By Doug Beatty, F153G
July/August 2025
Some of my fondest memories growing up revolved around my grandparents’ motorhome. The shiny stainless-steel exterior, the scent of the interior, the steady rhythm of the engine on long drives, and the warmth of their voices as they shared stories of their travels left an imprint on me. Their motorhome was more than a vehicle; it symbolized freedom, adventure, and the promise of endless discovery. And now, as I embark on my own RV journey, I realize how deeply those experiences shaped who I am today.
In this 1967 photo, young Doug Beatty is seated at the helm of his grandparents’ Flxible bus, ready to hit the road.
My grandparents, Hamilton and Gwen Beatty, were early Family Motor Coach Association members: F153. Their motorhome, a Flxible bus, began life as an airport shuttle in New Orleans. They purchased it in 1960, and Custom Coach Corporation in Columbus, Ohio, transformed the bus into a “Land Cruiser,” completing the conversion in the early summer of 1961. They traveled primarily in the eastern United States and Canada and then shipped the motorhome to France in 1962. For the subsequent four years, while working in Paris, they used it around Europe and England, visiting sites, family, and friends.
The Flxible was converted by Custom Coach Corporation.
Born in 1964, I was introduced to the motorhome in 1967. After my grandparents returned from France, they visited us in Hanover, New Hampshire, while my father was finishing his Master of Business Administration degree at Dartmouth College. Too young to fully remember, I have a photo commemorating that visit, but it was the first of many in my youth that framed some of my fondest memories of my grandparents and their motorhome.
I distinctly remember the FMCA plate on their motorhome. It seemed important, a badge of honor, and represented much more than just belonging to an organization. It symbolized a lifestyle, a commitment to seeing the world on your terms. And now, I find myself following in their tire tracks.
Doug and Tanya carry on the family RVing tradition with their own diesel-pusher motorhome.
In 2020, my wife, Tanya, and I purchased a Class C motorhome to travel to and participate in vintage race-car events across eastern Canada and the United States. Over the next four years, we discovered a love for the RV lifestyle. I shared stories of my grandparents’ motorhome, and together we dreamed of upgrading to a Class A diesel pusher. The more we traveled, the more we realized that RV life was not just about the destinations or the races. It also was about the moments in between — the joy of togetherness and conversation as we drove down the road; the discovery of something unexpected; the delight of sitting around a campfire with friends and family. That simple freedom can’t be replicated in a stationary life. It teaches you to appreciate the small things and the beauty of the open road.
Doug and his wife, Tanya joined Family RV Association and decided to use Doug’s grandparents’ membership number, tacking on a “G” for grandchild.
In late 2024, our dream came true when we bought a well-loved 2019 Newmar Mountain Aire diesel motorhome. I joined FMCA (now Family RV Association — FRVA). I was eager to become part of the same community as my grandparents. It felt like coming home to something I never knew I had been longing for.
As I plan our motorhome travels, I think of my grandparents often. Their journey has become mine, and I carry the lessons they taught me: the importance of community and family, the beauty of the open road, and the joy of living simply. I take great pleasure in displaying my membership plate: F153G (the G stands for “grandchild”). I am part of something greater, connected to my grandparents’ legacy . . . to the wanderers, explorers, and dreamers who understand that life is about the journey, not just the destination.
Each time I start the engine and hit the road, I know I’m not just following in my grandparents’ tracks; I’m also adding my own chapter to the story they began. As we travel across this beautiful country, I’ll remember that the road to adventure is more than just a journey — it’s a legacy meant to be shared, passed down, and lived out mile by mile.
I am part of something greater, connected to my grandparents’ legacy . . . to the wanderers, explorers, and dreamers who understand that life is about the journey, not just the destination.