San Antonio Hams

Attention all prospective & committed Tour de Cure Volunteers

Here is an update for the 2009 Tour de Cure. It’s time to begin making duty assignments for all ham volunteers, but there have been some major changes regarding SAG Van duty. Most of the SAG Vans will NOT be driven by Ham Radio Operators, due to a donation of services by a local San Antonio company who is providing both the vehicles, the drivers and paying for the fuel.

Website / Route Maps
New Day 1 website up… http://www.tourdecuresa.org/  Think there is a Day 2 website, but don’t know address for downloading it yet.

Rest Stop Hams
We have 9 or 10 rest stops on Day 1, haven’t seen the course map for Day 2 yet, but didn’t expect major changes.  Day 1 has changed the 80 mile route substantially, and is renumbering the rest stops to be consecutive on the 80 mile course, and then some other system for the RS in New Braunfels on the 50m, and the 2nd RS on the Family Ride.  I understand same numbering method might be applied to Day 2.  So Day 1 might get one extra rest stop created on the 80 mile course near Lake McQueeny, and the numbering system has changed.  Predict 10+ hams needed here each day, more if we double / triple up at some rest stops.

SAG Vans – Not-Ham Equipped
San Antonio based company called “Documation” has agreed to provide at least 10 of their company cars (Scions) to serve as SAG vehicles. Will be equipped with bike racks and carry 2-3 riders, assuming only the driver is in the car.  No hams in these vehicles, only cell phone contact.  Have recommended we have each SCION stop at Rest Stop to get directions on whether to keep looping back to previous RS, or move forward.   Documation providing vehicles, drivers, and fuel, so no room for a ham operator without reducing ridership to 2 riders at a time.   Ought to be interesting experiment. Predict 0 hams needed here each day.

AMR Ambulance
AMR to be contacted re having 1 ham with AMR supervisor, or 1 ham in each AMR ambulance (expecting to have 3 ambulances each day). Predict 1 to 3 hams needed here each day.

Start Line
Need 1-2 hams at start line on Day 1, would like to have at least 1 on Day 2 at start line, perhaps one of the MM’s since they will be bringing up turtle?  Usually have no problem getting the Day 1 Start/Finish line covered by locals. Predict 1-2 hams needed here each day.

Net Control
Planning on 4-5 hams at Day 1 Finish Line Net Control, to be on the air before 7am for roll call around 7:15am.  Would like to see similar setup for Day 2 if possible.   Would like to incorporate some Hays/Caldwell ARES guys in this operation in San Marcos.  Predict 4-5 hams needed here each day.

Shadows
Recent request has come in to provide 3 ADA staff members with Ham Shadows, both days.   Amanda (Austin), Erica (SA) and Lori (SA).  Ham would need mobile portable unit to do mobile coverage, and HT for 2 legged operations.  Predict 3 hams needed here each day.

The ADA staff has requested that I personally be at the finish line net control area both days, but I’m starting to think about being Erica’s shadow to accomplish that function.  Might be too much of a strain physically for me to keep up with her.  Need younger hams that aren’t as out of shape as me. 🙂

Motorcycle Safety Marshals
30 Motorcycle Safety Marshals (SA based) are signed up so far, most will do both days.  M&M’s will run start of route to verify signage and condition of route the morning of each event, and call back in any problems.  M&M’s will lead each pack for starting all the way to the finish line.  M&M’s will bring up the rear of the pack as “turtle”, and the extra M&M’s will cruise sections of the route reporting in.  Over 1/2 the M&M’s are currently hams, and we hope many of the non-hams will take advantage of a class being offered March 7th in San Antonio for 1 day technician crash course.   M&M’s will get 50% of their fuel reimbursed.

Shuttle Duty – Ham Equipped
Recently a request came in for 4 extra Shuttle Van Drivers.  Same 15 passenger white van as normally used for SAG, but won’t be working on the course for day 1, but assignment changes for day2.  Will provide shuttle duty between San Antonio and San Marcos finish line, River Tube shuttle duty in San Marcos, and returning single day participants to San Antonio on Day 1. Predict 4 hams needed here each day. 

Here is email from Erica.

Hi Lee,
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We have not had the number of vehicles confirmed yet from Documation for SAG vehicles.  We will follow up next week to see if they have confirmed this yet.�
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These 4 van’s that we need Ham’s in will be:
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1. Shuttle from San Antonio to San Marcos after Family Fun Loop to transport riders to SM.�
2. 3 Shuttles to take riders to river to float- schedule of departure and return to be followed and map provided.
3. 1-4 Shuttles to take riders back to SA after Saturday Night Celebration.

I asked if the assignment was 1 or 2 day. see response in second email below.

The schedule I sent prior to you is for Day 1.
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On Day 2, the Van’s will be used for extra SAG’ing on route in the morning then turn into shuttles at noon for Hammer Head fast riders into Austin to transport riders, bikes and luggage back to San Marcos then San Antonio.
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Thanks!

Supply Trucks – Ham Equipped
The SA committee discussed having hams in supply trucks both days.  They agreed that supplies were handled more smoothly on Day 1 last year.  Simply putting LCRA radio in hands of someone who doesn’t know radio protocol does not a radio operator make them.  Supposed to have 3 supply trucks for Rest Stops each day, plus 1 floater truck to handle “oopsie” calls.  Problem was that limited seating in truck, would require ham be flexible in helping, or inserting a folding chair in back of cab (not safe in my opinion) to add 3rd person.  On Day 1, the supply crew simply had a mini-van following the trucks with extra help.  I suggested with proper pre-planning, the volunteers at each RS could be asked to help unload / load supply trucks at their location, thus reducing the number of folks traveling with each supply truck.  Predict 4 hams needed here each day

APRS Tracking
I’d like to incorporate the APRS tracker idea into this event if possible.  Jeff N5MNW has offered to will borrow a quantity of BikeMS / Motorola APRS trackers and he’s offered help setting up the monitoring station for both days.

Toyota Trucks
A dealer in Austin has offered use of a few Toyota Tundra trucks, not sure what usage is planned, but I had suggested using a couple to pick up signs after route was closed, instead of having a SAG van do it.