Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club
aids Sled Dog Race
January 27, 2001
Brainerd Area Amateur Radio
Club
aids Sled Dog Race
January 27, 2001
2001 Mid-Minnesota Sled Dog Race
After a two-year hiatus, the Mid-Minnesota Sled Dog Race for 2001 was held on the Aitkin to Remer route. Originally, this race was run as a round trip, but due to limited participation, it was changed to one way, only. 1999 and 2000 races were canceled due to lack of snow (in Minnesota?).
For the Professional and Trophy 8-dog teams, the race route started at 0900 with teams leaving every minute from Aitkin and the route took them about 45 miles to Outing. Checkpoints along the route were: Aitkin VFW, Mississippi River Diversion Channel, Co. Rd. 3, Co. Rd. 19, Co. Rd. 58, and then Outing In. Following a one hour rest stop, the race continued on the route to Remer, an additional distance of about 35 miles, with checkpoints at Outing Out, Ben Draper Tower, Co. Rd. 161W, Co. Rd. 161E, Soo Line Railroad Trail and ended at Remer.
The Recreation Class mushers used 6-dog teams and started at Outing at 1000 to make the trip on the same route to Remer as the Pro and Trophy teams would take later. Hams, who called to the Net Control with the bib number and time of arrival for each team, covered all of the checkpoints. Initially, we planned to use the club's portable repeater, which had been set up at Outing, but problems developed and this was not possible. Consequently, a simplex station was established on a hill and connected to the Club's tower/trailer. Ultimately, this worked out very well, with only minimal problems, none of which resulted in serious difficulty in accomplishing our mission.
Four of those who indicated willingness to participate, could not, and we had a total of 16 Hams involved, in addition to two non-Hams: Bill Worthem, who came with KCØANQ, and Bill Livingston, who came with son, KBØMNM. Hams who did not participate missed an excellent opportunity to utilize their equipment for the benefit of non-Hams and additionally have the opportunity to know their equipment better, so if/when a disaster situation develops, they would be ready to perform a needed public service, as Hams are known and expected to do. This operation gave us all an opportunity to flex our equipment, be it hand-helds or mobiles and, in some cases, give it a real workout starting at 0700 and ending at 2130.
We were congratulated on our operation and the service we provided for the safety and benefit of those involved in the race. The 16 Hams involved in the 2001 Mid-Minnesota Sled Dog Race were: Jon Livingston, KB0MNM; Jim Larson, KBØNKF; Orcy Lyle, WØQT; Lyle Koehler, KØLR; Jens Pederson, KAØKYM; Bill Ingmundson, WBØMVE; Jim Shubert, KC0ANQ; Al Doree, WØRC; Shirley Doree, KCØDCW; Roger Williams, WØWUG; Sharon Duit, KBØSQX; Jim Duit, KBØTXT; Bob Englund, KGØZK; Mel Cook, NØFOO; Terry May, KIØFW; and Ken Magloughlin, KAØJSW. Diane Berning helped Roger Williams, WØWUG, in logging at the Outing rest stop location. Judy Larson helped husband Jim Larson, KBØNKF, in logging at the Mississippi River crossing, north of Aitkin. A hearty thanks and congratulations to all 18 who participated.
Written by Ken Magloughlin, KAØJSW
Photos of the event by Terry May KIØFW
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It was a beautiful sunny day for the event. |
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Bob Englund, KGØZK, one of the many Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club operators who helped with the event. |
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Net Control with BAARC Public Service Event Coordinator Ken Magloughlin, KAØJSW |
This page was last updated 12/19/2006