MAPLE RIDGE RUN 2010 DOUG LEE KC5ZQM
Memorial Day
2010 started early for me. I got out of bed a little after
0530, got dressed, loaded up my HT's and gear, headed out to
the historic and scenic Maple Ridge Neighborhood in Tulsa.
This neighborhood sits between Riverside Drive, Peoria
Avenue, 21st and 31st streets. Every year year the
neighborhood association holds the Maple Ridge Run on
Memorial Day. Since the late 1990's, the Tulsa Repeater
Organization has provided comm support for this event.
I was late signing up this year, but I was early
arriving at "Owasso Island," 26th and Owasso. Tom Stroud
KD5OPH, Stan Callahan KE5HPB, Tom Hance KD5CNY and Ray Young
KE5WGA were already there.
Most of the other hams
that volunteered went directly to their assigned positions
along the course. Brian Gnad KB5TSI swung by to drop off
the portable radio setup used for the Net Control Station.
Paul Young KE5EHM and William St. John KE5SAW also showed up
at the island, for they were assigned to shadow the Race and
Safety/Medical directors.
Rain was an uninvited
guest, but we were prepared. Tom KE5OPH had brought a new
canopy and set it up to cover the NCS on the tailgate of his
pickup.
When Paul KE5EHM and William KE5SAW went to
find the people they were to shadow, we found out William
had no one to follow. Fortunately, he brought his camera,
and I suggested he go around the course and get a photo of
each operator at his station. I'd had this idea for several
years, but no way to carry it out. He was willing to do it,
and I really appreciate his efforts.
Somewhere in
this time frame, Tom KE5OPH surprised me by asking me to
take Net Control. I hadn't done that since 2005, so I
briefly wondered if I could still do it. But like the
cliche goes, "it's just like riding a bike; it'll come back
to you." I managed to run the net without any major
hiccups. I'm still not sure about that cliche, for I never
learned to ride a bike.
After everyone was on
station, Mark Conklin N7XYO asked about moving the net from
the 146.880 repeater to simplex. I said as long as .88 was
working, we'd stay there. However, after some behind the
scenes discussion involving the use of an alternative mobile
communications system, we decided to move to 146.550
simplex.
The transition to simplex involved some
manipulation of radio settings, and making sure everyone got
the word to move. The net went fairly smooth after that,
except that one operator had an HT battery drop out on him,
we had someone with an open mic for a short period, and
there was some confusion about the Tulsa Police Special
Events Officer following the last runner or rider in the
races.
The only other major issue we dealt with was a
fire truck. We were told it would be on the course for the
first leg, and then peel off. Then the question arose about
moving vehicles to allow it to leave the course, but TPD
handled that issue. Then we found out that the truck would
lead the runners on the 5K! When that race started, Ben
Joplin WB5VST mentioned the truck was doing its best to stay
out of the runners' way. I think we can safely say the fire
truck won't be back next year.
Despite the presence
of the fire truck and a challenge from another runner
towards the end, the winner took an early lead, averaged
about a minute between stations, and finished the race in
less than 18 minutes!
I secured the net at 1000
hours, and every one gathered together back at the island
for a group photo, to collect t-shirts, and some good
fellowship. My thanks, and congratulations on a great job,
to everyone who took part!
Here's a complete list of
volunteers and their assignments:
NCO COM DR KD5OPH
STROUD,TOM NCO KC5ZQM LEE, DOUGLAS SHADOW 1 RACE DR.
KD5EHM YOUNG,PAUL START LINE WB5VST JOPLIN,BEN TURN 1
KD5CNY HANCE,TOM TURN 2 KE5HPB CALLAHAHAN, STAN TURN 3
K5CRQ COMPOS,ED TURN 4 KE5OKT DANFORTH,CARROLTON FRONT
TRETCH N7XYO CONKLIN, MARK BACK STRETCH 1 KB5TSI GAND,
BRIAN BACK STRETCH 2 KD5VSB GRACE,JOHN FINISH LINE
KD5GUA EVERETT, DOUG SPARE KE5WGA YOUNG,RAYMOND
ROVER/PHOTOGRAPHER KD5SAW WILLIAM,ST JOHN
|
|