Monitor Oct 2016 - MARA

1 THE Monitor October October 2016. 2016. Published Monthly for members of the Amateur Radio Clubs in Virginia's Central shenandoah Valley VARA Meeting: October 4th The Valley Amateur Radio Association, Association will hold its October 4th meeting at Hometown Grille &. Buffet (Old Shoney's) at 30 Sanger Lane, Staunton, VA. Dinner starts at 6:00pm, and the general meeting begins at 7:00pm. MARA Meeting: October 6th The Massanutten Amateur Radio Association, Inc., Inc will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, October 6th, 6th at the Wood Grill on Reservoir Street in Harrisonburg. Dinner starts at 6:30 Meeting starts at 7:30 PM. All hams and their families are invited and welcome. A presentation on how to renew your license and receive a paper copy will be given by Robert, W8 HGH.

2 PVARC Meeting: October 7th The Page Valley Amateur Radio Club will hold its regular meeting on October 7th at 6:30pm at the QTH of KQ4D. All hams and their guests are invited. Additional detail will be provided by email. Weekly Friday Luncheon The Friday weekly casual lunch meetings are at Hometown Grille & Buffet (Old Shoney's) at 30. Sanger Lane, Staunton, VA at 11:00AM. Directions: I-81 to Exit 222, Richmond Rd. & Rte 250. Turn East, Hometown Grille & Buffet will be on the left across the street from Mrs. Rowe's. VARA President's Column communications, the event has been Calling all HAMS of VARA and MARA!! going on for over 20 years and amateur radio operators Its that time of the year that several community events are has assisted over 900 bike gearing up and need amateur radio operators to assist in riders each year with this communications.

3 These events are a great way to get event. We will need approx involved in local communication operations and also enjoy 20 operators for Saturday these events with fellow HAMS. Every year both clubs are Oct 15th and about 12 oper- asked to help out and the members vote to get involved, then ators for Sunday Oct 16th. when the time comes to assist, it has been getting harder and The event runs from approx harder to find the volunteers needed to operate these 8:00am til 4:00pm each day, events. As President of VARA I ask all members of VARA There are several courses and MARA to assist in one or two of the events coming up so each day ranging from 12. as not to put undue stress of the committee member who is miles to 100 miles and the working with the event organizer to provide our services.

4 So need for operators to cover without further delay , here are the events that are on the the courses is great. A mobile unit is required, but a schedule that need help. car/truck with a HT can work in some areas of the course. The event organizer provides lunch and a sweatshirt to all On Sept 17th at the Augusta Expo, The Self Reliance Expo hams that participate. For all VARA members is you will be held from 9-4. They have donated a space for amateur volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours your 2017 membership radio operators to have a booth and demonstrate what we are dues are waived. This is a great event to enjoy the fall colors all about. We will need several operators to man the booth and help families from all over the country that come to this and also need someone who is willing to set up a working event.

5 If interested please contact me at eaglehik- radio system. Also if you have equipment you would like to demonstrate you are welcome as well. This is the 3rd year the event is being held and has a very nice turnout of people visiting the event. If interested in helping please email me at The shenandoah 500 Motorcycle Ride is Oct 1st and 2nd thru Augusta and Rockingham county and Bryan Daniels is in need of volunteers as well. If interested please contact him The Grindstone 100 will be held from 6:00pm Oct 7th thru at 8:00am Oct 9th, this is a 100 mile footrace thru Augusta and Rockingham county and has 15 checkpoints that need amateur ham operators to relay info. The organization Thank you for your time and look forward to working with provides sweatshirts to all hams that participate and is an easy you all!

6 ! event to get your feet wet if you are a new ham or an experienced ham that would enjoy being outdoors in the John Keller W4 ZAO. woods. You will need a mobile rig and good antenna so if President VARA. interested please email me at Contact person for Grindstone 100. Contact person for Fall Foliage Bike Festival The Fall Foliage Bike Festival will be held Oct 14-16 and is Contact person for Self Reliance Fair the largest event that VARA and MARA help with 2 October 2016. 70' Rohn 25G tower system in excellent condition $ Unused Rohn 25-AG4 8' flat top includes: Unused Rohn TB3 thrust bearing 5 very good condition Rohn 25 sections 6-10' sections 1 good condition half section (for concrete burial). 1-10' top section with rotor plate 1 used rotor plate 1-5' section that can be used for a setting in concrete for base Lists for over $1,000 (plus shipping) at DXE or Texas Towers.

7 1- new tilt over plate 6- turn buckles Build a 60' tower. Just add anchors, guy wire and bolts. (DIY Hole 9- porcelain guy wire insulators included. Just remove the dirt.). 3-new guy anchor rods (Seriously, I dig holes with my Kubota backhoe for PVRC mem- 2- guy wire brackets bers in the area). Also have for sale: $650 OBRO before listing. Will deliver or meet within 50 miles of Raleigh, 1- Tail Twister rotor with matching control box $ 73, 1- Original Tower Jack $100 (these are getting hard to find) Jim, K4 QPL , Merlin K3 MEJ 240-888-9480. pick up at my QTH in Olney, MD. 20832. Free for the taking - one 36-oot aluminum boom - four inches in diameter with a 1/4 inch wall thickness. Boom is in two 18-foot lengths with a sleeve connection. Will require a trailer to move.

8 John, N3 HBX , shenandoah 500 Motorcycle Race The upcoming shenandoah 500 motorcycle event is on the 3rd and 4th of October. October All, Please consider helping to support the shenandoah 500 Dual Sport Motorcycle event on the 3rd and 4th of October in the George Washington National Forest west of Harrisonburg. This year, the Washington Area Trail Riders will be providing pre- paid gasoline gift cards for all those that assist as well as those highly sought after event t-shirts. I'm the coordinator for the amateur radio support and welcome amateur radio is the true last line of communications in those anyone in the Valley to help. mountains. This is the same weekend as the Grindstone 100 and the Stillwaters(???) horse riding event. Jason, N4 DSL, will be our NCS this year since Bryan, K4 RMY, is vacationing somewhere exotic!

9 A number of you have supported this event in the past and I. welcome you back and encourage some new blood. If you have already emailed me, you will be getting a reply soon. Thanks for your consideration, We have had several critical accidents during this event and David Collins, 540-842-1153. The Monitor 3. shenandoah Mountain 100 Bike Race September 4, 2016 George Wortley, MD KJ4 CHT . Rocks, trees, hills, streams, wet leaves, mud holes, heat and fatigue. Net Control was set up at the Stokesville Campground and was manned These are all things faced by the nearly 500 bicycle racers at the by N3 GLZ, KD4 UPL, W4 PJW and WA4 FJC from 6 am till about 8:30pm. recent shenandoah Mountain 100 Bike Race. On Sunday of Labor Day There were 5 aid stations set up along the 100 mile course.

10 We had weekend several of us were providing emergency communicating operators at each aid station all day, which included K3 JRR, KJ4 VVP, through the Bearden repeater. We were ready, willing and KB2 LOZ, N4 USS and wife N4 KCL from Lynchburg plus K4 DJG assistant able to assist the riders if they had problems. And of course they did. net control for simplex near Reddish Knob. The SM100 is part of a Nationwide series of endurance races of the Many complimentary remarks were made regarding the professional National Ultra Endurance Series. (go to: ) This was and timely communications provided by our group. You no doubt rec- actually the 18th SM100 a 100 mile bike race originating at Stokes- ognize each of the callsigns above as being highly qualified and very ex- ville Campground and Lodge.