disabled vet-erans across the country, shows the bus at conventions and parades, and helps veter-ans in ways he never would have imagined.

Recently I had fun with a group of World War II veterans who were given the privilege of flying in a refurbished WWII bomber, says Field. I was their transporta-tion to the airfield. The cool part was one of the directors of Quilts of Valor came to the airport and gave the veterans a personal lap quilt. To see the look on their face and the ap-preciation for what were able to do for them, that is more than enough gratitude.

by: greg girard

As far as Im con-cerned, these guys

have already paid. And so we need to respect them, appreciate them and take the time with

them to show we actually care.

- Keith Field SERvInG PROJECT InC.Keith [email protected]

A 7 X 14 fOOT, MILITARY-THEME quIlT hangs from the ceil-ing of the Serving Project bus.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SERVING PROJECT, INC.

ServingProject Inc.

PCM


As news reports leading up to the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, played on televi-sion screens last year, people could not help but revisit that horrible day.

But while some remembered the day and quickly moved on to something else, Robert Walker could not get the images out of his mind. Walker, owner of Service One Transport Inc. in Florence, Ala., decided to combine two things he knows a lot about: trucking and patriotism. On Sept. 11, 2011, Service One unveiled American Pride, a bright red 2007 Peterbilt truck decorated with graphics and lettering honoring America. We wanted to make a statement that we are patriotic and support the people we love, Walker says. I hope it will instill a sense of patriotism and be a symbol of pride. Its great for the morale of our company and

great for the morale of the country. With American Pride painted above the cab, the truck features the words Free-dom and In God We Trust on both sides, along with an artistic rendering of a swoosh-ing American flag. The trucks number, 911, holds obvious meaning, along with the words Never Forget below it. Walker, who has owned Service One for seven years, spent 19 years and six months in the military, including the Navy and Na-tional Guard. When he speaks, his voice is steady and proud, his love of his country clearly visible. His devotion to his country permeates through his entire company. The idea for the American Pride truck was a joint venture among Walker, Corporate Secretary Becky Craig, driver Robert Foshee, and company President Kelly Robinson (Walkers daugh-ter).

Initially just excited to be getting a red Pete, Robinson says discussions to make the truck more than a red cab quickly began. They were showing commercials on the World Trade Centers, and it started out with just Freedom in blue lettering and an American flag on both sides of the word, she explains. Then Robert Foshee and I were talking, and we said we needed to mention on the truck In God We Trust since they are trying to remove this from so many things. Robert Walker thought of the truck number after we had the truck design in our minds.

After buying the truck from Werner En-terprises, Corey Williams at Dixie Signs and Decals Inc. in Florence was given the task of creating the final design. When approached with the idea for the truck, Williams, Dixie Signs graphic designer, immediately had his own suggestions. We had a very short turn-around time to have the truck finished in, so I started a few minutes after the truck arrived by tak-ing pictures of the truck and importing those images into my design software, then de-signing the graphics to fit onto the pictures

by: jennifer pencek

People snap pictures and drivers

holler at me over the radio. Its really

something.

-Robert Foshee

SERvICE OnE TRAnSPORTS AMERICAn PRIDE truck didnt take long to design and driver Robert Foshee says a day doesnt go by without a compliment from others on the road.

american pride truck


of the truck, he says. Within an hour I called Robert [Walker] to let him know I had the design fin-ished, and they came into the office and we tweaked the design a little. After they approved the design, I measured all of the areas for the graphics and began the process of printing, laminating and contour cutting of the vinyl graphics.

From design to completion, it took Williams more than six hours to finish the project, not including the two hours it took for the printer to print the graphics. From the idea first being born, it took two months for American Pride to be unveiled. But who would be the lucky driver to take American Pride on the road? That job went to Foshee,

On THE AnnIvERSARY Of 9/11, ROBERT WALkER, OWnER Of SERvICE OnE TRAnSPORT, decided to do something more to honor those lost. The American Pride truck was designed so that we never forget that tragic day.


someone Walker says fits the bill of a patriotic driver perfectly. Hes a family man and he understands the great sacrifices done by a lot of people, Walker says. Hes distinguished him-self as a great driver and a great patriot. Foshee, 38, has been a professional truck driver for 15 years, the past six with Service One. While he gladly gave his input on the trucks development, he was shocked when he was chosen as its driver. My first thought was, Why do I deserve this? What makes me that guy? he says. It makes you feel proud to be an Ameri-can and a driver in general. Since its unveiling in September, American Pride has been seen on the roads of Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska and Tennes-see. Along the way, Foshee has been given more thumbs-up signs than he can count and has even been called into two scale houses just to be told how beautiful the truck is. People snap pictures and drivers holler at me over the ra-dio, Foshee says. Its really something. I find motorcyclists just love it. Theyll just drive by and look at it maybe they can see it better than other drivers. Williams says he has heard from several people who saw the truck after it was finished and everyone seems very excited and pleased with the results. There have even been tears of joy shed over the truck. We all got a little teary-eyed when the truck was finished be-cause we never imagined the outcome would be so beautiful, Robinson says. Walker has ideas for two other decorated trucks one dedi-cated to the Marine Corps and one to the Army Rangers. That is not surprising to Foshee, who says his boss is one to always put ideas into action. Roberts always been particular about his trucks, but some-thing about the American Pride truck put a gleam in his eyes, he says. Hes the type of person who, when he gets an idea, he runs with it. Since the American Pride truck hit the road, Walker commis-sioned the Support Our Troops truck, with its yellow and white-colored design, and a pink Fight Breast Cancer truck. And they hope to do more themes on their fleet in the future. So if you are driving down the road and see any of Service Ones special trucks alongside you, give the driver a wave and admire the work of some dedicated individuals. PCM

InSPIRED BY THE SuCCESS AnD fEEDBACk fOR THE AMERICAn PRIDE TRuCk, Service One has added the Support Our Troops truck (above) and a pink Fight Breast Cancer truck to its fleet.

