PUBLIC SERVICE
             ACTIVITY REPORT
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About This Form

Amateur Radio donates thousands of man-hours of supplementary public service communications in civil emergencies, official drills and events such as parades and marathons each year. Such events show Amateur Radio in its best light, and it is critically important that ARRL bring documentation of this public service work to the attention of the Congress, the FCC and other public officials. Your information below is an important addition to the record. Please complete and return this form to the Public Service Branch at ARRL Headquarters. Thank you.
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1. Nature of activity (Check one).

Communications Emergency. Amateurs supplied communications required to replace or supplement normal communications means.

Alert. Amateurs were deployed for emergency communications, but emergency situation did not develop.

 X       Special exercise. Amateurs supplied communications for a parade, race, etc. Test or drill. A training activity in which amateurs participated. 2. Brief description of activity: Communications Support for the 2000 Tour-de-Cure 100K American Diabetes Bike Ride

3. Places or areas involved: Fairbanks, Alaska

4. Number of amateurs participating: 20

5. Event start date/time: 27 May 00/0800               6. Event end date/time: 27 May 00/1300

7. Duration of event (hours): 5.0                            8. Total man-hours: 75

9. Number of repeaters used: 2

10. Estimated manpower cost: $750 (man-hours times $10/hr)

11. Estimated cost of equipment used: $10,550 (hand-helds, repeaters, etc.)

12. Total estimated cost of service: $11,300 (add amounts from lines 10 and 11)

13. Nets and/or frequencies used (including repeater call signs): KL7KC repeater (146.88) and KL7EDK repeater (147.30)

14. Number of messages handled: Continuous tactical traffic

15. Names of agencies receiving communications support: American Diabetes Association and the Lions Club

16. Please list call signs of amateurs who were major participants: KL0CM, NL7HX, KL0CK, KL0DD, KE4ITP, AD4BL, KL0QS, KL0VY, WL0JM, KL0AN, KL0PF, WL7HE, KL7UE, WL7BFM, WL7CRD, WL7CRE, KL0RN, KL0RM, KL0TX, KL7CUS

17. Other comments:
Tour de Cure Interior Alaska with the Arctic Amateur Radio Club
By the event Gopher, Helen KL0CM

For the Arctic Amateur Radio Club, accustomed to providing communications for the 1,000-mile-plus Yukon Quest dogsled race through Alaska into western Canada, in temperatures that can sink beyond 50 below, or spending their summer solstice covering the Yukon 800 (mile) riverboat race though wilderness Alaska, a 100-kilometer bicycle event is an easy outing.

It was cold early that last Saturday in May. Temperatures eventually rose to the 50's and the threatening rain never materialized, but occasional breezes made it a cool ride for the 75 fund-raising riders and their accompanying hams-on-bikes (relaying on VHF to couch-potato hams at checkpoints and to those controlling from the start/finish line.)

Riders came from as far away as Healy and included Army and Air Force personnel from Ft. Wainwright and Clear Air Force Station.

The May 27, 2000, Interior Alaska leg of the American Diabetes Association's 'Tour de Cure' began at Pike's Landing, near the western edge of Fairbanks.

The course, designed to take advantage of Fairbanks' extensive biking/skiing/dogsledding trails, crossed the Chena River at the Parks Highway bridge. Passing below the University, it turned north at the first of four rest stops provided by local Lions Clubs and with AARC members with radios. KL0DD, Tina, waved them on past the first stop, and sent her XYM, KL0AN, Paul, off to accompany the early cluster of riders.

Once around the base of College Hill, the terrain and surroundings changed. For almost 9 miles the course followed the length of Farmer's Loop Road as it rose and fell over a series of hills, passing a golf course, farms, woods, subdivisions and our next rest stop, staffed by husband-wife team Bill KE4ITP and Linda AD4BL at the parking lot of the Jeff Studdard Dog Mushers' Hall. Here Lions and friendly dogs awaited tired cyclists. It was a great place to take a break and Ken KL0PF (on the event's only recumbent bike) and Ken WL7HE, (regular bike) took advantage of it every time they circled past. (Four circles make a 100 K ride.)

