[CQ-Contest] Unintended Consequences

[James Cain]

To Bob, KQ2M -- That was a great exposition on the CQ WPX rules; very thoughtful. Thanks for writing it. It reminded me of why for a long time it was a contest that did not interest me. 

I am still waiting for someone to reveal what the *un* intended consequences were of increasing the WPX hours of operation from 30 to 36. I have no idea.

I'm sure nobody remembers, or cares, but it was I who drafted the original rules for the IARU Radiosport Championship (as we called it) in early 1977. The Bicentennial Celebration in July 1976 had been such a huge success that it seemed like a good idea for ARRL/IARU to sponsor an annual, big, summer event. 

There were several active contesters at ARRL HQ at the time -- all of us in our 20s -- and, as I recall, after the Bicentennial Celebration we all agreed "that was very cool." And the Contest Advisory Committee in those days was more active, and visible, than they are now. 

I don't recall when HQ multipliers were added to the IARU HF mix; it was sometime after I was involved. I worked at ARRL HQ and was "contest editor" and CAC liaison during the Bicentennial and IARU RS days. 

Jim Cain, K1TN/9
Northern Wisconsin