[CQ-Contest] Remembering the BEST TIMES at Multi-Multi Operations.....

[Jim Idelson]

>In the late 1970's, Ted Gamlin, then K1VBL, assembled a monster station . . . 
<

This brings back some fantastic memories. Back in the 70's as a teenager, I was 
somehow able to position myself in the right place at the right time for 
invitations to a few of the great multi's in the northeast. I had a great time 
doing shifts to help out 'the big boys' at W2PV at K1OX multi-multi's. I 
remember climbing a tower in a snowstorm in the middle of the night at PV's to 
fix a low-band wire. Unfortunately, I never did get to operate at W1ZM, but I 
have great memories of helping to install a full-size 40m yagi there - K1ZM up 
on top - and then enjoying some freshly-grilled mooseburgers when the project 
was over. We also had some great years doing multi-single at W1ZA. It was 
various combinations of Duke Brown W1ZA, Stu Santelmann KC1F, Fred Hopengarten 
K1VR, Ken Wolff K1EA and me - under the watchful eyes of master designers Fred 
Collins W1FC and Dana Atchley W1CF. I'm very pleased to have station-master 
W1ZA as a trusted advisor to my multi-single operation today. We also did some 
great, fun multi's at the local schools - W1MX [MIT] and W1YK [WPI]. And to 
this day, I won't forget one of my first multi contests from the home of a 
local ham - Mark WA1LMJ - I don't even know if he's still licensed. It was just 
the two of us sharing the mike on his HW-100 driving a TH3 at 60 feet. I'd just 
upgraded to General and this was my dream station. We must have put 100 or so 
QSOs on paper that weekend; we had a blast.

It's no wonder I've become a 'multi' addict now that I've got my own steel and 
aluminum in the backyard. Big or small, multi's are great; they're not just 
about equipment and operating, they're about people and teamwork.

Jim Idelson K1IR
email    k1ir at designet.com
web    http://www.designet.com/k1ir