[VHFcontesting] [Packrats] Rover rendezvous in Gap PA?

[Rick R]

It has been a long-standing club policy that we do not encourage or participate in grid circling.
On occasion our rovers have met each other as they traverse various grids and exchange QSOs on all their bands, but we do not plan to run up scores doing grid-circling, tandem roving, or captive roving. 
There is history to this from rovers back 20 years ago which was decried then and now by our club, and there is also the activity of the Southern California Contest Club (N6NB et al) which continues to promote this, which has been partially addressed by rules changes. Our club gives out a Rover Recognition Award each year. Here is an excerpt from the award a few years ago:


The Rover Recognition Award

 

            The memory
of Bill Seabreeze, W3IY, is being honored by the establishment of the Rover
Recognition Award. The Mt. Airy VHF Radio Club, Inc. members were fortunate to
have had Bill and his frequent roving partner, Christophe, ON4IY, operate the
VHF contests and other on-the-air activities from Bill’s rover van in grids
adjacent to “Packrat territory” and were responsible for hundreds of QSOs,
dozens of grid multipliers and thousands of contest points for the Packrats in
each of these events. 

 

            The club
voted to make Bill an honorary Packrat in 2004, and also awarded him a plaque
in recognition of his efforts and achievements over the past several years. Not
only had he been an active roving contester, but he stimulated significant
microwave activity in the region with the consensus building of the designated
“Microwave Activity Days,” commonly referred to as MAD on the first Saturday
morning and the first Monday evening of each month. Many of the rovers in the
region try to get their vehicles out for these MAD periods, home stations are
active, and all try to make sure that their gear is in working order, and
possibly try out new modes, new paths and new bands. Additionally, Bill
established an excellent web site as a resources page for rovers, including
lots of pictures of his gear, rover vehicle and operating sites.  There were also a host of links and other
useful info on rovering issues and how he had addressed them from his
experience. 

 

            The Rover
contest designation was established in the early 90’s as a new option for
stations that were mobile through several grids that would have otherwise
remained ‘unactivated’ during the contest. Many clubs supported the early
rovers as a method of increasing both the activity and scores. According to Dan
Henderson, N1ND, Contest Branch Manager, ARRL, “…the rules change occurred in
the ‘91-’92 contest season. The biggest reason of the establishment (of the)
category was to open up the captive rovers and allow them to work more stations
for score.” 

 

The 2007 Rover Recognition Award
will be given in early 2008 to a rover station who demonstrated particular
excellence throughout the year in 2007. The Packrat Board of Directors will
review the activity of the rover stations in all of the competitive VHF events
throughout the year. Consideration will be given to the effort, regularity of
operation, bands operated, grids covered, contribution to the VHF community,
unique factors, and operating characteristics. Although total scores will be
factored in, they will not be significant criteria for this award. The contest
results as posted in QST and on the web sites of other contest sponsors will
enable the award committee to form a list of candidates, and any additional
information on the rover operations can be directed via email to the Packrat
President and Chairman of the Board as listed on the Packrat Website.
(Currently info can be sent to K1DS:   rick1ds at hotmail.com)