* * A POTAstic Day! * *
On Saturday May 4, 2024 CARC members and friends met at Pine Grove Furnace State Park for Derby Day.
Or as one local radio station morning show (Red 102.3) called it in their parody commercial done in the style of a 1980s Budweiser ad as they described the coincidence of Star Wars Day and the Kentucky Derby – “May the Horse be with you”.
CARC Derby Day was designed to allow individual club members the chance to make a successful Parks On The Air (POTA) activation and participate in the 7th Call Area QSO Party (WA, OR, ID, WY, MT, UT, NV, AZ) and Indiana QSO Party.
Last year’s weather was perfect. This year not so much. The scattered thunderstorms became all-day rain forecasts by Friday evening.
Still, thirteen members and friends showed up to demonstrate the fortitude and enthusiasm they bring to the Amateur Radio hobby.
Mark Anstine KC3UVG, Paula Anstine KC3UVH,
John Bartko W3JJB, Dave Donaldson KC3OSG,
Garry Fasick K3EYK, Richard Johnson N3EPY,
Glenn Kurzenknabe K3SWZ, John Luthy WA3KCP,
Frank Mellott KB3PQT, Doug Stenger KC3CPT,
Bill Wagaman N3GTY,
along with our guests Osmon and his wife Kimberly, who wanted to see the magic happen and learn more about the wonderful world of amateur radio.
Contacts and successful POTA activations were made using digital modes and CW. Band conditions were not the best, but some phone contacts were made in the 7th Call Area QSO Party and some DX, primarily with Italy and Great Britain.
Because it was cold, wet and never got above 50 degrees, the event broke up in the early afternoon. Doug Stenger KC3CPT, Paula Anstine KC3UVH and Bill Wagaman N3GTY made a wonderful meal of hamburgers and hotdogs.
After lunch a drawing was held for door prizes, including an ARRL Operating Manual, 250’ feet of Davis antenna wire, a tube of coax connector seal, various other books on antennas, voice over internet-VOIP, GPS and other amateur radio topics.
Osmon and Kimberly traveled 1 3/4 hours to attend and left with an ARRL Technician exam study guide to help them begin their longer amateur radio journey.
The CARC Radio Road Show team is already looking forward to Derby Day-2025! Mark your calendar for Saturday May 3, 2025.
For more information about POTA, Field Day and another topics, follow the trail to
https://www.radioclub-carc.com/resources/
See ‘ya down the log.
Frank KB3PQT