With retirement on the horizon, 32-year-old water polo player Brenda Villa keeps one goal top-of-mind: to win gold at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Knowing that its your last [Olym-pics] gives you a different drive and per-spective, she says. You know you will not have another opportunity to get a gold. Villa, an attacker on the USA wom-ens national team, is the most decorated player in womens water polo, one of the more grueling sports in the Olympics. She was captain of the silver medal win-ning squad at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and was named the Female Water Polo Player of the Decade by swimming governing body Federation Internatio-nale de Natations (FINA) magazine. Brenda is a three-time Olympian, says Team USA head coach Adam Kriko-rian. Its invaluable to have someone of

her stature and intelligence level on the team. Currently ranked sixth in the world, Team USA has won three Olympic med-als - silver in 2000, bronze in 2004 and silver again in 2008 - and three world championships - in 2003, 2007 and 2009. The team qualified for the 2012 Olympics by winning the Pan American Games in October 2011. Villa has been an integral part of the national team since 1996. A native of Commerce, Calif., she grew up across the street from a swim facility. She and her older brother, Ed-gar, were taking lessons when Edgar got the opportunity to play water polo. That sparked Villas interest in the sport. I fol-lowed my brother everywhere, she says. I wanted to do everything he did. Persuading her mother to let her play water polo wasnt an easy sell for the youngster. My mom

grew up in a different time and place, she says, noting that her parents are from Mexico. Villa didnt give up and finally her determination and persistence paid off. She started playing water polo for a club team when she was 8 years old and discovered that she was just as good as the boys on the team. We are all equal here, she says of the sport. Most people that choose water polo over swimming do it because they like the team dynam-ic. Those early years were good prepa-ration for the aspiring athlete, who went on to try out for the boys team at Bell

by: joan tupponce

PHOTOS: US PRESSWiRE

Brenda villa looks to make a splash in London


Gardens High School. She didnt feel intimidated by the experi-ence because she already knew many members of the team. They knew me as an athlete, she says, adding that male-only teams at other schools would often make offhanded comments about her before a game. When her team pulled out a win, she felt vindi-cated. Actions speak louder than words, she says. Villa knew in her freshman year that she wanted to go to Stan-ford. To do that, she had to take advanced classes. I also partici-pated in water polo and swimming [not only for the school but also the junior national and national teams], she says. I focused on my sport hoping to get a scholarship to college. She earned her scholarship to Stanford in 1998, graduating from college in 2003. During 1999 and 2000, she took time away from school to qualify for the Olympic team and to complete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Villa remembers watching the 1988 Olympics when she was growing up. I wanted to be an Olympic swimmer or a gymnast, she says. That was always in my head. Water polo was not an Olympic sport at the time. The sport made its debut at the 2000 Olympics, making Villa one of the first women to compete at that level. Even though she was excited about making the team, she refused to let her feelings interfere with her performance. You dont think about anything, she says of the minutes before a game. You are just playing and enjoying the moment. A three-time veteran of world championship games, Villa de-cided to face the Olympic games with the same mindset she had going into the championships. You cant let the stage you are

AfTER THE OLYMPICS, Villa will concentrate on the nonprofit she co-founded to help low-income children get access to swimming pools.


playing at creep into your head, she says. You have to think that its just a water polo game. You dont want to get distracted. You have to train your mind and yourself to be focused and not thinking This is the Olym-pic game. Seventeen thousand Olympic spectators looked on as Team USA battled Australia for the gold medal. Australia took the coveted prize. Team USA brought home the silver. It was amazing, Villa says. That was the biggest crowd ever for womens polo. Even now, 12 years later, nothing has compared to that. Teammate and fellow Olympian Heather Petri believes that Villa has an innate game awareness. She makes things happen wheth-er its through great passes or putting the ball in the goal when it is really needed. Villas enthusiasm and passion for the game are infectious, says her coach. Brenda looks at the game as a puzzle. She enjoys solving it. She is extremely competitive. She has a great desire to win and bring her team to the top. Petri agrees. She hates to lose and will analyze every part of the game in preparation for the next battle, she says. Krikorian describes Villa as indepen-dent, a woman who stands up for what she believes in. She has a very strong personal-ity, he says. Its admirable. He credits part of her spunk to her height - a mere 5 feet 4

inches, a good six inches shorter than most of her teammates. He says she uses any doubt that others may have had about her abilities as motivation to prove them wrong. She is determined and intelligent. Its great to see a female athlete like that. Villa doesnt see her height as a disad-vantage. I havent let that get in my way, she says. As a friend, Villa is kind, fun and loyal. As an athlete, shes not afraid to take a lead-ership position. She has many different fac-es for me, Petri says. She is a leader of our team and advocate for our sport. She is an information-giver in and out of the pool. She is a friend and supporter of me and our long road together and the legacy in water polo we have been a part of. When Petri first met Villa, a hug was not her preferred form of greeting or displaying affection. She was a little more formal in her interactions and was reserved with her personal space bubble, says Petri, a self-ad-mitted hugger. I would start giving Brenda hugs as often as I could. At first she would turn her body to the side with an embar-rassed look and say Oh, Petie. I didnt give up and over time she accepted my hugs and then started to give her own. Any challenges Villa has had have come from opponents. After the teams loss in the 2004 Olympics to Italy, she didnt know if

she wanted to continue playing water polo. Losing the game was rough because we were one of the favorites to win, she says, noting it was a lesson for her. You learn that nothing is guaranteed. Later that year, she decided to play pro-fessional water polo. Ironically, she joined the professional team in Italy, Olympic Club/Orizzonte, because there are no pro-fessional womens water polo teams in the U.S. While the sport is popular in California, it hasnt gained a following in other parts of the country. Our challenge as a sport is to grow it outside of California, Krikorian says, adding there are some good teams in the East and Midwest. We want to make the sport more nationally recognized. Villa admits it was difficult to play for the Italian team after Team USA lost to Italy in the Olympics just months earlier. The team I was going to play for had half of the girls we lost to, she says. The wound was still fresh. It was a consistent reminder of my fi-nal game. Eight years later, I am good friends with the girls from that team. We can battle it out [at the Olympics] but whether you win or lose you respect them. For the last year, Villa has been training for the Olympics. The schedule is rigorous. This sport is one of the most physically ex-hausting sports you can play or practice, Krikorian says. Training is high intensity.


