As one of the Senior Set, still trying to sometimes run with the Big Dogs - I
can attest that its become more of a challenge now to go 48 straight in a
contest. More of a mental achievement than a physical.
But that's the way its always been.
And if I can and do, so what?? And if I cannot, and don't, who really cares
one way or another?? In that I've set a personal goal of serious contest
DXpeditioning for 33 more years, at which time I'll hit 100 years, is just
that: some ridiculous goal for which no one cares but the undersigned. Well,
maybe Delta Airlines cares..............
Contesting is one of the more personal, and perhaps self-centered, pursuits
that anyone has ever devised. You and your radio. You trying to excel as a
communicator of the highest standard. You trying your utmost to reach some
goal, whether it be to break a silly pile-up, make 1000 QSO's, work 100
countries, or find 10 hours by yourself in the shack.
And that is good.
At the end of the day, only you will rejoice if you met any of your goals. As
my dear friend Ville OH2MM opined to me when we were together in Brazil at PT5A
3 years ago, "Jim, only you will remember your Number One's. Realize that,
have fun, and only take yourself seriously". Great thoughts to absorb from one
of our forever best operators.
Where am I going with this, you might ask?
After too many years of what I'll label "reluctance" to minimize our pursuit of
operating, I can now say that I am 100% supportive of a "Competitor Friendly
Class" whether it be 24 hours, 36 hours, or whatever.
Let's allow each individual operator, post contest, to declare that he wishes
his log to be scored on a To Be Determined period of the total contest.
We can do this without shortening the overall contest. Just let each determine
how much of the contest he can/ will/ wants to, operate.
And why the heck not? Overall, the contest might just experience renewed
interest and participation, and for sure, many of our friends will feel that
they can still compete and have fun - without killing themselves.
And that would be good. Let's make it happen.
Vy 73
Jim Neiger N6TJ ( 9 Y 4 A A next week )
----- Original Message -----
From: <RLVZ@aol.com>
To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 6:09 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Competitor Friendly Contesting - 24 Hour
>
> Pete had a grrreat idea. I'd love to see it happen as due to family, work,
> and age I am usually restricted to "part-time".
>
> 73, Dick- K9OM
>
>
> In a message dated 11/18/2005 8:22:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> n4zr@contesting.com writes:
>
> Several years ago, two other guys and I publicly proposed a test of a
> "24-Hour Contest Challenge". The idea was to allow entrants to one of the
> big DX
> contests, if they wished, also to submit scores and operating periods for a
> 24-hour award to be managed completely separately from the "parent" contest.
>
> We did some research that suggested the net impact would be positive - many
> less-than-full-time ops would put in more time on the air in order to
> compete
> for it. We had also gone fairly far in figuring out the logistics so that
> there would be no effect on the contest sponsors and log checkers.
>
> Then I went to Dayton and talked to the contest sponsor (no, I'm not going
> to name names). I was astonished by the fierce hostile reaction. I thought
> that was just the "my sandbox" syndrome, but in the weeks thereafter, I was
> also surprised by the negative comments from contesters I respect. I still
> didn't (and don't) understand why, but the bottom line was that I decided to
> drop out, and it never happened.
>
> Maybe, with our community being (on average) a couple of years older and
> wiser, it's time to revive the concept. Anyone who does it has to be
> prepared
> to take a lot of flak, though.
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
>
> At 06:06 AM 11/18/2005, sawyered@earthlink.net wrote:
>>Thanks Gerry. I understand your point of view and respect it.
>>
>>It would seem that 3830 is somewhat addressing your interest in comparing
> "apples to apples" from a time standpoint.
>>
>>I remember Ward Silver had some dialog going a while back about the
> "contest within a contest" approach. He has attempted to do this with IARU
> for M/S
> Low Power. Since we are all just happy enough to have gotten the CQ WW
> certs
> we have recently, it would seem that adding more to that is unlikely.
> However, maybe one of the contest clubs would be successful in more fully
> implementing N0AX's approach and more fully institutionalize this type of
> approach.
>>
>>73 and see you in the 'tests.
>>
>>Ed N1UR
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: "Gerry Treas, K8GT" <k8gt@twmi.rr.com>
>>Sent: Nov 17, 2005 8:39 PM
>>To: sawyered@earthlink.net
>>Cc: cq-contest@contesting.com
>>Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Competitor Friendly Contesting
>>
>>I respect Ed and Kirk's contesting skills and acumen highly. I also
>>think they are really nice guys, too! But I strongly disagree with
>>their analogies and conclusions. In a marathon, or race of any kind you
>>do not need anyone else, except to provide the sponsor with enough
>>bodies to provide interest, but in a radio contest you "Top Ten - Top
>>Guns" need all of us "also-rans" and casual contesters, and you need to
>>generate interest among us so that we participate to help raise your
>>score.. That score would be rather measly if all of us weren't in the
>>"mix". I came to contesting rather late (the last 15 years) and I have
>>a hard time now staying awake at night, at 60 + years. I have only had
>>modest stations and I like to contest from home, the bathroom breaks are
>>all too frequent to do justice at a Multi-Op. I have done a few stints
>>at K8CC, thanks Dave, and 2 CQWW CW's at PJ2T, and had a ball. But now,
>>I really would like to be able to compare my results with others of my
>>limited abilities and resources. You need us "cannon fodder", so how
>>about throwing us a bone? A chance for a certificate for our 24 hour or
>>whatever limited. It's not like we'd ever try to say that we "won the
>>contest" if we received one. I'm beyond ever being able to go the full
>>48, do you want me to just forget about it and go do something else?
>>
>>73, Gerry K8GT Still tryin', but not bloody likely to get anywhere.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>CQ-Contest mailing list
>>CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
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