Topband: It isn't all about winning

[Herb Schoenbohm]

I learned long ago that after winning all bands single and multi and
single band phone and CW with a world record on CQ WW (except 40 phone)
that these "records" would all disappear in the following years as they
all did.  Because of the geographic point advantage to stations 300
miles south of me could easily get a higher score with less Q's and less
multipliers.    So I have come up with self competition like trying to
work WAS on 160 in 10 hours and now I have done that in under 4 hours on
160.  Or trying to do DXCC on 160 in one weekend.  I think Jeff, VY2ZM
does this with ease now.  So these little self assigned goals are really
exciting especially when you can make your quota.  But getting in the
top ten with a standard home station is getting more and more difficult
with all the super stations all over the world.

Contesting is like a war to some but those who take it too seriously I
offer this memorable line by General Patton as portrayed by George C.
Scott in the movie.

For over a thousand years, Roman conquerors returning from the wars
enjoyed the honor of a triumph - a tumultuous parade. In the procession
came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered
territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured
armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed
prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in
white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace horses. A slave
stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in
his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.

Such is contesting and "all glory is fleeting."

Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ



On 12/7/2012 1:24 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:
>> I would hazard a guess that few of us enter it with an eye purely on
>> score. If
>> folks only entered contests they would "win" there would only ever be
>> one entrant
>> in each contest, a great loss for us all. I enjoy contest activity
>> even though
>> I've never won any :-)
>
> Truer words were never spoken.
>
> That's the way it works in all sports, except radio sports.   :-)
>
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