San Antonio Hams

2010 Tour de Cure Ride May 22nd – 23rd

ANOTHER SUCCESS !

This year’s event started at the Retama Park, in Selma, Texas, just north of Loop 1604.

Although we really had to twist a few arms, and shake the bushes a lot to fill all of the postions, due to some last minute changes,  the ham community came through for us once more!   It was reported that we had about 1,500 riders show up for the event, a slight increase over last year’s event.

We used the 147.000 repeater (GVARC) on Day 1, and the 147.100 San Marcos repeater plus the Austin 146.94 repeater on Day 2. Net Control on Day 1 was started by Dave W5QS at the Start Line due to delays in getting the San Marcos Finish Line up on the air in time. Thanks Dave! Net Control on Day 2 was started by Jake K5GWC from Rest Stop 4, until Austin’s Finish Line Net Control was ready to assume that duty. Thanks Jake!

We provided hams to staff 7 rest stops on day 1, 8 on day 2, plus Start/Finish each day, 4 SAG’s each day, and 4 Toyota Trucks (used as Turtles) each day. The Toyota Trucks were also used to sweep the course looking for “lost sheep”, and to pick up the signs on each route as they swept the course.

Saturday night, after we shut down operations around 5pm for the day, about 15 of the Hams went to the San Marcos River Pub & Grill for a well deserved dinner and fellowship.

(Photo – Hams from the Tour de Cure enjoy a fine meal and fellowship at the San Marcos River Pub & Grill.)

We had a little rain on Sunday morning, just some scatter showers, enough to cool down some of the riders, otherwise temps got up into the lower 90’s in the afternoon by the time we shut down the routes. All riders were ahead of the expected curve, no rest stops had to stay open extra time, and the cut-off areas on the 80 mile route were not used either day.

We hope that we didn’t leave anybody out below, but here is the list of hams we had in our records for working this event.

• At the Day 1 Start Line, we had Dave W5QS, Ruth KE5MHU and Greg N5X0.
• Day 1 Rest Stop 1 was staffed by Milton N5HMJ and Kathy KF5FMQ.
• Day 1 Rest Stop 2 was covered by Gary K5GST, who was also a SAG Van driver.
• Day 1 Rest Stop 3 was covered by Joe W4CTH
• Day 1 Rest Stop 4 was covered by Dave KF5BGT, Luke KF5CSK, Ed N5LVQ & Ed’s daughter, Aiyana
• Day 1 Rest Stop 5 was covered by Anthony KEPWX
• Day 1 Rest Stop 6 was covered by John KD5ZEW
• Day 1 Rest Stop 7 was covered by Charlie W5BRC and Barbara KA5RLF
• Day 1 Finish was covered by Al KE6LGE, Jeff N5MNW, David KD5MTJ and Lee N5NTG
• SAG Van Drivers were Danny WA5KRP, Gary K5GST, Wade WB5C, and Dale KF7SSL
• Toyota Truck Drivers were Randy May (no call yet) & Paul KD5VRU, Steve N5SDL & Susan KB5ICO, Paul KA5FZU, and Ray AE5HN
• We had about 35 Motorcycle Marshals, led by Ray N5RAM & John KEPRE, of which about 1/2 were ham operators.

(Above photo – Motorcycle Marshals taking a well deserved Break at Rest Stop #7 on Day 2, waiting for the final stragglers to make it up the course.)

Martindale, TX, means No Parking or else! Photo taken on Scull Road, just outside of Martindale on Day 2. (between RS #1 and RS #4 on 55 mile route)

Riders stop at Rest Stop #4 near Lockhart, TX, on Day 2. Only problem with this stop, was if riders didn’t turn into the Rest Stop, they missed their next turn and got off the route! Oops! Follow the signs!

Chuck & Jake from Hayes Caldwell Hams operating from Rest Stop #4 near Lockhart, TX. They spruced up their station with a bit of advertising about Ham Radio.

Day 2 staffing was handled mostly by David KD5MML and Jeff N5MNW as follows.

• Day 2 Start Line – Lee N5NTG & David KD5MTJ,
  plus the 4 Toyota Trucks waiting to “play turtle” again.
• Day 2 RS 1-David KF5DMO, John KD5ZEW  
• Day 2 RS 2- Darlene WD5DAR, Max K5FDC
• Day 2 RS 3- Phil KD5MMM
• Day 2 RS 4- Jake K5GWC, Chuck K5QZQ
• Day 2 RS 5- RoyceE KA5OHJ
• Day 2 RS 6- Charlie W5BRC, Barbara KA5RLF
• Day 2 RS 7- Walter WA5AU
• Day 2 SRRS- Mike KF5ACH, David KD5MML
• Day 2 SAGS and Toyota Trucks as listed above.
• Day 2 Finish – Jeff N5MNW & Norm KE5DTP
• Day 2 “Slowpoke” aka Lee N5NTG as Rover & Temp Transport of Medical Supplies from Start Line to Finish Line (via several rest stops)

(Photo above on right, Akins HS Finish Line Net Control, L-R, John KD5ZEW, Norm KE5DTP, Jeff N5MNW)

For those of you who didn’t yet get your t-shirts after working on Day 1, never fear, we’ve got you covered. Although Lee N5NTG lost his voice over the weekend, and other health issues were aggravated, he still managed to hang on to enought t-shirts for you.

T-shirts will be available at the upcoming AARO meeting on 06/09, or by special arrangement before then. Contact Lee @  210-771-7075 to make arrangements.

Sorry, we didn’t have an advanced list for the Day 2 (non-SA Ham) assignments, but we’re working with Jeff and the ADA offices to see if they can find enough to “cover your back”.

More photos posted soon!  – Lee N5NTG