We had our last meeting on the 8TH of October where we met the following four riders from Modesto: Ray Antasek – NM6R, Hope Antasek – KB6FEE, Jim Holub – KE6UNS and Leah Holub. Ray & Hope arrived on their white GoldWing and Jim & Leah arrived on their Heritage Softtail. Ray has a low band rig on his bike he has been
trying to get to work with his screwdriver antenna. He and Don Weber talked about their experiences with this massive antenna working on a motorcycle. If you’ve never seen a screwdriver antenna, it is worth finding one to get an understanding how this might look on a motorcycle. Another way is to send a message to Don Weber asking him to send you a
picture.
Other than the new guest, we had a rather quick meeting with only Don Weber – KA7QQV, J.P. Rouland – KE6UMX and myself attending. Lunch at Lyons was just fine, but with only the pictures to pass around we were forced to shelve the other items on the agenda until the next meeting.
Charity events:
During October, BA-MARC provided motor support to the Santa Clara Council’s Boy Scout event call the Coyote Creek Cycling Classic. We were in this event last year and this year’s route followed the same path as last year. Attendance at this even was around 500 bicycles,
which is down from the 800 they had last year. Communications for this event went better, although the hills around the Uvas reservoir in Morgan Hill area require working between two repeater locations a necessity. Still the event went well and there were no serious injuries. One young rider on the event kept experiencing flats. In the course of four miles he had six flats. Flat support for this event was provided by the local REI store, but this young fellow wanted to fix his own. After his sixth flat, he
found himself time barred on the course and was required to return VIA the SAG wagon.
San Jose’s Tech Museum fund-raiser, our second event in October, is an annual marathon race growing in attendance each year and it is a fun event to work. Of all the events I’ve worked, the communication coordination at this event is the best.
San Jose PD provides motor support for this marathon so communication is easily handled from a lawn chair at an aid station. Still, having to be on station at 6:00 AM takes a little doing on the night we play with our clocks. Not helping things that morning was a torrential
rain that made leaving the house more difficult than usual. However, once your wet, you don’t get any wetter and things begin to settle down.
For November we don’t have any events to support, but we have just made contact with Thomas R. Hall, Team Leader, Tour de Cure, Western Region Area III in Emeryville, CA. Our discussions are just starting and he understands we are just forming a local group and might not be as effective in providing the support their group receives from the MARC group in southern California. Still, we must start somewhere and this is a very worthwhile cause to put
effort behind.
Our meeting for the November falls on the 12th of November, but we have the International Motorcycle show that day. I’ll send out an email to those in this area asking if they want to the meeting moved to another time before making a commitment with the restaurant.
Next months Agenda Items:
1.
Review current status of open items from last meeting – Roger Rines
2.
MARC Poster presentation – David Sawyer
3.
Poster Placement and expectations – All
4.
Group Picture presentation – Don Weber
5.
Support from HRO- Ralph had a discussion with MAC at HRO in Oakland
and recommended a course of action. – Ralph Burr
6.
Next Year Tour de Peninsula – Dan Curry brought this up shortly
after our last meeting and asked that it be put on the agenda.
7.
Membership names in a booklet – Roger Rines
8.
Whatever others bring up - All
73s,
Roger…
WB1CFQ
