Post-event processing...what a JOB again this year !!! Due to the
manual labor involved, it took a few days longer than expected to finish.
The first LQP was not only an on-line party to celebrate my 50 years of being
licensed, but also an experiment in "levelizing the playing field" to allow
Little Pistol Contest Station operators a chance to also strut their stuff and
possibly win some awards.
Kudos again this year to the Big Gun Contesters who joined in the LQP51 fun and cranked
down the power to their big antennas. Just like last year, it was kinda strange to
not hear the normally monster signals from W9RE and others on the bands. Yet this was
further confirmation of how ethical operators like can Mike and others can play by the rules
and still win. It is also a reminder of how important superb operating skills are!
A few enhancements were made to the 51st edition of this annual event, including
a switch to the NCCC NS (Sprint) format and the unique QSY rules. A sponsor decision
was made to cut everyone some slack in the final log processing since some of the new
LQP players seemed to have a bit of difficulty with the novel concept which affected
the ability of others to find people to work at times.
A fun addition to this year's LQP were the Locust "Secret Swarmers" to hand out more
Bonus Point opportunities. One of these Locust-Clones was my original DX Elmer from
the 1960's (and bestower of "The Locust" nickname), Joe, W1JR. The second was to
have been Jim, N3BB, however when I delayed the LQP date by a week this year in order
to avoid another on-air event conflict, this would have required Jim to miss his first
Thursday Night German class he had signed up for. Jim was still willing to do the LQP,
but I would have felt real guilty about causing him to miss class. So Richard, K5NA (a/k/a "Da Force"),
stepped up to the plate as the 2nd "Secret Swarmer" in a Multi-Op venue with guest op K5OT. Of
course W1JR, K5NA and myself were authorized to use amplifiers to give folks a better
chance to hear and work us for some coveted Bonus Points. Hey, I make the rules, remember?
Cutting to the chase, here are the LQP Category winners of NCJ Subscriptions this year:
K4BAI - W1, W2, W3, W4 (Traditional Call Prefix Area States Group)
W9RE - W5, W8, W9, W0 (Traditional Call Prefix Area States Group)
K7SS - W6, W7 (Traditional Call Prefix Area States Group * Non-NCCC)
KL7NC - KH6 (HI), KL7 (AK), KP2(VI)/KP4(PR) Call Prefix Area Group
VA7ST - VE4, VE5, VE6, VE7, VE8 (YT/NWT/NUNAVUT) Provinces Group
XE1KK - North America Outside of Canada, the USA and USA Territories
W9RGB - LQP/NCCC NS NOOB
N6RO - NCCC Member (W6/W7 ONLY) Call Area Group
None - VE1(NB/NS/PEI/NL-LAB/MAR), VE2, VE3 Provinces Group
None - LQP GREEN POWER
John, K4BAI, also distinguished himself by having the highest score total in this year's LQP - 74,000
points. Way to go John! Mike, W9RE, was the top scorer in his group again just like last year. Noteworthy
is that Jim, W5JAW, was not far behind Mike and uses only a single wire antenna in all contests!
Danny, K7SS (a/k/a "DanWA"), prevailed in his group despite poor condx in the NorthWest. He missed winning
last year by only 1 QSO behind Tom, W7WHY. I'll bet Danny is glad Tom only got home in time for just
the last few minutes of the LQP this year! During my last Contest-Pedition trip as KL8C, I met Bob,
KL7NC, for an eyeball QSO on the way to the airport. In one of our subsequent phone conversations,
I suggested he show up in the LQP 'cuz he just might win something. Aren't you glad now you did, Bob? :-)
Bud, VA7ST (another NCCC NS "Regular"), also battled poor propagation to win his category. It was nice
to have Dan, VE6EX, join us this year.
Ramon, XE1KK, won the first North America (Other) category award this year for his 2nd appearance in an
LQP. Gracias, Ramon, por jugar con nosotros. In the LQP/NCCC NS NOOB category, Vic, W9RGB (who rarely
does Contests), made his first appearance and prevailed in his category.