Most sports train for two to three hours a day. [Our team] trains for six hours, which includes one-and-a-half hours of weight train-ing and another four to four-and-a-half hours in the water. We practice, eat and sleep, Villa says. There is not a lot of time or energy to do other things. Water polo consists of four quarters, each eight minutes in length. During a game, which can last up to 45 minutes with over-time, players continuously tread water. You cant touch the bot-tom or the side [of the pool], she says, adding that halftime is only five minutes long. There is not a lot of rest. You are going the whole time. In the game, players play both offense and defense. It takes all sorts of strength, Villa says. Upper-body strength because you have to fend people off. Leg strength to do egg beaters [a circular motion with the legs while in a sitting position] to tread water. Its not just the physicality that is so taxing. What is most im-portant is mental toughness because of the grueling nature of the sport, Krikorian says. Many times your mind will try to talk you into quitting. Those who are mentally tough can move past that.Petri sees that toughness as the teams biggest strength. I think this team can battle through anything, she says. The teams travel schedule leading up to the Olympics was daunting. Since January, the team has participated in a three-week tournament in Australia and also one in Europe. It played a test event at the Olympic venue in London and then headed to China. We need to get in some competition, Villa says. We always have to go to Europe to get as many games as possible. During the Olympics, Team USA will be one of eight teams in the tournament with two brackets of four. The average age of

HEATHER PETRI PLAYS ATTACkER on the U.S. womens water polo team and says Villa is invaluable to the team and a great advocate for the sport.


this years team members is 27, with the old-est being 33 and the youngest 18. I think its great, Krikorian says. We have a really good blend of older, more mature, experi-enced players with younger, enthusiastic players. You need to have that balance. This years team, he adds, is dynamic. About half the team will be returning Olym-pians and the other half will be new. The process of putting the team together started in 2009 with a pool of up to 40 players vy-ing for the chance to be one of the final 13 players making the cut. Its a competitive environment, Krikorian says. They reach a level they didnt think was possible. [I try to] allow them to flourish and be the best they can be. Even though he recognizes the parity in the teams playing for a medal at the Olym-pics, he believes Team USA has the possibil-ity of doing something special. When we start the tournament everyone has an equal chance, he says. Every country wants to be at the top at the very end. When you start getting caught up in that you forget about the process and little things that will help you get to that point. We want to play the best water polo we can play. Villa plans to retire from Team USA after the Olympics. This is the end. I have been thinking of retiring since 2004, she says. I want to start a family and do other things.

She feels that its her time to give back to the community and the sport she loves. As co-founder of Project 2020, Villa wants to give children in low-income neighborhoods access to pools so they can learn to swim and play water polo. She cant commit to the pro-gram full time until the Olympics are over. That will be my job right after the Olym-pics, coaching that team, she says.

Being a member of Team USA has taught her work ethic, self-discipline, teamwork, how to adapt to changes and how to be grateful, she says. I travel the world with a great group of women. I am nervous about going into the real world and finding some-thing I am passionate about. Project 2020 is a good transition for me.

WOMEnS OLYMPIC POLO TEAM front row (L-R): Betsey Armstrong, Juliet Moss, Annika Dries, Melissa Seidemann, Lauren Wenger, Jessica Steffens. Second row (L-R): Sami Hill, Kami Craig, Elsie Windes, Tumua Anae, Heather Petri, Kelly Rulon. Top row (L-R): Maggie Steffens, Tanya Gandy, Lauren Silver, Courtney Mathewson, Brenda Villa

PCM

MISSY FRANKLINSWIMMING

At 17, Missy Franklin is ar-guably the top young swim-mer in the world and has her sights set on up to seven medals this summer. She al-ready has one world record

(the short course 200-meter backstroke) and won five medals (three gold) at the World Championships in 2011. Nicknamed Missy the Missile, Frank-lin started swimming at 6 months old, prompted by her mother, who always had a fear of water. From her hometown in Colo-

rado, she has worked hard to balance normal life as a teenager (going to the prom, getting a drivers license) with the intense training regimen required for Olympic swimmers. She also plans to swim in college, and so must keep her amateur status, turning down upward of $150,000 in prize money from past competitions and endorsement deals.

TeRRANce JeNNINgSTae kwon do

Terrance Jennings can credit his start in tae kwon do to anthropomorphic turtles. I watched a lot of Teenage

Mutant Ninja Turtles, he said. One day I was walking through the mall and they had an ad for tae kwon do. I walked in, kicked and fell in love. I hung around and then it turned into something more serious than trying to be a ninja turtle. Jennings defeated the reigning Olympic silver medalist, Mark Lopez, in the U.S. trials to earn his spot on the team for the London Games.

RYAN LOcHTeSWIMMING

Competing in the shadow of 16-time Olympic medal (14 gold) winner Michael Phelps is no easy task but since the 2008 Beijing games, Ryan Lochte has

emerged to dominate the sport. In the 2011 World Championships, Lochte won all five events he entered and set the world record in the 200-meter individual medley, the first world record to be broken since high-tech swimsuits were banned in 2010. Already the winner of six Olympic medals, Lochte hopes to at least double that number in London.

ALeX MORgANSOCCER

Alex Morgan burst onto the international scene during the womens World Cup last year. She scored two goals coming off the bench and has since cemented

a starting position with the U.S. national team, notching a hat trick in a game against Sweden in March. Morgan found herself the center of attention after the World Cup, gar-nering several endorsements and offers from the entertainment world, including posing in body paint for the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. But its her scoring ability and prowess on the field that have the U.S. a favorite for Olympic gold.

WALTeR DIXTRACK & FIELDThis will be the second Olympic appearance for Walter Dix, who won bronze in both the 100- and 200-me-ter races at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Battling Jamai-

can world record-holder Usain Bolt is the task before Dix, but he feels after finishing second in both the 100- and 200-meter races at the World Championships in 2011 that his time has come to dethrone the worlds fast-est man.

athletesto watch

by: robert nason

PHOTO: MIKE COMER, PROSWIM VISUALS

PHOTO: USA SWiMMiNG PHOTO: USA TRACK & FIELD

PHOTO: USA SWiMMiNG

PHOTO: US SOCCER

PHOTO: BRAD ARMSTRONG



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TERRAnCE JEnnInGS BEGAn TAE kWOn DO when he was 12. Now 25, this will be his first Olympic Games.

