Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 16:25:19 -0500
Hi! I see that we made #1 USA again!!! WOW! That whole weekend is such an amazing experience.
All the way back to the early NARC W1YR days on (oh what was that, Winn mountain, but really it was Rose Mt., or the other way around...?) to the bigger undertakings on the corporate Sanders front lawn, it was always an exciting, energetic, super time. Even with the much smaller 4A and 5A efforts that we ran, the energy was just as intense and the desire to "do it right" and "do it well" was prevalent.
And we always had the best amenities as well. The big one that I always recall was the 'BRE "Bloody Mary's at Dawn" served by Bill attired in a velvet smoking jacket and wearing sneakers!
Major towers were put up, even then much more than 99% of any of the other clubs throughout the country. I was mostly involved with 40 meter phone even then (masochist that I am), and I believe Rex always did big-time on 20, "even then!" I recall sitting in the 40 meter tent all one night trading shifts and chatting with HL9KW (Ted AG1C's mom who came in from teaching in Korea to visit and spent the weekend with us at Field Day!). Rich, even then, was still the man to do many of the bonus points, including natural power via some serious exercise-bike pedaling! And then there was the portable field phone system—just incredible things all over the place due to the many creative efforts of lots of people. They were the best of Field Days ever, and it looks like it hasn't ceased, but just gotten even better!!!
Thanks again for one of my best field days as well—it was a pleasure and an honor to be invited back, and after so long to be allowed such a great "seat" at 40 meters. Seeing (most) everyone was so great, and the sense of picking up where we left off 10+ years ago just like it was a couple of months ago was wonderful. Thanks to all at NARC—you (WE, as you were kind enough to make me a lifetime member) certainly have the best club there is, bar none!
73, Vic Gauvin, K1JUL
(Ed Note: Vic is now W2PW)