[VHFcontesting] Leveling the Playing Field- [ REGIONAL VS. NATIONAL ]

[Les Rayburn]

On 2/23/2015 12:44 PM, Ken Kent - KA2LIM wrote:
> I am going to break my rule of not commenting and comment.
>
> I am really tired of hearing all the whining about "it's not fair", " the NE
> has a big advantage", "the playing field needs to be leveled", "the rules
> need to be changed" blah, blah, blah. Bullshit!
> If you don't like the rules of current contests, then start one of your own
> and write the rules to suit you. (and be ready for all the complaining)
> If you are participating in a contest to "WIN",  then  you are obviously in
> it for the wrong reason, you should pursue other interests.
>
> Personally I have been building a contest station for 13 years. Constantly
> up-grading and adding more bands. No, I don't have lots of money, do a
> little bit at a time. Building a station that is easy for others to operate
> just happens to be "my thing", operating is secondary to me. Winning is
> really not on the list. We do what we can do.
>
> Where you live is what you have to work with. If you don't like where you
> are located and "winning" is so important then move.
>
> on the should be list:
> #1 "HAVE FUN"
> #2 Make every effort possible to make the contact, no matter how long it
> takes
> #3 your score is what it is
> #4 HAVE FUN
> #5  see rule #1 and #4
>
> Flame away.....
>
> Ken
> KA2LIM
>
>

Ken,

Sorry, old man but I have to disagree with you on several points.

The nature of competition is to strive to be the best. For many people, 
it's the only reason to compete at all. While winning is not my goal, I 
do understand that winning is important to a lot of people.

Likewise, no one wants to enter a contest or competition where they are 
at an inherent disadvantage. If NASCAR set up a race where drivers from 
California started the race with 40 points more than other drivers, I 
doubt that the sport would be as popular as it is. Likewise, the NFL 
would not have prospered if teams from the AFC started the SuperBowl 
with seven points on the board.

In a VHF or UHF competition, regional differences are significant. The 
ARRL represents all their members, not just those in certain parts of 
the country. /To the extent possible, /they have an obligation to 
structure their contests to be as fair to all members as they can. I 
don't think it's unreasonable to expect that.

I realize that transitioning from a national event with only one winner 
in each category to a regional event is a big departure. But it does 
seem to address a lot of the issues that have plagued past attempts at 
leveling the playing field.

I totally agree with you that having fun should always be the main goal. 
With indoor antennas and low power, I have no expectation of winning an 
ARRL Contest regardless of it's structure. But I understand those who 
have invested considerable effort into building their stations, and want 
only to be competitive in the contest with others. Geography should not 
be destiny in a national contest.


--
73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
EM63nf

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