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Rally Radio Recce



  • 05 Jul 2021 10:00 PM | Garry Spicer (Administrator)

    Attention Rally Radio Operators;

    There is going to be an event!

    The Calgary Sports Car Club has advised us that they have a Test Day planned for Sunday 18 July in Kananaskis. While the notice is a bit short, I'm sure there are operators who are interested in an excuse to get out of town and into the mountains for the day.

    A Test Day is a more modest undertaking than a full rally. It typically involves fewer rally cars, a shorter route, fewer radio operators, and less formal radio protocols. These events are opportunities for rally drivers to test their cars, work on technique, and practice with their co-drivers. While the atmosphere is more relaxed than that of a competitive event, safety is still a priority.

    These smaller, less complex events are much easier to prepare for than a full rally, but still make a great chance to get out of town for a day and have some fun. There are also opportunities for people who are interested in rally radio operations and would like to get some experience with the rally scene before taking on the challenges of a regional or national level event.

    We do not have a lot of detail about this particular event yet. If you need specifics before committing to the Test Day, please contact the Rallymaster and event organizer, Keith Morison (Keith [at] Morison [dot] ca). Dana and I are not directly involved in planning for this event, but we will try to post any information that comes our way.

    Note that Alberta Parks has implemented its new Kananaskis Conservation Pass policy. At this time, we have no information about how this will be handled for rally events held in the park. So, be sure to check with the event organizer about this matter.

    If you are ready to sign up, here is the volunteer registration link:
    https://forms.gle/4SJf3N6Mi1exh2XYA


    73,
    Garry, VE6GDS


  • 02 Jul 2021 1:13 PM | Garry Spicer (Administrator)

    Hello Rally Radio Operators;

    It has been a tough year for everyone and everything, including the rally scene. It appears that the pandemic is finally coming under control. So, I am sure that we are all ready to get back to something more 'normal' in our lives - and that should include rally!

    As you are likely aware, planning is underway to hold the Rocky Mountain Rally in October. It will have been over a year since our last major event, so it will take a little more effort to get ourselves prepared this time. To kick start the process, Dana and I have developed a survey in which we would appreciate your participation. The results of this survey will help us to plan future events (including this fall's rally) and make things as fun and safe as possible.

    We have used Google Forms for this survey. Forms provides a flexible, efficient, and reasonably secure platform. A link to the survey is provided below. Please read the instructions carefully as this will help to ensure consistency across the responses. We would like to provide anonymized summary information back to the Amateur Radio community, so that everyone can see the results. The intent is to leave the survey open to responses until 31 July. This survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

    Thank you in advance for helping us with this first step in returning to the fun of radio operations at rally events.

    Click on the following link to access the survey form:
    {Survey form now closed - Edit 2021 07 31}

    73,
    Dana Harding, VA6DJH
    Garry Spicer, VE6GDS


  • 28 Jun 2021 10:10 AM | Garry Spicer (Administrator)

    Rally Radio Operators;

    It has been a while since the last posting to this space, so an update seems in order.

    What a tumultuous year we've had, with events being repeatedly planned and then cancelled due to the pandemic. Thanks go out to all our radio operator volunteers who have stood firm with us and supported our events despite the chaos and disappointments brought on by COVID-19. It is finally beginning to look like we're winning the battle with that virus and things should get back to a semblance of normality this fall. It's time to rally!

    As Dana noted in a prior post, the current date for the Rocky Mountain Rally (RMR) is 08-09 October, 2021. This will displace the usual Kananaskis Stage Rally that has typically been held in the autumn. This means that there will only be the one performance rally event in our area this year. Note that the Pacific Forest Rally (Merritt, BC) is planned for 01-02 October, 2021. That is just one week before RMR. This may make it easier for Eastern teams to attend both events. With a long course road on Powderface Trail, extra cars could make for a busy day of racing!

    While we do not yet have confirmation details, it appears that planning is also underway for the Big White Winter Rally in Kelowna. If both the Pacific Forest and Rocky Mountain rallies proceed as planned, it seems reasonable to assume that Big White will also be a 'go'. This event typically happens in December and has attracted volunteers from the Calgary area in the past.

