[CQ-Contest] QSO Parties

[Randy Thompson]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: TOMK5RC at aol.com [mailto:TOMK5RC at aol.com]
> 
> The point is that state QSO party sponsors can do just about 
> anything with a 
> motivated group of hams and the time and tenacity to keep 
> pushing (a la 
> K4OJ). The question becomes, WHY? As the former County Judge 
> of Armadillo 
> County, I can testify that it's an incredible amount of work for the 
> amusement of a handful of folks. Is it worth it? Ask the sponsors.
> 
No, ask the participants!

I was fortunate to participate as a mobile in the Texas Armadillo Run and as
a fixed station the year they tried to activate all USA counties.  I count
both of these in my ham radio Top 20 all time operating experiences!

Doing 1800 miles and making 2100 QSOs in a weekend was a thrill.  Especially
travelling a state as large and diverse as Texas.  We saw forests, hills,
flat prairie, bad lands, you name it.  Red dirt, brown dirt, black dirt,
rocks... And a new pile-up every 20 minutes.  Thanks to K5TR for doing the
driving.

I worked almost 2100 counties (of the 3076) in 2 weekends during the 'big'
Armadillo Run in 1986.  Again, it was a thrill to chase mobiles and counties
just to see how many I could work.  You read about guys taking years to work
all US counties and I was trying to do it in 52 hours!

Contesting fun is what you make it.  And some of the best fun comes from the
most unexpected places.

Randy, K5ZD


--
CQ-Contest on WWW:        http://www.contesting.com/_cq-contest/
Administrative requests:  cq-contest-REQUEST at contesting.com