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The combined efforts of Orange County Amateur Radio Club
and COAR (City of Orange Amateur Radio) and volunteer hams from the City of Cypress
provided over 30 hams to help plan, prepare, and provide the communications for the Police
Department team of the City of Orange compete in the 120-mile-long running relay
race. 265 different law-enforcement teams participated in this yearly event.
Shown is a map of the 120-mile-long B2V relay race course. It
contains 20 individual relay legs and starts outside of Baker, goes through the cities of
Shoshone (Calif) and Pahrump (NV), goes over the mountain at Mountain Springs and ends at
the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. The red circles on the map locate the five COAR
Communications Centers.
Annotated Image by Dieter N6ZKD |
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One of several COAR-RACES B2V-Planning-Meetings that
were held in the EOC room located at the OPD building to work out locations,
staffing, and frequencies. 12 members of the OCARC participated in helping provide
communications for the Orange Police Department running team.
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Photo by Ken W6HHC |
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race, an Equipment-Testing-Workshop for radios to be used in the Las Vegas communications
center are set-up at QTH of Sam W6RDS. (L-R) are Sam-W6RDS, Robbie-KB6CJZ and
Mike-KF6QFY. |
Photo by Rich KE6WWK
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Cam-WV6V (2nd from right...now a Silent Key) set up a
test bench for radios to be used at the Pahrump Communications Center in his garage.
Photo by Ken W6HHC |
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As the final prep before the race, the Orange Polce
Department running team co-captains discuss strategies and support details for the race.
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Photo by Bobbie KG6MIF |
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The OPD "follow vehicle" will travel along
side the runnners during the entire race. This vehicle not only provided drink or food as
needed and a back-up runner, but was also equipped with a radio operator. The radio
operator could easily reach the closest communications center of COAR to pass information
(including running times) to OPD officials. During set-up, the Follow Vehicle will become
equipped with three ham antennas, including one for APRS beacon gear.
Photo by Quent W6RI |
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Here are many of Orange PD team runners and supporters
at a Baker H.S. meeting before the race begins on Saturday. A few of the communications
support can be seen in yellow shirts. |
Photo by Mike KF6WRM |
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During the first half of the race, Kathleen - K6IBH was
the radio communicator in the OPD Follow Vehicle. She has the 144 MHz "Las Vegas
mike" in her right hand and the 440 MHz "support vehicle mike" in her left
hand. Like a good quarterback, she has all the critcal frequencies written on her arms..
Photo by Mike KF6WRM |
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This is the starting line for the group of runners with
the same starting time as the Orange PD runner. There are about 28 teams starting at this
time, 120-miles from the finish line.. |
Photo by Mike KF6WRM |
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The OPD runner is seen in front of the OPD Follow
Vehicle on the long desert course. |
Photo by Quent W6RI |
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