Some of us Desert RATS really were out in the desert the weekend of April 1, no foolin’. Four of us served as communicators for the Desert Storm Rally. They were Annie KJ6QWC, Bill KK6HRW, Mark KD6SEC and myself. Along with supplying the needed any needed emergency communications, we also help keep track of the cars and log them and call them out as they pass our position along the course. We also block side roads and trails to prevent kids on dirt bikes from getting on the race course. The rally is run on BLM land and there are many side trails, and so far every rally that I have worked, some unsuspecting dirt biker and tried to get on the course.
You don’t need a 4×4 to participate in this either. I have a SUV (2 WD), Mark has a 4WD pickup and Bill often takes the path less traveled in his Rover. But Annie, she got out there in her Saturn. Hams are very important to rallying. At one point they were considering canceling on leg (called a stage) of the rally because they did not have enough hams to cover it. They wound up using non-hams with FRS radios in between hams with mobile VHF and a FRS radio. So it all worked out.
The organizers are very appreciative of Hams. They fed us Friday and Saturday dinners, brought very nice box lunches out to our positions on Saturday noon and donated $75 to the club. We were in a tie for second place in the club competition so split the $150 with the Desert Waves ARC. Next year I want the $200 first prize. The club also got recognition on the event T shirt as well as the closing credits of the official video.
Up coming rallies are the first weekend in May in Ridgecrest, and August in Gorman.
See the video at: https://vimeo.com/161691137
Ridgecrest info is at: http://highdeserttrails.com/
Or see me for more info. 73
Glenn WB6RLC