LONDON OLYMpIcS AT A gLANce Starts July 27, ends Aug. 12 London is the first city to host the games three times (1908, 1948, 2012) Competitions: 26 sports, 300 events, 31 venues Dropped sports: baseball and softball 10,500 athletes from 205 countries will compete in the games Gold medals are 92.5 percent silver, 1.34 percent gold and 6.16 percent copper Silver medals are 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper Bronze medals are 97 percent copper, 2.5 percent zinc and 0.5 percent tin

DID YOu KNOW U.S. womens basketball team is the first traditional team sport to win four consecutive gold medals. Their streak of 33 consecutive wins dates back to the 1992 Olympic bronze medal game. Equestrian is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete against each other on equal terms. At the 1904 Paris games, the winners were awarded paintings instead of medals, as the French believed that they would be more valuable. In the 117-year history of the modern Olympics, the games have been canceled only three times (all due to world wars): in 1916, 1940 and 1944. The last time that solid gold medals were used to award Olympic winners was at the Stockholm games in 1912. For the 2012 London games, nearly 3,600 grams of gold, worth more than $190,000, will be used to plate the gold medals. Past Olympic sports have included tug of war, croquet, cricket, motor boat racing, lacrosse, tandem cycling and even a live pigeon shooting event in 1900. The United States has won the most medals of any country: 2,112. The next country (USSR) has nearly 1,000 fewer. PCM

PHOTO: MEREDiTH MiLLER


You might not have creditors knock-ing down your door, but that doesnt necessarily mean you dont feel bur-dened by debt. The typical American has 13 credit obligations on record

with a credit bureau, according to MyFico.com. A July 2011 Federal Reserve report on consumer debt found that 50.2 million American households carry credit card debt an average of $15,956 and with an aver-age APR hovering around 13 percent, the amount of money spent just on interest adds up fast. Frugality has gained ground with the

countrys lingering economic downturn, but wishful thinking and good intentions can only take you so far. If youre ready to get out of debt, where do you start? First things first: The Federal Trade Com-mission recommends contacting your credi-tors as soon as making ends meet becomes a struggle. Tell them why its difficult for you, and try to work out a modified pay-ment plan that reduces your payments to a more manageable level, the FTC suggests. Dont wait until your accounts have been turned over to a debt collector. At that point, your creditors have given up on you.

CuT SPEnDInGMeanwhile, get serious about spending less. It sounds obvious, but its easier said than done. One place to begin is to stop using your credit cards. The last thing you want to do is stack additional debt on top of the already outstanding balances, says Mark Bare, a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. Take the credit cards out of your wallet or purse and leave them some-where at home where they are out of sight.

A common pitfall involves differentiat-ing discretionary spending from required spending, Bare says. Required spending goes to support the basic necessities of life, such as food, water, shelter, clothing, educa-tion [and] health care. Discretionary spend-ing deals with the purchase of luxury goods and nonessential services. People often convince themselves that a discretionary purchase was actually a need, he says. And while one lapse in judgment might not ruin your financial future, once the consumer rationalizes with one pur-chase, they tend to continue the trend and make additional discretionary purchases, of-ten putting the purchases back on the credit cards they are trying to pay off. As the charges pile up and the credit-card balance increases, so does the temptation to slip back into a minimum payments only mindset.

AnALYzE AnD PRIORITIzEBare suggests sitting down with pencil and paper and writing out the details of each debt lender, balance, terms, interest rate and fees in order to analyze the balanc-es and establish a priority list for paying them off. Many people are unaware of how much debt they have outstanding, he says. ... Even though the total balance can shock people and cause concern, it is a necessary step in tackling the debt. Dave Ramsey, host of the nationally syn-dicated radio program The Dave Ramsey

by: jennifer kirby

dealing with debt

feature

Many people areunaware of how much

debt they have out-standing. Even though the total balance can

shock people and cause concern, it is a neces-sary step in tackling

the debt.

-Mark Bare


Show and author of four best-selling books on personal money management, encourages consumers to take seven steps toward digging themselves out of a financial hole and building wealth, starting with saving $1,000 for an emer-gency fund. His second step focuses on paying off all debts (except home loans, which he tackles in step six), one by one.

SnOWBALL STRATEGYRamseys debt-payoff method, often referred to as a debt snowball, starts with listing your debts from smallest to largest by the amount owed, giving top priority to the one with the smallest balance. Make the minimum payment on all the debts except that smallest one, and attack that with a vengeance, he says. Were talking ga-zelle intense, sell out, get-this-thing-out-of-my-life-forever energy. Once its gone, take the mon-ey you were putting toward that debt, plus any extra money you find, and attack the next debt on the list. Once its gone, take that combined payment and go to the next debt. Knock them out one by one. This strategy offers some quick wins that provide crucial momentum, Ramsey says. Pay-ing off debt is not always about math. Its about motivation. Personal finance is 20 percent head knowledge and 80 percent behavior. When you start knocking off the easier debts, you will see results and you will stay motivated to dump your debt.


Ramsey allows for one exception to the payoff order: if one of the debts is to the IRS. You do not want them in your life, so it would make sense to move a tax bill up in priority, he says. Bare agrees the snowball strategy can work and generally makes sense, but he suggests tweaking it to pay off debts in order of interest rate, highest to lowest, since any money you put toward interest is money you could be applying to the principal.

COnSIDER CREDIT COunSELInGThe Federal Trade Commission suggests considering seeking credit counseling if youre not disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, cant work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or cant keep track of mounting bills. Reputable counseling organizations can advise you on manag-ing your money and debts, help you develop a budget and offer free educational materials and workshops, according to the FTC. Many credit unions, universities, military bases, housing authori-ties and U.S. Cooperative Extension Service branches operate such programs. Schneider Community Credit Union, for example, offers me-bers financial counseling through its partnership with Accel. Ser-vices offered include budget counseling, a debt-management pro-gram, credit-report review and housing counseling. The financial counseling sessions are free and confidential; consumers receive impartial advice and can attend as many sessions as they need. At the initial session, the credit counselor works with the consumer to develop a detailed budget worksheet and action plan.

REWARD YOuRSELfBare encourages people to allow themselves some kind of reward after three to six months of sticking with their debt-reduction plan something small enough not to get them off track with their goals, yet sufficient to encourage them in their efforts and motivate them to continue. I always urge consumers to be realistic and dont get discour-aged, Bare says. Reducing debt takes time and discipline, but stay dedicated to the plan and the results will come. PCM

REDuCInG YOuR DEBT TODAY - whether on your own or with the help of a credit counselor- can improve your peace of mind tomorrow.


