[CQ-Contest] Sweepstakes Unlimited Category - Sissies? (long)

[K7bv at aol.com]

Friends,
Gee, I haven't had a chance to stir the pot on this reflector for a long 
time. So, lets toss a little morsel for the Opinion Sharks to rage out at.

It appears possible that I may have won both CW and SSB Sweepstakes Unlimited 
categories this year. It is my honest opinion that I could have nailed all 80 
mults without the use of spotting which was running on a separate computer 
some of the time.  My SO2R would have taken care of the matter I suspect.

I won SSB in this category last year as well.  I was expecting flames from at 
least some of the serious contesters who might have missed the introduction 
of this new category last year but didn't hear a thing.  Although not getting 
any "flames" this year, I did get some inquires from respected friends 
wondering why I entered this category instead of High Power.  

I sent the following to my buddies --
"Hi guys,
That is a good question -- or maybe even a better one would be; "Why not?" 
HiHi 

Actually, I jumped in there last year as a direct result of basically a coin 
flip while laughing hysterically with K5RC in the shack. I arrived just 
before the contest and didn't have a clue what category I wanted to play in. 
But I knew for sure I just wanted to (1) help the NCCC and (2) have fun while 
doing it. 

The U class seemed like the best chance to make sure I nailed all the mults 
and it sounded like a fun laid back category -- no pressure per se since 
there was no history to compete against.  

I most certainly do not consider myself a HP Top Ten player at all but I do 
like to enter contests and go for the gold whenever that is a reasonable 
objective.  But I do not think I can compete with the big boys and ever win 
SS on either mode.  As much as I get kind of a charge making the Top Ten, the 
truth is no one remembers who is 2nd, 3rd, etc. KXXX recently reminded me 
that he thinks all contesters are egomaniacs to one extent or the other -- 
which explains why I would prefer to try for a top slot wherever there might 
be a reasonable chance.  

This year I thought maybe some more of the other Top 11-25ers who feel like 
me might swing over to the U category so we could have a grand time in what 
might emerge as the second string Top Ten while the big guys go for the real 
gold. 

My personal opinion is that there should be no U class awards at all since it 
is indeed a well intended but weird class.  I am opposed to all the 
categories that CQ has been bringing into the game and hope this will not be 
an ARRL trend.

Actually, I have been waiting for some flames to fly re this so I could ask 
that question, "Why not?" There is concern in my mind that all the League 
really did for real contesters was create a second Top Ten competition, 
thereby potentially weakening the HP real deal -- make sense to you guys?  

In theory, the Top Ten types would get a Sweep without the luxuries afforded 
one in the U class. If that is true, then the HP guy could swing over to this 
category and appear to have a better score than the HP Top Ten -- maybe 
giving the illusion that U category actually allows a Top Ten'r to increase 
his score -- something I think is totally incorrect.  

All it would have taken to whip me this year on CW or SSB of course is for 
one of the Top Ten'r types who can box my ears any time they wish to come on 
over to this category on either mode and take it away.  Next year we will 
very likely see that -- as evidenced by the inquires from major hitters like 
you two.  HiHi

As long as there is a first place and a nice plaque to go for, I cannot logic 
out why anyone wouldn't want a bunch of the gang to bang heads and go for it. 
Unless I can persuade the League to stop issuing awards for this category, 
this situation will exist."

They responded as follows -

"Hi Dennis,
No one remembers who came in 2nd - 10th, except you if it was you! I suspect
there won't be a top ten box for the U class. (This is incorrect -- there is 
a Top Ten listing in QST - BV) I've always thought assisted was for sissies, 
except see below.

This year I went A power because I thought I could win (xxxxxxx). I'd be 
happy to be in the top ten box B power next year in CW. The closest I've come 
is 13th. I don't think it is possible for me on phone. But you could go B 
power and have a good shot from NV.

I am going to be Assisted this weekend in CQWW CW because I know I can't 
compete with the super stations at XXXX and XXXX and I can set a zone X
assisted record. Given the peak of the sunspot cycle, I think I can have a
lot of fun doing this.

and -  

"Dennis:
Sure, I think you ought to post it on the reflectors and see what fur flies.
Just for fun, I imported my log into Excel and sorted things in different
ways.
For my (paltry, it turns out) XXXX QSOs:
A = 121X
B = 348
M = 168
U = 120
Q = 85
S = 17

So, yes, U category is somewhat underutilized, to make a very poor pun..."

Your thoughts?

73 Dennis the Menace K7BV




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>From James Funk" <jfunk at adams.net  Tue Nov 21 14:53:23 2000
From: James Funk" <jfunk at adams.net (James Funk)
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 08:53:23 -0600
Subject: [CQ-Contest] competition
Message-ID: <000901c053f3$3ee49520$41248ad8 at funk>


About a month ago, I asked about other areas of competition engaged in by
active radio contesters. This is a summary....

Most agreed that those who are competitive in one area are also competitive
in others.  A few mentioned "mellowing" with age, or being less intense in
certain pursuits, such as coaching youth softball (*that's* good....). A
"gotta win" attitude was mentioned.  Several also brought up the problem of
burn-out, both in contesting and other sports, and "If it's not fun any
more, don't do it."

Activities included: fast-pitch softball, yacht racing, drag racing,
motorsport, motorcycle racing, RC car racing, bowling, whitewater rafting,
bass fishing, hockey, touch football, soccer (and coaching it), bridge,
tennis, volleyball, hunting, camping (not sure how you do that
competitively, but I think "intensive" was the adjective used....),
basketball, racquetball, handball and chess.  We *are* a diverse, but
competitive bunch!

Thanks to NX5M, K7NT, K4WW, NQ4I, K3WW, K0SR, KZ1M, AH3C, K4BAI, G3WGN, and
AA5B for their responses.  There were a couple of others who didn't include
a callsign.

NOW.....

Next question:

There are a number of superb contesters out there who began their careers
being mentored at high-quality stations by experienced individuals.  The
question is to the mentors:  How did you recognize the qualities in these
young people to realize that they had this kind of potential?  What did you
look for?  How did you bring them along?  What pitfalls did you find?

I'll summarize....

73, Jim N9JF


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