    Thanks again for sticking with us through the ups and downs of this past year. We're looking forward to getting our rally events back on track and we hope that you will be a part of them. Stay tuned to this space as more updates will be coming soon.

    For those feeling nostalgic and missing the thrills of rally events, take a few minutes to check out the Rocky Mountain Rally webpage:

    https://rockymountainrally.com/

    There is a YouTube video link posted there with great material from the 2019 Rocky Mountain Rally that was held in Invermere. That was a memorable event and one that will get you thinking of good times coming back soon.


    73,
    Garry, VE6GDS
    Dana, VA6DJH

  • 21 Apr 2021 11:11 PM | Dana Harding (Administrator)

    {Update 2021-05-12}: New date has been set for 9 October 2021

    ====

    Notice that went out today is below.

    This rollercoaster of a year isn't finished with us yet -   we know that the on and off is hard on the volunteers thank everybody for your continued patience.

    73,
    Dana, VA6DJH
    Garry, VE6GDS


    Postponement Announcement

    The organizers of the Rocky Mountain Rally, along with the executive of the Calgary Sports Car Club, regret to announce that the Rocky Mountain Rally will be postponed until later in the year.

    Recently announced travel restrictions in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia have called into question the ability of our participants to travel to Cochrane in late May from anywhere outside of Alberta. While all indications are that the travel restrictions will have ended the week of the event, we have seen similar deadlines come and go with no easing of restrictions. We know how much effort it takes to participate in a rally, and we feel we cannot ask teams and volunteers to plan for an event to which they may not be able to travel.

    We are already evaluating our options and will be proposing a new date to the CARS board for approval as soon as possible. You should expect an announcement within the next two weeks.

    Keith Morison
    Chair – Organizing Committee
    2021 Rocky Mountain Rally

  • 02 Apr 2021 11:32 PM | Dana Harding (Administrator)

    Registration Now Available!

    The Rocky Mountain Rally volunteer registration webpage is now available. Here is the information you will need to sign up as a radio operator for this event. If you follow this URL it will take you to the main RallyWest page:

    https://www.rallywest.com

    From there click on "Events" in the upper left of the page and you will be taken to a set of images for upcoming RallyWest events.

    https://www.rallywest.com/events

    Click on the picture for the Rocky Mountain Rally to get to the rally information page. Here is a shortcut:

    http://www.rockymountainrally.com/

    Click on the Volunteers dropdown at the top of the page, then click on Volunteer Registration. This will take you to the Volunteer Registration page. Here is a final shortcut:

    http://www.rockymountainrally.com/volunteers/registration/

    Scroll down and look for the "To Sign Up" link beside the blue vertical bar. Clicking on this link will take you to the registration page with the title Rocky Mountain Rally Volunteer Signup

     https://www.rallywest.com/signup/volunteer/RockyMountainRally

    This link will generate a unique tag in the URL.  If you bookmark the link you get after this point, with that unique tag in the URL, you'll be able to go back to your registration record and make updates later. Note that clicking on this link more than once means that you are signing up more than once!

    If you are considering coming to volunteer as a radio operator, then please complete the signup page. If you're not sure you can make it, then indicate in the Comments text box that you are "tentative" for now, but please do sign up. If we have no registration information for you, then it's difficult to assign a role or to contact you if there are urgent changes.

    When indicating the radio equipment that you plan to bring to the rally, try to be as generic as possible. It's much easier to deal with "50 watt mobile radio with APRS and a quarter wave magnetic mount antenna" than a bunch of make/model numbers with which we may not be familiar.

    Finally, please double check that the email address and phone number(s) that you enter on the registration form are correct. Messages that bounce back at us are not getting to you! It's also important to have valid contact information, should a change occur at, or just prior to, the event.

    To accommodate feedback that we have received, we will try to keep the number of mass emails to a minimum. We will usually post material here in the Rally Radio Recce Blog where everyone can find it at their own discretion. That means it is up to you to check here regularly so that you have the latest information. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

    We hope you'll be joining us for a great time at the Rocky Mountain Rally!