If youre one of the more than quarter mil-lion RV drivers across North America, then at some point youve probably used an RV dump station in your travels. Eventu-ally the tanks fill up and need to be emptied. Unfortunately, over the past decade, the number of RV dump stations has steadily declined. Ask an RV campground or travel center manager and theyll say maintaining a dump station is more of a hassle than its worth. From RVers abusing the honor pay-ment system to users cramming garbage, rocks and other debris into the pipe, clog-ging the system and necessitating expensive repairs, it just doesnt make sense for many

locations to continue providing the service. Fewer dump stations means RVers are forced to search farther for this essential ser-vice, often costing them more gas and alter-ing their travel plans in the process. In 2009, Vito Bartolotta, founder of Sani-Star, shared the frustration of many other dump station providers. Bartolotta runs a coffee shop and automated car wash in the scenic town of Bend, Ore. As an added service to a steady flow of RVers, he man-aged a dump station on the property using a tedious key and lock system. RVers would pull up to the station, walk 50 yards to the coffee shop and exchange a nominal fee and

their drivers license for a key that unlocked the cap. Then, once they were done emp-tying their tanks, they would lock the cap (hopefully) and return the key in exchange for their drivers license. The system was generating some money for the service, basically to cover the cost of maintenance, but it wasnt efficient or con-venient. Bartolotta knew there had to be a more convenient way for both offering the service and for using the station. After an extensive search revealed no better solution, the Sani-Star Automated RV Dump Fee Col-lection System was born.

Vito invented our patent-pending lock-ing cap, explains Eric Huffman, director of marketing and sales for Sani-Star. And then he connected a kiosk to the cap, giving the customer the flexibility to pay in multiple ways. The Sani-Star system, which can run on 110-volt electric or solar power, allows RV-ers to simply pay the fee at the kiosk, which then unlocks the cap for use and re-locks the cap after dumping. The business owners and campground managers continue to maintain the dump station, but the Sani-Star system allows the station to be available 24/7 with-out an attendant. With hundreds of locations in the Unit-ed States and Canada, Sani-Star is making dump stations once again accessible, easy to use and convenient for the RV owner. We think its a win-win for the dump station op-erators and the RVers alike, says Huffman. The travel centers and campgrounds can now manage the costs of providing the RV dump service more effectively and the RV-ers now have dump stations that are readily available and convenient to use. Locations using Sani-Star agree. Sani-Star has improved our fee compliance by three to four times, and allowed us to keep our RV dump station open for our RV pa-

COMpANy pROFIlERV JouRney

feature

Sani-StaRBY: GREG GIRARD

We value our Rv customers and are

constantly looking for ways to upgrade our

services. Sani-Star helps us more effec-

tively manage our Rv dump stations.

- Asa Hazelwood


trons, says Steve A. Perez, general manager of Rosamond Community Service District in California. We believe its due to the equip-ments simple and secure operation. Sani-Star systems can be found in mu-nicipalities, national parks, federal and state campgrounds and Canadian provincial parks, as well as travel centers across the country, including all Pilot Flying J dump stations. We value our RV customers and are constantly looking for ways to upgrade our services, says Asa Hazelwood, director of

facility revenue at Pilot Flying J. Sani-Star helps us more effectively manage our RV dump stations by allowing us to offer this service across the country, while keeping our costs to a minimum and continuing to offer a high level of service to RVers. The challenge, says Huffman, is making people aware that the Sani-Star system ex-ists. We want to get the word out so we can keep RV dumping stations available across North America, says Huffman. Sani-Star is therefore offering a Where is Sani-Star Needed Incentive Program for 2012 that

awards a $100 Pilot Flying J gift card to anyone who provides the company with a unique lead on a potential Sani-Star location. Simply go to their website, fill out the con-tact form and provide the potential lead in the comments section. If your suggestion re-sults in a Sani-Star installation, youll receive the gift card. This incentive program is designed to help maintain conveniently located, reli-able and accessible RV dump stations, says Huffman, and reward RV users who help us find new locations.

The Sani-Star system is user friendly and makes emptying RV tanks easier and more accessible. Simply pay the nominal fee at the kiosk using cash, credit cards or tokens and the patent-pending cap will unlock. Use the foot pedal to lift the cap, insert the RV hose and dump. After the dump is complete, drop the cap and it will lock back into place.

PCM


Elvis fans around the world know about Graceland, the sprawling Memphis estate of the King, but only the fervent devotees have made the trek to Graceland Too. Located in Holly Springs, Miss., about an hours drive from its namesake, Graceland Too is owned by possibly the biggest Elvis fan in the world, Paul MacLeod. Not so much a museum as a shrine (and MacLeods personal residence), Graceland Too is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The $5 admission includes a personal tour led

by MacLeod, who can weave a yarn of tales (truth being optional), sometimes two hours long. Even if you show up at 3 a.m., knock loud enough and the 69-year-old MacLeod will answer the door. Visit three times and earn a lifetime membership with free tours, a membership card and your photo taken in a black Elvis jacket (which will hang in a room at Graceland Too). The museum is the No. 1 attraction in Holly Springs, a picturesque township of 8,000 known for its traditional antebellum architecture. Every inch of wall in the stately

columned home, now painted a vivid blue, is covered with Elvis memorabilia, from newspaper clippings to records to posters to pictures. Some items are valuable, like Elvis elementary school report card, but the real draw is the host and the overwhelming amount of Elvis stuff.

GRaceland t ooBY: MARION KELLY

PCM

OFF THE BEATEN pATHRV JouRney

Located about an hour from Memphis, Graceland Too is a must-stop for any Elvis fan.

