Formation | 1966 |
---|---|
Founder | Art Rouse |
Type | Organization of recreational vehicle owners |
Headquarters | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
Membership | Over 1.8 million, world's largest RV organization |
Owner | Good Sam Enterprises |
Parent organization | Good Sam Enterprises |
Affiliations | Camping World, NASCAR |
Website | www |
The Good Sam Club is an international organization of recreational vehicle (RV) owners and the largest organization of RV owners in the world. [1] It is focused upon making RVing safer and more enjoyable, also, saving money for members through club-endorsed benefits and services. [2] It states that it has over 2.185 million members. [3] It was founded in 1966, [2] [3] and is currently owned by the Good Sam Enterprises. The organization is affiliated with RV parks and campgrounds.
Credited as founder of the Good Sam Club is Art Rouse, [4] founder of TL Enterprises, a California-based publishing company responsible for Trailer Life magazine [5] and MotorHome magazine. Rouse and his two sons acquired the organization in 1968 and further developed member benefits and RV-related services for which the club is known. Rouse sold TL Enterprises in the 1980s and died on June 19, 2007, following head injuries suffered as a result of a fall, at 89 years old. [6]
Good Sam Club is based in Englewood, Colorado. [3] The organization is currently owned by the Good Sam Enterprises, which also owns Camping World (an American corporation specializing in selling parts and service for recreational vehicles and supplies for camping), Coast to Coast Resorts, [7] Trailer Life Publications, MotorHome Publications and the Good Sam RV Travel Guide & Campground Directory. [8] The organization also offers additional services such as roadside assistance, RV insurance and RV extended warranties for additional fees. [9] In 2022 Good Sam's clubs across American were closed by Camping World executives.
In 1985, the club had over 450,000 members, [10] and today has over 2.185 million members. [3]
The club's name comes from the Bible parable of the Good Samaritan, [11] which tells of a traveler from the region of Samaria who helped a person along the road who had been robbed and beaten.
In 2017, there were over 2,100 RV parks and campgrounds affiliated with the Good Sam organization [2] in which club members receive a 10% discount on the nightly rate for staying in their parks. [12] These RV parks have to meet a minimum standard of services and appearance to be considered for association. [13]
Good Sam also publishes information to help members find parks that provide stated levels of services.
The club sponsored the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway [14] and the Camping World Truck Series' Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 at Rockingham Speedway. [15] [16]
Campsite, campground, and camping pitch are all related terms regarding a place used for camping. The usage differs between British English and American English.
American Automobile Association is a federation of motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a privately held not-for-profit national member association and service organization with over 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA provides services to its members, including roadside assistance and others. Its national headquarters are in Heathrow, Florida.
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a 1.540 mi (2.478 km) race track and entertainment facility in Hampton, Georgia, 20 mi (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has annually hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock car races since its inauguration in 1960.
A recreational vehicle park or caravan park is a place where people with recreational vehicles can stay overnight, or longer, in allotted spaces known as "sites" or "campsites". They are also referred to as campgrounds, though a true campground also provides facilities for tent camping; many facilities calling themselves "RV parks" also offer tent camping or cabins with limited facilities.
The Canadian Automobile Association is a federation of eight regional not-for-profit automobile associations in Canada, founded in 1913. The constituent associations are responsible for providing roadside assistance, auto touring and leisure travel services, insurance services, and member discount programs within their service territories. The CAA National Office in Ottawa coordinates relations between the clubs, oversees joint initiatives, and lobbies the federal government. In 2020 and 2021, the Gustavson Brand Trust Index named CAA the most trusted brand in Canada.
The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland Limited (RACQ) is a mutual organisation and Queensland’s largest Club, providing services including roadside assistance, insurance, banking and travel to its approximately 1.75 million members.
Camping World Holdings, Inc. is an American corporation specializing in selling recreational vehicles (RVs), recreational vehicle parts, and recreational vehicle service. They also sell supplies for camping. The company has its headquarters in Lincolnshire, Illinois. In October 2016 it became a publicly traded company when it raised $251 million in an IPO. Camping World operates over 180 retail/service locations in 46 states, and also sells goods through mail order and online. It claims to be the world's largest supplier of RV parts and supplies.
An automobile association, also referred to as a motoring club, motoring association, or motor club, is an organization, either for-profit or non-profit, which motorists can join to enjoy benefits provided by the club relating to driving a vehicle. There is most often an annual membership fee to join. A membership identification card, valid for the time period of membership paid, is typically issued to the member.
Good Sam Enterprises is a provider of membership clubs, as well as subscription-based products, services and publications, targeted toward recreational vehicle and other outdoor enthusiasts in the United States and Canada. Additionally, the company operates 187 stores of Camping World, a leading RV-related specialty retailer, and RV.net, an RV-focused website.
Stephen Adams is an American businessman, private equity investor, and philanthropist. His current holdings include Good Sam Enterprises, a national publishing, retail stores, and member-based direct marketing organization directed toward owners of recreational vehicles and Adams Outdoor Advertising, an operator of outdoor advertising structures in the Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. His previous holdings have included operators of television and radio stations, print publishers, cola bottlers and community banks.
Tobin Lake is a reservoir along the course of the Saskatchewan River in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Tobin Lake was formed by the building of the E.B. Campbell Dam on the Saskatchewan River in 1963. Tobin Lake is named for William Thorburn, who was a fur trader on the Saskatchewan River. He had built a trading post on the Saskatchewan River where it is met by the Petaigan River. The rapids near the post became known as the "Thornburn Rapids". The name was later shortened to "Tobin Rapids".
Christopher Fontaine is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He has competed in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, driving in 59 races, most notably for Glenden Enterprises. He is known for his nickname “Uncle Chris”, which he goes by through his social media presence.
The 2011 Good Sam Club 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on October 23, 2011 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. Clint Bowyer defended his win in the previous year's race by slingshotting past his Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton on the final lap. It was the 100th career win for Richard Childress Racing. For Richard Childress Racing, it would be the last time their cars finished 1-2 until the 2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.
The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at The Rock Presented by Cheerwine was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at the Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina. The race consisted of 200 laps, 203.4 miles (320 km). The inaugural race was run on April 15, 2012, and was won by Kasey Kahne.
The 2012 Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on October 7, 2012 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, United States. Contested over 188 laps on the 2.66-mile (4.3 km) asphalt tri-oval, it was the thirtieth race of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season, as well as the fourth race in the ten-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, which ends the season.
The 2013 Camping World RV Sales 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held on October 20, 2013, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. Contested over 188 laps on the 2.66 mile superspeedway, it was the 32nd race of the 2013 Sprint Cup Series championship, and the sixth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Jamie McMurray of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing won the race, breaking a 108 race winless streak, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard, and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. The race had two caution flags, 20 leaders, and 52 lead changes, both of them season highs. This was the second straight Chase race to be won by a non-Chaser.
Glenden Enterprises is an American professional stock car racing team which has competed in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. The team is owned by Chris Fontaine, and he's fielded the No. 47 Toyota Tundra for himself in select superspeedway races.
Spencer Paul Boyd is an American professional stock car racing driver and NASCAR team owner. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado for Freedom Racing Enterprises, a team he co-owns with Chris Miller. Boyd has also previously competed in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Charles Russell "Chase" Purdy III is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports.