[CQ-Contest] Newbe contesters now and then

[thompson at mindspring.com]

The amateur radio ranks are getting older.  The average age is mid 50's (hey
that me).  I still feel contesters are a younger group..

When I got my license in 1957 there were many younger hams.  In 1958 I
placed third in the ARRL SS and QST noted that the "youngsters" were
snapping up all the section certificates.  I recently looked at the log (I
keep all my logs) and there was a very good mix of ages (its easy to look at
the Checks sent).  Actually there was a good balance of youngsters (14 to
18),  College kids (19 to 23) and veterans.   Bill K5LWL was 10 and I was
14.  One K8 was 16....The oldest certificate winner was 86 that year (K2BHP
in WNY)  He was an energetic operator and K2 Brisk Horse Power sure made you
remember him on phone.

The challenge is to get the youngsters interested...with the interaction of
the rig and computers today this should be easy except that these youngsters
are into W98 or Linux not DOS!

73 Dave K4JRB



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