Ham Radio stuff

I’ve had my ham radio license…..a LONG time. I’m old enough for that to be the case. That said, there were periods of many many years where I didn’t do anything with it, I just kept it up. In the mid 2000s a friend found out I had my license, and said “Hey, we need hams at the races I’m in!”. With that, my friend Bruce brought me into the world of rally!

I’d had an introduction to rally before, my friends Bob and Mark rally and hill climb (sort of related). I’d watched them both race up Mt. Washington in their Audi rally cars. I cobbled together equipment for the rallies Bruce got me involved in, and found out I enjoy it quite a lot! Part of the reason I bought my pickup, and equipped it with a camper was to be better equipped to volunteer at rallies!

Both my 2014 Toyota RAV4 and my 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins are equipped with the Kenwood TM-D710GA. It’s a dual band, 2 meter/70 centimeter mobile radio. It does a lot of nerdy things I like very well, but also does plain old voice like a rally needs perfectly adequately. I recommend it!

I have plans to add another radio to the Dodge, but that’s down the road.

I was going to work the New England Forest Rally this year, in Maine, but my plans fell through due to work and family reasons. I was annoyed, but timing just didn’t work out. I’m hoping to work the Empire State Performance Rally next, it may be my only other rally this year. I worked it last year, my first rally on the East coast, and found everyone to be welcoming and fun!

Anyone who has the slightest interest in rally, even as a spectator, should volunteer. You get the best seats in the house, and sometimes a free tee shirt!