    73,
    Dana, VA6DJH
    Garry, VE6GDS


  • 02 Apr 2021 11:31 PM | Garry Spicer (Administrator)

    Hello Radio Operators,  

    The Organizing committee of the 2021 Cochrane Winter Rally regrets that we have to announce the cancellation of the event.

    The Calgary Sports Car Club held a lengthy review of the situation in consultation with the event competitors. Given the rapidly increasing  COVID-19 infection rates of the past couple weeks and the ongoing Health Emergency regulations, it was determined that the event cannot responsibly or legally proceed.

    Thank you to all our volunteers for your support. Once again, we had a good number of radio operators sign up for this event. Everyone is disappointed that we have to cancel a rally once again due to the pandemic. We trust that everyone will stay positive and be ready to support our next event. Sooner or later we will get back to having rallies!

    Watch this blog carefully for information about the Rocky Mountain Rally planned for late May. We're going to try the same thing again and hope for better results!


    Garry Spicer, VE6GDS
    Dana Harding, VA6DJH

  • 29 Mar 2021 10:55 PM | Garry Spicer (Administrator)

    Rally Radio Operators;

    Here is the event COVID update for 29 March.

    As of today, the event organizing committee continues to work with provincial officials to secure opportunity for the Cochrane Winter Rally 2021 to proceed on 11 April, as planned. Having said that, I’m sure we’ve all seen the latest COVID statistics, too. The final decision is still slated to happen one week prior to the event date, on or about 04 April. As soon as Dana or I have the word, we’ll be sure to get it out to you.

    In the mean time, we’ll continue to post material to this blog for our radio operators to use in preparing for the event. We have a good number of radio volunteers, so thanks go out to everyone who has signed up. We’ll keep you apprised as the date grows closer.


    73,
    Garry, VE6GDS
    Dana, VA6DJH


  • 26 Mar 2021 11:44 AM | Garry Spicer (Administrator)

    The rally date is just a couple of weeks away. While the COVID statistics are not looking favourable, we'll continue with our preparation efforts for now.

    If the event goes ahead as planned, then we need to be ready to ensure everyone's safety. This updated pandemic protocol provides guidance on protecting ourselves, and each other, from the spread of the virus.

    All rally radio operators are required to review this protocol and take reasonable steps to implement its guidance. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dana or me.

    Please download a copy via this link:

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/18McBkSc0da0fRdGhRbv7pw3C5jPgg5rF/view?usp=sharing


    73,
    Garry, VE6GDS


  • 25 Mar 2021 12:50 PM | Garry Spicer (Administrator)

    Updated Rally '101' Guide

    Below is a link to the updated Rally '101' Guide.

    To ensure that our radio operators are comfortable with common rally terminology, everyone who is considering participation in the upcoming event is encouraged to review this document. While this guide is oriented at people who have had little exposure to rally events, experienced operators may also benefit from a refresher. In any case, the pre-op briefing will assume that everyone is familiar with the contents of this guide.

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/16diYsCR-zT-LZ-PP0i2P_q3MfutX4Nyd/view?usp=sharing

     

    73,
    Garry, VE6GDS


  • 22 Mar 2021 9:10 PM | Garry Spicer (Administrator)

    We are still hoping to make this rally happen, though recent pandemic trends are disconcerting. Everyone please do your best to help keep those COVID numbers down!

    To help you get ready, here is a link to the updated packing and preparation guide for radio operators who are planning to be part of the rally. Be sure to download a copy and review it so that you have your kit assembled for the event.

    While this guide is primarily oriented at new or returning folks, even experienced operators will benefit from a review of its contents as we get ready for this challenging day. Not everything listed in the guide is a requirement for participation as a radio operator. However, this list is based on the experiences of operators who have completed many prior rally events.  Please consider the material covered by this guide as you make your own preparations.

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1osEZW_r3VjQttExWP03mqUYYn6dh0WZH/view?usp=sharing

    Keep checking this blog regularly. As the event approaches, there will be other materials and information posted here that you'll want to review.

     

    73,
    Garry, VE6GDS



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