I have one of those cherished AA (Amateurs Anonymous) certificates issued by
W6ISQ and earned in the
1965 Sweepstakes Phone during an attack of WF (Weekend Fever)!! Long live SS!
73, Ted W4NZ (K4SXD then)
-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Warren C.
Stankiewicz
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 12:33 AM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Thinking about Sweepstakes
As the weekend for SS Cw approaches...
I literally found out about Sweepstakes before I was ever licensed. A friend,
no longer licensed,
gave me his collection of QST from the 60's, and there were few things more
entertaining than Jack
Troster, W6ISQ's articles; if you're able to go back, his piece on "Strategy"
is still a classic
today. I'm sure there are still some of you out there with AA certificates, or
whisk brooms.
And I remember the first time I operated in it, after I had upgraded to extra,
and just enjoying how
the contest was not so much of a "run fest", and that you had to think your way
through it. And the
hunt for those elusive multipliers. Learning to copy that long exchange, and to
get it right the
first time. Being part of a club effort. My first clean sweep (no feeling like
it in the world!)
I remember when I started at the ARRL Contest Branch in 1990, when there was
open talk that the year
could be the last for the contest, as participation had fallen off so
dramatically. And I suggested
PINS (thanks, CQ-M for the idea), and it took back off again, and then we added
cups and plaques. It
is still going, eighteen years later, and long may it run.
November Sweepstakes is still a "thinking man's" contest, and it's still a heck
of a lot of fun. If
you've not operated it in a while, I urge you to go back this coming month and
give it another try.
It is one contest that is not particular to the size of your station; but
depends a great deal on
your operating ability.
And if you're one of those who's operated it all these years, I'll be looking
for you along with all
the other old friends I've made in this contest. KB and have fun!
73 and with malice towards none,
Warren, NF1J
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