Silicon Valley Marathon
Today will be MARC's second area event participation and thanks to Bonnie Davis KD6OFQ, this time I'm equipped with applications, business cards and large vehicle signs. The large MARC signs are already on so that task is done but I'm having problems getting organized in my semi-comatose state. I get like this during the early morning when I've awakened too soon and fall back asleep. Somehow all the circuits don't all wake-up again at the same time. At four-thirty Sunday morning it is my brain that doesn't show any sign of life. I keep making the same trips to do the same things and still don't get them done and it won't be long
before I learn my jacket is MIA. This operating condition has been more common lately, but even when it wasn't, it has been there at least twice a year when this biannual event of adjusting time toggles me into grumping at the emotional need that drives us to play with the clocks.
All the hams are meeting at a local restaurant where the first-aid signs and kits are handed out. It is still dark and I'm cold standing in the parking lot in just my MARC summer shirt. Between the shivers and breathe clouds I'm fielding question that the MARC signs and lapel badge are stirring in the conversations about radios and riding.
Some of the same talkers from last month's Coyote Creek event are here and soon I'm not feeling like the outsider I was just a few weeks ago.
Frequency assignments came in Saturday morning so my radio preparation is marginal. It is marginal because I'm on a new radio with a tethered manual for this event. We aren't using our motors because the local San Jose PD motors will be running and patrolling the route. What I need today is a hand held and my ICOM IC-02AT got
the flu on Saturday. This malady is unusual for my favorite radio of twenty plus years as this is the first time she isn't feeling good. It seems some virus keeps mutating the PL tones I need for these new repeater pairs and repeated saves to memory don't bring back a successful recollection. Age has created memory problems for this little
"handie" and working through the memory or neurosis issue in time for tomorrow's event isn't a reality. My only option is a quick shopping trip to the local ham center to see who I can adopt.
Trips to radio stores are always hazardous to my checking account under normal circumstances, but when I can rationalize an urgent commitment, well you know what happens. Large cash register sounds later and I'm heading for the barn with a new Kenwood TH-D7A, extra batteries, a speaker-mic, software, cable, a Maha intelligent charger and a Comet SH-55 all hiding in a plain plastic bag.
This must be an important radio as it comes with a very large price tag and two operations manuals that will never fit in my memory. Surprisingly the programming is straight forward and I've got the event frequencies and tones loaded. On Sunday I should be working the unit well if my dementia doesn't set in too soon.
This annual race is an important fundraiser for the children's Tech Museum. It is here that children of all ages are shown how technology is changing our world and allowed hands-on play to see it in action. A full marathon, a half-marathon, a relay race, a kid's race and a wheel chair marathon are scheduled for today. Mile
twenty-three on the main event is mile 10 on the half event and where my post is stationed. This assignment is north of the main city and there are large buildings blocking all the assigned 2-meter repeaters. Only the UHF repeaters are visible to my antenna and I begin to wonder if my ICOM knew it would be in trouble at this location so it used sick time to not be embarrassed.
Maybe little "handie" is more wise than senile.
Our duties are to record the first three participants past the aid-station for each event on the progress net, call for help on the medical net and listen with our other ear on the main net. Just north of me is where a BMW K-75 is parked manning another aid station. I met this rider at the meeting location and made sure he left with an application, a business card and
commitment to get together. Jey, KQ6DK, is our event's communication director and he had his MARC application clicked under his clipboard shortly after he arrived. He and his wife, who is in today's event as runner 1461, ride a pair of "his" and "hers" BMWs. His is a R1100RT and hers is a R850R. Jey
doesn't have any radios on these bikes but after seeing what I have, he seems ready to plunge in and should be sending dues.
I would have preferred to work the event from the back of the motor but our short term goal is to get exposure and a local membership. We are more visible because of Sunday's participation so we can record progress, but it is going to take many more events and others working together as a MARC resource before we will be taken seriously. In simple terms, we need help.
Roger…
WB1CFQ - San Jose, CA