PHOTOS: LAUREN SiLBERMAN


Iam going to go out on a limb here and say anyone who owns a recreational vehicle has a roadside emergency story. They seem to go hand in hand. Its a given that when you purchase your dream vehicle you also buy in for stuff to happen. The stuff can come in many variations, from blown tires to engine problems to transmissions. None of it is pleasant to deal with, but it is part of RV life. Trust me, I know. My wife, Cassie, and I bought our first new Class A in 1999. Many of the RVs of that year were beginning to offer slide-outs in their coaches, which greatly increases the livable floor space. Once these innovations began to show up at RV dealers, they were an instant hit. The RV that we were looking at was a 1998 that had no slides and so to the dealer whom we were working with, it was the pro-verbial white elephant, only we didnt know that at the time. It fit our budget and it was new, even though it had sat on the lot for 16 months. We decided to baptize this new joy with a visit to our daughter and her family in Minnesota. We were excited. A maiden voyage in a new RV only happens once, after all, and a roadside emergen-cy was the furthest thing from our minds. We were just looking forward to the journey. It was a new RV, so why should we worry? We had just crossed the Michigan border, south of Kalamazoo, and were in heavy traffic when we had our first emergency. Busy intersection. Dead RV. After a lot of honks, gestures and com-ments, most of which were not real nice, we got towed to a nearby RV campsite. We were pretty shaken, but safe. Since the RV was new, it was, thankfully, under warranty, but it would be days before a Chevy dealer could look at it. After several heated calls I got them to agree to let a local NAPA dealer look at it the next day. A bad fuel pump was the diagnosis and we were soon on our way again. But just 162 miles down the road, the engine died again. Another tow, another fuel pump issue. At this point, needless to say, Im no longer a happy camper. It was about this time that I started reflecting back to why this RV was such a good deal. Eventually, though, we made it to our daughters home without further incident. Now, youd think after being fixed twice, the fuel pump would be the least of my worries for our next trip. No such luck. At least the third time the RV died in our driveway. This time the dealer found the problem two inches of gunk in the fuel tank. Here is what I learned: RV dealers never fill a fuel tank. It sat idle for more than a year during extreme shifts in temperature. This caused condensation, which caused rust, which created gunk and led to the fuel pump failures. This has not been the only roadside problem for us. I could go on, but the message here is stuff happens. You must expect it, but the joys of traveling and experiencing this great country far outweigh the occasional hiccup.

EvERYWHERE, uSARV JouRney

column

EvER

yWHERE, uSA

july

2012

pMRoadSide emeRGencieS

BY: CHAD BLAKE

PCM


Fans of NASCAR who transport goods cross-country probably have enjoyed the familiar voices of Motor Racing Network as they travel. Formed in 1970 under the direction of NASCAR

founder Bill France Sr., MRN began with the Daytona 500 and has been going strong for more than four decades. Many broadcasters have graced the air-waves for MRN Radio over the years cov-ering NASCARs top series. We caught up with some of the MRN crew at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May to get the stories be-hind the voices.

BARNEy HAllLEAD BOOTH ANNOUNCER/ CO-ANCHORAGE: 79 The native of Elkin, N.C., is co-anchor of MRN Radios NAS-CAR Sprint Cup, Na-

tionwide and Camping World Truck se-ries broadcasts. He is one of the networks original announcers, having started as a race broadcaster in 1958 with WNDB in Daytona Beach to cover the 1960 Daytona 500 while also working at a western North Carolina ra-dio station. Hall worked on pit road, out in the turns, and moved to the broadcast booth beginning with the 1979 Daytona 500. After a half-century of race broadcasting, he was inducted into the National Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. He has also received the prestigious Bill France Award. As far as my role has been all these years with MRN, I would say its compared to be-ing a traffic cop, Hall says. Our guys in the turns get a little excited and they at times need someone to turn them back a notch or two. Sometimes thats what I do. KEY TO BROADCAST SUCCESS: If you can tell the listener whats happening on the race track, cover the pit stops, do a little bit of the racing, talk to the drivers who fall out, then you cant have a bad broadcast. Youve covered it.

jOE MOORECO-ANCHORAGE: 60 Joe Moore is the co-an-chor for MRN Radios NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camp-ing World Truck series broadcasts. The Wilm-

ington, N.C., native joined MRN in 1979 and for many years was a turn announcer. Moore first worked for a local radio sta-tion as a disc jockey for WGNI in Wilming-ton. The radio station helped with promo-tions for a local racetrack in Hampton, Va. The promoter of the track, Joe Carver, sug-gested Moore work for the network. He thought it would be prestigious for his track to have an announcer for MRN. Moore per-suaded Mike Joy, who was running the net-work at the time, to give him an audition in 1979. Working with MRN Radio is a dream come true, Moore says. I worked for American Forces Radio and TV Service in Thailand for two years when I was in the Army. I used to run the board when MRN was doing the broadcast. It was on Monday morning because of the time difference. The troops loved to hear the races. I remember sitting there thinking, Wow, I would love to be able to work with MRN. I thought it was out of my reach. KEY TO BROADCAST SUCCESS: Keeping a perspective of who your listen-er is and what they need to hear. We have guys in the turns, commercials, promos that have to be read. Our job is to sew it together where its a smooth flow.

DAvE MOODYLEAD TURN ANNOUNCERAGE: 51 Originally from Mont-pelier, Vt., Moody got started with MRN through Ken Squier, a longtime anchor with

the network. Moody was doing sports play-by-play with Squiers network of radio sta-tions when he was asked to announce at Squiers Thunder Road Speedway on Thurs-day nights in 1978. The former sportswriter was given an audition and debut with MRN in 1988 and has been a regular since 1998. When youre out in the turns you dont get to take any time off, Moody says. Just because the leaders are at the other end of the race track doesnt mean the back mark-ers arent going to wad it up in front of me. Probably the hardest thing about working

by: ben white

the Voices of MRN

feature

PHOTOS: MRN


the turns is you dont get to take any mental vacations at any point in the race. You have to be paying attention all the time because you just dont know what will happen. KEY TO BROADCAST SUCCESS: A strong vocabulary and the ability to trans-late sight into sound pretty quickly and in a cohesive fashion.

ALEX HAYDEnPiT ROAD REPORTERAGE: 41 A native of Muncie, Ind., Hayden joined MRN Radio in 1997. It was the first radio op-portunity of his career.

The longtime fan of MRN used to play with Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars and call his own races as a kid. A former actor at Univer-sal Studios, he became a track announcer at Wayne County Speedway and Southern Na-tional Speedway in eastern North Carolina. While there, a track promoter secretly record-ed him and sent the tape to MRN. The rest, as they say, is history and he debuted with MRN at the North Carolina Motor Speedway. I help with the pre-race interviews we decide on in our production meeting and track down the drivers and storylines

that are pertinent to that particular race, Hayden says. Throughout the race, everyone has their own ways of doing things. Among myself, Steve Post and Winston Kelley, we divide the cars into 14, 14 and 15 cars and we cover our sections of pit road. I wander through my part of pit road talking with crew chiefs, crew members and public relations folks gathering stories throughout the race. After the race, we do an interview in victory lane as well as second, third, fourth and fifth. KEY TO BROADCAST SUCCESS: You

have to listen closely to whats going on. We have to hear what others on our team are do-ing.

