[SECC] [FCG] CAC and changes to the ARRL DX Contest

[Mark Luhrman]

The proposal is actually to make it better to increase participation and maybe 
shorten the time for single ops. I do not think they want to change it to be 
like CQWW. Also your example of nascar is good. But I am pretty sure that those 
guys just do not enter this just to go around the track many times. They enter 
to win. Other wise their sponsers would definately drop out!




________________________________
From: Lu Romero <lromero at ij.net>
To: Mark Luhrman <w4svo at att.net>; fcg at kkn.net; secc at contesting.com; 
w2gd at hotmail.com
Sent: Mon, June 20, 2011 4:41:19 PM
Subject: Re: [FCG] CAC and changes to the ARRL DX Contest

I agree that contests are about winning, Mark.  But there
are many definitions of winning.  The reason why I think I
win is different from the reason you think you win.

I agree that there are many folks who spend a ton of money
to field winning entries.  However, in this particular game,
the rules are sometimes stacked agains certain participants,
or the participant's location and configuration stacks the
deck for or against them.  Its part of this game, just like
NASCAR.  And in NASCAR, the rules are adjusted to compensate
for technical breakthroughs simply to keep competition
"even".  That's an artificial "enhancement" in the name of
entertainment.

In RadioSport, it is night impossible to make everything
equal.  There are too many variables.  You can get close,
like in WRTC, but still the variables affecting the outcome
are many.

The point of the discussion is that there is a proposal
afoot to change ARRL DX from "the world works NA" to "The
world works the world".  Essentially, to make ARRL DX into a
clone of CQ-WW.

If those rules are changed, the entire dynamic of the
contest will change.  At the crux of the issue is the
declining participation of DX stations due to the format of
the contest (at least that is the perception that is put
forward).  Other things also affect the dynamic... Stations
in prime NA locations have an advantage.  They dont want to
see that advantage vaporize.  The contest has dropped in
popularity, and the sponsor wants to rectify that.

The real question here is: Do we need more CQ-WW style
contests where the world works the world to increase DX
participation, or should the World works NA format be
retained at the cost of decreasing DX participation?

I dont know if the argument about tradition or the status
quo is that important in this case.

There are many definitions of winning.  I just proposed
mine.  They may be different to yours.

But my point is, just like in the Television Station game,
you dont have to be #1 in ratings to be #1 in profit.  In
our game, you dont have to win the contest overall, there
are many other ways to "win" in this hobby.

Im as competitive as the next guy, and I like to win, but
everytime I enter a contest, I feel like I have won, because
I have improved myself, improved my station, and improved my
skill.

-lu-w4lt-

----- Original Message Follows -----
From: Mark Luhrman <w4svo at att.net>
To: fcg at kkn.net, secc at contesting.com, w2gd at hotmail.com
Subject: [FCG] CAC and changes to the ARRL DX Contest
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:56:58 -0700 (PDT)

>Hi all, There has been a lot of talk about this subject.
>Everybody has their own  ideas on this subject. I have read
>that entering contests are not about winning.  Tell that to
>the guys that have spent a lot of money on antennas, equip,
>etc.  Plus setting up stations on islands, what not. In
>sports, teams want to win a  championship. Contests are
>about winning, period. There are some that do  participate
>in DX Contests, so that they can work new band countries,
>etc. Why,  because this is when a lot of DX comes on the
>bands at the same time. Then there  are those that say
>leave it alone. Most of these are the NE Stations. There
>are  some that say doing a point system by distance would
>be more fair. I tend to be  more on this side. What are the
>best ways to make this a better contest, I have  my own
>opinions. The bottom line though is that the FCG and other
>contest groups  should voice their ideas to the CAC. This
>is the way things get changed, laws,  politics, etc. What
>bothers me the most not many of us actually want to take on
>change. This is in my opinion why America is falling behind
>, too much  complacency. Very few people will actually go
>against the grain, and the ones  that do are very few. Mark
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