LARG Takes Manassas - 2008
--- Now Always The Second Sunday in June ---

Photographs By Paul Dluehosh - N4PD and Norm Styer - AI2C
Reported By Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia
Dateline - Purcellville, Virginia, June 18, 2008.

 The 2008 Manassas Campaign

      This was a two-phased operation for the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group with several units deployed on separate missions throughout Northern Virginia over the weekend of June 7-8, 2008.

      Phase One occurred on the Saturday, June 7, 2008, at 0800 hours local and involved equipment inventories, operational checks, and cargo loading at our Depot at Gary Quinn - NC4S's old sheep farm in northern Loudoun County. This was a 4-hour operation by six members.

     Phase Two began at O-Dark-Thirty on Sunday, June 8, 2008, with a convoy formed south of Leesburg with ten units infiltrating south into the Manassas area to do battle. By the time the campaign was over some 24+ members - past and present - would see action in the Manassas 2008 Campaign.

     KJ4ALJ - Peter Quilty de Ashburn earned his Extra Class Amateur Radio License and KJ4BRX - Chris Guthrie de Potomac Falls earned his General Class Amateur Radio License at the VEC Testing Site.

      Other members including Jay Ives - KI4TXP and Kurt Reber - KF4FWB were providing communications support for a large charity bicycle ride across Loudoun County.

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

       Phase 1 - The Loading Out

 Storm Damage Removal At The Depot

      The big 3-hour storm that swept across northern Virginia on Wednesday, June 4th cause heavy damage throughout Loudoun County. Trees and limbs were down everywhere. Electric power and telephone service were disrupted for many folks for over 24 hours. Some were still waiting for service on Saturday. Some half-dozen trees blocked access to Gary Quinn's barn and had to be cleared before we could load out.

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Jay Ives - KI4TXP, Rick Miller - AI1V, Karl Hamilton - KI4BDS, Norm Styer - AI2C
and Paul Dluehosh - N4PD help Gary Quinn clear a path

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Almost Open

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Gary - NC4S and Karl - KI4BDS survey the situation

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Moving The Bigger Stuff

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

The Pile - Maybe A Nice Hot Dog Roast This Fall

        Phase 2 - The Movement To Contact and Operations

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

      It's O-Dark-Thirty at the Initial Point and we are ready to roll. L-R: Stephanie Reed - KJ4AZX, Steve Reed - KW4H, Rick Denney - KR9D, Rick Miller - AI1V, Gary Quinn - NC4S, Dave Putman - KE4S, Paul Dluehosh - N4PD, John Unger - W4AU, and Charlie Preston - K4LJH. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C. Others not shown include Tom Dawson - WB3AKD.

      Gary - NC4S took the Point and Tom - WB3AKD was the Trail Party. We pulled out at 0520 hours local and made the Prince William County Fair Grounds by 0605 hours without any harassments. Tom Garasic - NA4MA joined the convoy at mid route as we passed his home. We occupied both sides of a main road on the fairgrounds. By the time the show was well underway, another 10 members joined us.


 LARG Members - Past and Present - At  Manassas 2008

AI1V - Rick Miller de Reston
AI2C - Norm Styer de Clarkes Gap
AI4UX - Meg Gentges de Great Falls
KØBRA - Frank Gentges de Great Falls
K4LJH - Charlie Preston de Hamilton
K4VV - Jack Hammett de Paeonian Springs
KE4S - Dave Putman de Woods Road
KI4IEO - Chuck Graham de Leesburg
KJ4ALJ - Peter Quilty de Ashburn
KJ4AZX - Stephanie Reed de Sterling
KJ4BRX - Chris Guthrie de Potomac Falls
KR9D - Rick Denney de Lovettsville

KW4H - Steve Reed de Sterling
N4PD - Paul Dluehosh de Leesburg
NA4MA - Tom Garasic de Haymarket
NC4S - Gary de Lovettsville
W2YE - Dick Maylott de Leesburg
W4AU - John Unger de Hamilton
W4HZV - Temp Titus de Merritt Island, FL.
WA4TSC - Wes Boxwell de Middleburg
WB3AKD - Tom Dawson de Round Hill
WB4ACC - Bill Tincher de Winchester
WF1L - Bill McCourt de Reston


Photograph by Paul Dluehosh - N4PDDE Leesburg, VA.

KR9D - Rick,  NC4S - Gary, Rick - AI1V, and Dave - KE4S



Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

The Very Impressive Showcase of Paul Dluehosh - N4PD

How about that very expensive Collin Receiver?


Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Stuff From The Loudoun ARG Radio Depot

We sold some good stuff and made a lot of money.


Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Dave Putman - KE4S's Stuff

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Tom Garasic - NA4MA with Dave - KE4S

Photograph by Paul Dluehosh - N4PDDE Leesburg, VA.

W4AU - John,   K4LJH - Charlie  and   Norm - AI2C


Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

It's Was A little Early

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

John Unger - W4AU

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Bill McCourt - WF1L and Chuck Graham - KI4IEO
Sign On To AMRAD

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Meg Gentges - AI4UX Pushes
AMRAD Memberships

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

N4PD's Special Deal: Collins R-390 Going For $3k - A Real Steal

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Steve - KW4H's Portable Antenna Didn't Last Long

He had some other nice goodies that also went fast

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

KJ4ALJ - Peter Quilty de Ashburn
earned his Extra Class Amateur Radio License

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Jay Ives - KI4TXP of Lucketts
Earned The High Rookie Award
With 60,000+ Score In The 2008 Virginia QSO Party

 

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Close Station - March Order

As usual, John - W4AU, Charlie - K4LJH and Norm - AI2C threw in the towel early and I closed on Canby by noon. Actually, John had sold everything and was ready to March Order by 1100 hours. . The others stuck around longer. Most met on the Sunday night 2-Meter net to trade stories.

This was a fast operation and most of us did well.  The overall setup at Manassas was nicer this year but the attendance seemed lower. We hope to see you all next year.

It was nice riding with you all. Best Regards, Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

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