WInSTOn kELLEYPiT ROAD REPORTERAGE: 54 Originally from Con-cord, N.C., Kelley fol-lowed his father, Earl Kelley, into the busi-

BARnEY HALL (CEnTER) AnD JOE MOORE lead the show as co-anchors. Com-bined, they have nearly 90 years of experience in race broadcasting.


ness. The elder Kelley announced for Universal Racing Network through the 1960s and until 1977 as a turn and pit road announcer. Winston Kelley began with URN as a statistician and worked as a public address announcer at North Wilkesboro Speedway for many years. He started with MRN as a production assistant in 1987 and was put on the air at Martinsville Speed-way in 1988. He is also executive di-rector of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. I help with the pre-race and post-race interviews and talk to all of the crew chiefs during the race, Kelley says. We keep up with the folks in our territory, such as if the drivers are run-ning well or how well the car is doing. Each one of us on pit keeps track of all the pit stops and what they do dur-ing the stops, and monitors whether they are going forward or backward and we weave all that into the broad-cast. It has to be relevant to what is on the racetrack. You look at it like the guy driving a truck down the road. Is this something I would want to know about? KEY TO BROADCAST SUCCESS: Pay attention to the race and try to re-port what the race fan wants to hear.

STEvE pOSTPiT ROAD REPORTERAGE: 47

The native of Hallstead, Pa., has been with the network

since March 2003. He began his career announcing short track races in Penn-sylvania and New York. Post moved to North Carolina to pursue a full-time career in motor sports in 1995. Over the next eight seasons, he worked in media relations with driver Kenny Wallace, the late Tony Roper and former driver Ricky Rudd. Post auditioned in New Hampshire in 2002 and began doing a limited amount of races the next year. Studying the tendencies of the racetrack, talking with crew chiefs and investigating information on the cars keeps Post busy on race day. All of that comes together in the 12 seconds when 43 cars come down pit road, he says. Its absolute chaos! Its all about the knowledge picked up throughout the week, as we get ready. Its attempt-ing to present all of what the teams are doing and all the changes they are

MRn REPORTERS WORk TIRELESSLY TO gIvE lISTENERS the latest news from pit crews during nASCAR races.


making as well as all of their challenges and how they are fixing them. In my opinion, pit road is the most intense element of our sport. KEY TO BROADCAST SUCCESS: Getting the knowledge from crew chiefs and doing your homework.

MIkE BAGLEYTURN ANNOUNCERAGE: 42 Born in Salisbury, Md., Bagley lived in Mil-ford, Del., and worked for a radio station that carried MRN races. Bagley started as a runner for the network in 1988 after writ-ing a letter asking if MRN needed help at the Dover Downs International Speedway,

which they did. He also worked as P.A. announcer at Dover, Daytona and Pocono. In 1992, John McMullen, then president of MRN, asked if Bagley wanted to be a turn announcer for a Busch Series race at Pocono Raceway. He jumped at the chance and has been along the track for the network ever since. Bagley has covered many races, but one stands out above the rest. One of my favorite races of all time was last years Ford 400 at Homestead, Fla., which was the last Sprint Cup race of the season, Bagley recalls. You had the ebbs and flows of a Cup race and considering where we started in Daytona, where we had been all those races over all those months and it comes down to that one final race in south Florida between Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards. It was about all the cars they passed, all the laps they led, all the bonus points they accrued. That race obviously had the inter-est, it had the storylines, and it had a tiebreaker at the end. Our broadcast that day was stellar. KEY TO BROADCAST SUCCESS: Staying sharp, listening to the tower, listening to your comrades and communicating with competitors. PCM

ALEX HAYDEn InTERvIEWS JIMMY JOHnSOn alongpit road. Hayden is one of three pit road reporters forMRn during races.

Craig Morgan isnt afraid of anything. No matter if hes on stage singing in front of thousands of fans, bungee jumping in New Zealand, racing his motorcycle during his two-day

charity event, or guest starring on a popu-lar television show, Morgan jumps into life headfirst. Theres nothing I cant [recover from] and the worst thing that happens is I die, Morgan says. And that philosophy is evi-dent in every episode of his Outdoor Chan-nel reality show, Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors. Now in its third season, which begins July 1, the show isnt just about hunt-ing. [It] chronicles how I integrate all of my

outdoor activities, whether it be hunting, fishing, skydiving, deep-sea diving, motor-cycle racing, whatever outdoor activity fits

into my touring life and my family life.

A Tennessee native, Mor-gan grew up where hunt-ing was a natural part of his

childhood. I hunted as early as 8 or 10 years old with my folks, Morgan recalls. I re-member harvesting my first deer at about 14 or 15 years old with my mom. Morgan started in television long before he got his own show. Ive been hunting on other shows on the Outdoor Channel for a long time, he says. The idea of filming his own show was brewing for quite a while. A friend, and now co-producer of the show,

suggested the concept of following the sing-ers touring and hunting schedule almost a decade ago, but Morgan didnt want to risk his music career. At the time, I already had a couple hits and I just felt like it wouldnt behoove me to give any more time away from my music, Morgan explains. Eventu-ally he realized he could do both at the same time. After his fifth album, Morgan was in a position to seriously consider a show and Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors was born. The show immediately became the Outdoor Channels No. 1 rated hunting show on Saturday morning, which isnt sur-prising when you consider episodes have in-cluded hunting red stag, bungee jumping in New Zealand, skydiving with an old Army buddy, hog hunting in the woods of Tennes-see, intense motorcycle racing and brown bear hunting in the wilds of Alaska. If any of the activities Morgan does on the show seem extreme,

taking lifeby the horns

feature

Country listeners love to ride

four-wheelers and dirt bikes and theyre

not scared to try things. Thats what this

musics about. Craig Morgan

by: amanda jakl

PHOTOS: SUB-SEVEN



he certainly doesnt view it that way. Its just the way he lives his life. I never have [considered myself extreme] in the past, but you know I got a lot of extreme friends, he says. I hang out with guys who do back flips on motorcycles. Morgans down-to-earth personality and his self-deprecating sense of humor help explain the popularity of the show. Unlike other reality shows, All Access Outdoors isnt scripted or as sched-uled as a viewer might expect. In an episode from season 3, the fishing trip in Florida with Leeann Tweeden, ESPN commentator and host of Poker After Dark, is a perfect example of events falling into place. Morgan had a day off between concerts so he called Tweeden, asked her to fish and flew her to Florida to film the episode. As Morgan explains, My life is sporadic and chaotic and organized as it can be. Fans of the show can expect to see a bit more of Morgans personal life in season 3. We did a couple shows that will take place about my dad and [his band featuring Morgans uncles] and the influence theyve had not only on my hunting but my music, Morgan says. We took them out on the road. Theres a lot of difference in the touring industry now and the way it was in the late 60s, early 70s. [Its] just a really cool piece that people will be able to see. Viewers will also learn of a surprise hunting paradise. Hawaii is the best-kept hunting secret,