Dropping out of the hills the course joined the Steese Expressway northeast of town for a quick jaunt down to the Johansen Expressway and Lion ham Jim WL0JM, lonelier than the Maytag repairman at his rest/communications stop across from Birch Hill Cemetery.

Except for overpasses, the Johansen provided a flat, straight shot back to the base of College Hill. The 25K riders just did an over-and-back on this milder stretch of road, and didn't endure the hills of Farmers' Loop.

A potentially dangerous crossing occurs where the Johansen takes an overpass across College Road while the bike path stays at ground level, snaking through an intersection complex enough to require stoplights aimed in six directions. A Lions-club flagman was posted here and Dan KL0VY, stood ready to call for assistance if there was a mishap.

Halfway along the Johanson at Danby, Greg KL0QS and a pair of Lions manned the fourth rest stop. Greg's XYL KL0UE, Sue, and their 5-year-old harmonic Carl, did a shortened bike run of one and a half times along the Johansen. Carl was the newest rider in the event, having cast off his training wheels two weeks before.

Meantime, our lead-off cycling ham Tonya WL7BFM, did nearly two circles around the longer loop (nearly 50 km) before turning off at Danby and bicycling to work.

More family groups were among the cycling hams. Dave WL7CRD and Carol WL7CRE cycled the longer course together. Kody KL0RN also took this scenic route while his parents, Lorrie KL0RM and Jerry KL0TX, limited themselves to 25K's.

Fred KL7CUS provided a successful test of our response system by getting the first and only flat tire of the day (as he had in 1999!). He and his bike were transported to Beaver Sports for a quick fix.

This dry run proved useful later when a rider with a medical condition elected to finish the tour and hams were able to track him around the course, providing regular progress reports to waiting Tour officials and his anxious wife.

Fred had rejoined the Tour with a spare tire in his pocket, and after a run along Farmer's Loop with many stops and conversations (also getting WL7JM's radio to work on '88), Fred and friend Tom Clark (Mosquitonet founder) rolled into Pikes after everyone else had (but there were no red lanterns!)

The system was coordinated by two net controls, Benny NL7XH and George KL0CK. These two unfortunates had to stay on the deck at Pike's Landing under a marquee tent where they were never more than 50 feet away from a coffee pot, indoor plumbing, lunch, and other liquid refreshment.

Designated gopher (and your intrepid correspondent) KL0CM, Helen, fetched and carried rosters, helmets, sun glasses, paper cups and trash-bags and provided a first -aid kit so hastily assembled that it wasn't until unpacking it she discovered she had included Endust along with the Bacitracin. Some people don't do mornings well.

The Diabetes Association raised $15,200 the day of the event and expects to clear over $17,000 by the time all pledges are collected.

This was the fourth year the Tour was held in Fairbanks, and the fourth year Arctic ARC has provided communications. The event provides an excellent opportunity for hams to learn or hone skills and shake out equipment needed when we provide coverage for the Yukon Quest and the Yukon 800 - or when we're needed in a serious emergency.
 

** NOTE:  FSD-157 info graciously provided by Linda Mullen, AD4BL!

Please attach photos of amateurs in action, newspaper clippings or other data.

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Name of Amateur Radio organization providing service: Arctic Amateur Radio Club

Location of organization: City or town: Fairbanks                       State: AK

Your name: Kent Petty                                       Call sign: KL5T

Address: 2229 Turnagain Parkway, Anchorage, AK 99517

ARRL appointment, if any: Alaska Section Manager, VE

e-mail address: [email protected]

Telephone:  (907) 243-5856

I attest that the information provided above is complete and true to the best of my knowledge.


Larry K Petty, KL5T                                                                                                           4 Jul 00