Ken, N6RO, cranked the power way down to his SuperStation antennas and won the NCCC Member (W6/W7 ONLY)
Call Area Group, narrowly edging out Rusty, W6OAT, with Ed, W0YK not far behind. This was a close horse race!
It was strange, however, that not a single VE3 (et.al.) category log showed up this year. Bob, K6XX, was
determined to win the first LQP GREEN POWER category award, but old Mr. Murphy threw his monkeywrench into
the mix. Bob (last year's NCCC category winner) was all prepared to turn down the power level on his new K3
hooked up to a solar powered battery, and then of all things he had to deal with travel related snow and road
closures in nearby Silicon Valley's Santa Cruz mountains. Who wudda thunk? The bottom line: No LQP GREEN
POWER entry logs were received. "Bummer, Dudes!"
In the Checklog category, old Mr. Murphy also zapped KE9I (who cleverly used the name "BUG"), because
email server problems on his end prevented receipt of a log by the deadline, thus necessitating Checklog status.
Running 100w to a low Inverted L only 20 feet of the ground, "BUG" made a whopping 61,000 point score which
would have put him in a 2-way category 3rd place tie with Karl, K9BGL, just behind Jim, W5JAW, and category
winner Mike, W9RE. Really a Stellar job with that low piece of wire, "BUG" !!!
For the 2 Categories with no log submissions, per the LQP Rules, the equivalent Award $$$ will be donated
to the NCCC for CQP and/or NS Awards. All U.S. Winners will receive their NCJ copies via First
Class Mail, and those to Canada and Mexico will go Via Air Mail.
A common thread exists between most of this year's LQP Award winners - they have further fine-tuned their
contesting skills by almost weekly participation in the one-half hour Thursday Night NCCC NS "Practice Sessions".
I'm referring to K4BAI, W9RE, K7SS, VA7ST and N6RO. Although initially intimidated by the Sprint type QSY Rules
and two separate exchange formats, I must say that my own Contesting skills have improved dramatically as a
result of participating with a fun group of folks in the Thursday Night NS Contesting Sandbox (K7NV-ism). I
encourage everyone to show up...at least periodically rather than not at all. The NS also provides an excellent
opportunity to learn and practice SO2R skills.
I'm firmly convinced that as we all age in years, more Little Pistol Contest Station operators would
stretch a bit to spend more time in-the-chair (which would provide more QSOs for everyone) in some of the
major contests, *IF* an additional "Levelized Playing Field" category would be added. The ideal venue would
provide for scoring adjustments based upon types of antennas and height above ground, Geographical
terrain/topograhy, SO1R vs. SO2R operation and power output level consideration factors. Anyone could still
enter the archaic HP, LP & QRP categories as they now stand if desired. To this end, the LQP will at least
attempt to make an annual (imperfect, but PERSISTENT) dent in the armored wall of Contesting Rules inequalities.
NOTE: Operating Skills are still required to win, of course :-)
Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's LQP, and to those who couldn't make it but sent emails
indicating schedule conflicts that prevented them from doing so. A very special TNX again to Locust "Secret
Swarmers" W1JR & K5NA (with K5OT), and to those who helped promote LQP51 like N3BB (CTDXCC), WX3B (PVRC),
N6RO (NCCC +), N0AX (ARRL Contest Rate Sheet), WA7BNM (Contest Calendar), NS3T (Radio-Sport.Net) and all
others who helped spread the LQP word. My pal K7NV made a special sacrifice to get on in support of the
LQP this year, and I appreciated it, Kurt!
The complete Final Scores are HERE.
Congrats again to all the Winners (and to K4BAI for his 74,000 point highest score in the LQP). Many Soapbox Comments
may be added later, but right now I need a vacation :-)
Tnx again, folks, for showing up in the LQP. Let's do it again next year!!!
73 & Enjoy Contesting Fun Always...
Rick, K6VVA * The Locust
LQP (Locust QSO Party) Sponsor