TOp 5 gAME: Wild turkey Whitetail deer Muledeer Elk Coyote

WEAPOn Of CHOICE: BowHuNTINg CHARITy: Hunters for the HungryIDEAL COunTRY YET TO HunT: South AfricaRACk MISSInG fROM WALL:MoosegREATEST COuNTRy FOR HuNTINg: United States

cRAIgSHuNTINgSTATS


Morgan says. Theres an area of Lanai, you would think youre in the Serengeti. Ive never seen so many animals; its unbelievable. And its all free range. Its amazing. Morgan is a prolific hunter so he cant eat everything he shoots. He makes good use of the whole animal. I have a lot of them mounted, he says. All the meat is shipped and what meat I dont use I donate to various organizations and families. Im a big part of the Hunters for the Hungry program. Not one to be pigeonholed in his television career, Morgan had a small cameo on the hit cable show Army Wives that aired in March and a multi-episode guest role as a medical examiner on the show Rizzoli & Isles that will air in July. Angie Harmon, who plays Rizzoli, starred in Morgans music video for This Ole Boy. Craig Morgans sixth album, This Ole Boy, was released in February and debuted in the Top 5 of the Billboards Top Country Albums chart, the best debut of his career. Morgan, who wrote seven of the 12 tracks, describes the album as very descriptive, very image-driven and a lot of fun. This music is all about who I am and the people who I hang out with and the people who I think listen to my music, Morgan

A MAn Of MAnY TALEnTS, Craig Morgan is as comfort-able on stage performing in front of thousands of fans as he is in front of the cameras as an actor and TV host.


says. Its the way we live. The country listeners love to ride four-wheelers and dirt bikes and theyre not scared to try things. Thats what this musics about. The album continues to climb the country charts and its not dif-ficult to understand why. We looked at all the music in the past that I had success with Redneck Yacht Club, International Harvester, Thats What I Love About Sunday we looked at all of those songs that were huge and we tried to record an album like that, Morgan explains, so I said its a greatest hits record that nobodys ever heard the hits before. Tracks like Show Me Your Tattoo is a playful song that makes Morgan laugh every night, but more importantly because of the fan interaction. We get to see tattoos, he adds with a chuckle. When it comes to a song that fans love and Morgan loves to sing, Love Loves A Long Night is where he finally got it right. Through all his success, Morgan has focused on giving back. For the past five years, he has hosted a charity weekend to raise money for Billys Place, a home in Dickson, Tenn. (Morgans hometown), for children who are temporarily displaced from their families. The annual outdoor event features dirtbike races, a sporting clay shoot and a concert. In 2011, Morgan raised $95,000 and he hopes this year to collect more than $100,000. We just want to bring in people that share our passions and that are willing to support the charity, Mor-gan says. With a hit reality show, a budding Hollywood career and a steady touring schedule, its safe to say that Craig Morgan will be busy for a long time. In the end, though, he says it comes down to the music. I want to make records as long as I can. As long as the fans want to hear my music and we can tour successfully and the people around me can prosper, Im going to do that.

PCMMORGAnS LATEST ALBuM, THIS OLE BOY, was released in February and continues to climb the country music charts.

i was on Interstate 95 in Virginia when the large fast-food bag came barreling toward me like a bowling ball heading for a turkey strike. I had noticed some-thing being squeezed out the passenger

window of the SUV in front of me but it didnt register that it could be a giant ball of garbage. The bag ricocheted off my right bumper and landed along the side of the road to join the rest of the junk. A litterslug, as I like to call them, had struck again. Ive seen a few cabs in my day that I wouldnt enter unless wearing a hazmat suit. I saw one cab with so much junk, just looking at it made my head itch and had me buying a gallon jug of hand sanitizer. Nasty. While Im partial to keep-ing things clean, I say to each his own if its not harming anyone. At least the nasty cabs are

contained. You dont see the mess unless youre either right near it or inside it. Litterslugs decide theyll share their junk with all of us. I want to say its laziness but it actually takes effort to litter. You have to push the button that rolls down the window, take hold of the garbage, extend your hand and arm out the window and release the garbage. Its probably the same amount of energy it would take to drop the garbage in a trash can at the next stop. Ive seen a few types of litterslugs while on the road. You have your blatant pitch every-thing out the window kind; your cigarette-flicking kind, so that their car doesnt smell like smoke (heres a thought, if you dont want smoke smell in your car, then dont smoke in your car); the pickup-truck kind, where loose

pieces of paper and cups do a wind dance in the bed of the truck until they come whipping toward my windshield; and the moon-roof kind, where a toss overhead sends the garbage fly-ing in all directions. So if its not laziness, then what is it? What thought has to pop into a persons head to make him or her think throwing garbage out the window while going 70 mph is a good idea? Lifes about making choices. There are a few hard life choices we have to make but mostly the choices are easy. You either do the right thing or the wrong thing. Were taught that by our parents when were 3. Its simple to see that littering is wrong, so basically those slugs that litter are using less brainpower than a 3-year-old. The only difference is theyre behind the wheel of an 8,000-pound SUV. Scary.

sQUash those litteRslUgs

Do you have an industry issue you would like to gripe about? Send it to [email protected].

PCM

by: charles pope


Managing your Arthritis

The 2012 Rolling Strong Driver Well-ness Tour has hit the road with its first event in Knoxville, Tenn., where we met professional OTR driver Franco Ramos, of Central Refriger-

ated Services. He shared his story of making exercise and a balanced, nutritional diet his top priorities. You have to rewire your thinking about health in order for your health and nutrition plans to be successful, Ramos said. You need to make time in between sleeping, eat-ing and grabbing the wheel to work out and stay active. The challenge is the job itself; its a lifestyle. You need to remain focused, know what you want, eat right and develop new habits. After battling weight issues his whole life, Ramos decided he was going to make the lifestyle changes he needed in order to live healthier. When we met in Knoxville, we had a chance to work out at Pilot Flying J us-ing one of our new Trucker Trainer Power-Block sets. Since me

July 2012 - Challenge Magazine

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