OFFICIAL RESULTS – The Holland Spring Kickoff Foxhunt – 2010

What a fantastic fox hunt for a spring kickoff!

The Holland “Spring Kickoff Foxhunt – 2010”  was highlighted Tuesday night  – not by who won, but by the outstanding job done by the fox team.  Challenged to make the hunt fairly easy for the newcomers and somewhat challenging for the old timers, the fox team accomplished both.  Our hats are off to James, K8JHR, and Chuck,  AJ8W of “Team Kent” (County) for a fun evening.  Everyone found the fox and had funny stories to tell afterwards at the Burger King.

Normally for a kickoff hunt, the fox will park his van in some out-of-the-way park or down a lonely road and taunt hunters with periodic transmissions.  Team Kent added three twists that made the hunt interesting, but not overly difficult.

For the first twist, they went portable leaving their car behind and walking to their chosen site on foot.  K8JHR carried the radio and antenna and AJ8W lugged the portable “car starter” battery and a book to read to the hunters during transmissions.

The second twist was a rather unique site in a viewing section of the Kollen Park Boardwalk on Lake Macatawa.  While the hunters were racing around town and getting frustrated by a train that kept blocking the way, James and Chuck were watching the sunset over the lake and feeding the ducks.  They also took some time to explain ham radio to passing onlookers.  (Good PR.)

The third twist did post a slight problem.  It sent most hunting teams to the other side of Lake Macatowa to Dutton Park where they found nothing but walking paths and and a strong signal coming from back across the lake.  The fox team used a three element yagi antenna for their transmissions.  The antenna was pointed directly toward a steel boat storage building across the lake causing hunters to be temporarily distracted.

All hunters arrived at the park and boardwalk at about the same time, about an hour and a half into the hunt.  The  sun had already set over the lake.  Each team made the long walk down the boardwalk and around a bend to the viewing deck only to find the foxes lounging and waiting with “we gotch-ya” looks on their faces.  It was a great hunt!

Winner of the hunt was the team of Tom and Sheila Bosscher, K8TB and K8AJ.  Second place went to the team of Jim, KD8CAN, Bob, KD8HNF, and Robert, KC8USP.  The next two teams of K8EMU, KB8QAP,  and K8TVU finished within two-tenths of a mile behind the second place team.  The team team that came the furthest to the hunt was Mike, KB8ZGL, a MSU student from Greenville and his father, KB8ZGK from Byron Center.

This was fun.  Let’s do it again!

For a lot more information on fox hunting click on this LINK to the Michigan Foxhunter website.

Last Call – Ken Groom ZR5AAD

ZR5AAD, Ken Groom, past President of Holland Amateur Radio Club, was tireless in his efforts on behalf of our club, encouraging members as well as those who had not yet become Amateurs.

For several years he was the driving force behind our club, and he was instrumental in negotiating for our current Technical and Training Center, so named to honor his memory.

Click on the link to hear an audio recording of the Last Call for ZR5AAD, or click on the Play button below.

ZR5AAD Last Call

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Please take a moment to remember Ken.

Last Call – W8FIZ, Hollis Roels

Hollis A. Roels, age 83, of Zeeland, passed away Monday, March 15, 2010, at the Hospice House of Holland. He was a member of Central Park Reformed Church and the Holland Amateur Radio Club. He was also a co-founder of Tele-Rad, Inc.  Hollis served in the U.S. Navy during WWII onboard the USS St. Paul.

Hollis, W8FIZ, was a founding members of the Holland Amateur Radio Club.  Among his many fascinating stories is his memory that the first clubhouse was a chicken coop, but we’re not sure if that is entirely true, since those who knew him remember his sly grin, quick wit, and a hint of mischief in his eyes no matter how serious he tried to look.

Click on the following link to hear an audio recording of the March 22, 2010 Last Call for W8FIZ, or click on the Play button below.

W8FIZ Last Call March 22, 2010

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Please take a moment to remember Hollis and his family.

Spring Kickoff Foxhunt

The Spring Kickoff Foxhunt – 2010
Get the cobwebs off your RDF gear and tune it up for the season.
Tuesday, April 20th, 7:00 PM

Representing “Team Kent”, winners of last year’s fox hunt, James Richards, K8JHR, and Chuck Nowak, AJ8W, will be our fox team for the night. Come on out and see if they can hide as well as they can hunt. Everyone is welcome>

The starting location for the hunters will be at the Ken Groom Technical and Training Center, 280 East 8th Avenue in Holland.

Talk-in will be on the 147.060 Repeater. Please be there plenty early to finalize teams and record your odometer reading. The winner of this foxhunt will be in the car that finds the fox within the two hour limit and has the lowest odometer/trip reading.

Being the first hunt of the season, this will be a basic level hunt with no Doppler antennas allowed. Winners will get the first option to be the fox at the next HARC fox hunt. New to fox hunting? Come on out and learn the fun way — by doing it! We will show you how. It’s great fun.

Click on this following link to read and download the Rules

April 20, 2010 Foxhunt Rules

For a lot more information on fox hunting click on this LINK to the Michigan Foxhunter website.