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Popular Mechanics magazine is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2002 with a safari-like party and Coachmen RV Company is providing the ride. As part of its birthday festivities, the magazine is embarking on a national RV tour through all 48 contiguous states affording representatives of Popular Mechanics an opportunity to meet and greet readers. Coachmen is loaning the magazine a 2002 model year motorhome to use during its yearlong Centennial Tour.

"We are pleased to be able to participate in the celebration of Popular Mechanics' Centennial," stated Michael R. Turlep, President of Coachmen RV Company. "We believe it's indeed fitting that one of the longest running and most successful magazines partner with one of the most respected and tenured names in the RV industry for this unprecedented nationwide RV tour. As part of Coachmen's aggressive market expansion effort in promoting the RV lifestyle and one of the most recognized names in the industry, this opportunity provides us tremendous market exposure as the true 'leader to the great outdoors!'"

When all is said and done, Popular Mechanics will have traveled roughly 25,000 miles, handing out birthday presents and collecting interesting stories about their readers. "We want to thank our readers in person, up close and personal, for reading Popular Mechanics since the first copy hit newsstands in January 1902," explained Joe Oldham, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Mechanics.

Weekly updates about the tour as well as anecdotes about Popular Mechanics readers will be posted on the magazine's web site at www.popularmechanics.com. A link to Coachmen's web site will also be provided.

"Updates on our tour will appear in every issue of the magazine throughout the year," Oldham said, adding, "We'll be telling readers where we've been, who we've met and where we'll be in the next 30 days." Some of the stops on the Centennial Tour include the Superbowl, selected NASCAR events and the Indianapolis 500. A tour route map, which is posted on the magazine's web site, will assist readers in tracking the tour. The Coachmen motorhome used for the tour will be decked out in a special graphics package that includes old Popular Mechanics covers. The motorhome's colorful birthday suit will make it easily recognizable.

Gordon Collins, a veteran full-time RVer from Nevada will pilot the Centennial motorhome ­ a new 37' diesel-powered Coachmen Cross Country.

"A trip from border to border requires a reliable vehicle and a reliable name, with special attributes. That's exactly why we chose Coachmen's rear-diesel Cross Country model," Oldham commented.

The Coachmen Cross Country will be the perfect home for Collins. Its roominess and comfort will provide an ideal location for meetings with Popular Mechanics readers. Loaded with amenities, the motorhome features a rear diesel chassis with a 260 HP Cummins engine; large sofa/dinette slideout room extension; Waterford pear wood cabinets; satellite TV system; 25" color TV; microwave oven; three-burner high output range with oven; large, flush-mount double door refrigerator; queen bed; VCR; rear vision camera; generator and much, much more.