Flat Batteries & Tennis

Wednesday began with flat batteries in my df set and a call from friend Steve in need of a jump start. An hour later the df set was charged and ready to go, and with a successful jump-start and a short run to put some life back in the battery, we set about Steve's car with a good old-fashioned AVO looking to pull fuses in order to find the cause of suspected current drain. However, when the car 'shut down', a reading of just 20mA on the AVO and a 70AH battery in good condition; 'no fault found' was my diagnosis. Cathy, Steve and I then decided on an impromptu run over to Oxford Tennis Club to watch our dear little friend Jessica (8-yrs old) compete in her latest tournament and get our competitive juices flowing... Hmmm, is SW19 on the West London map?! We then found the nearby pub offered warm chocolate cake served with the most gorgeous vanilla ice cream. So, throw in a splendid cup of coffee or two served with Smarties, that put paid to the rest of the afternoon - oh, and free sausages too, would you believe?

Stopping to pick up a fish and chip supper in Marlow on the way to the start, our attention turned to the evening's entertainment. Fish & chips at the start with a cup of coffee always seems a great way to start an evening's df!! I was surprised however, to see only four teams turning out. No matter, a good signal at half-seven with very little sky-wave had me plotting 3-deg on to the bottom half of the Aylesbury map. 'North of High Wycombe please' were my instructions. With Steve in the navigator's seat and Cathy playing iPhone something-or-other in the back, off we set.

Roadworks and traffic lights saw us make it nearly as far as Great Missenden for 8:00, fortunately more or less where I wanted to get to. The signal had now turned a sniff North of West. It was however, strong enough to make use of the VCO and declare, 'we're close'! With bearings crossing on Lodge Wood, we had time in hand to take a drive round the woods looking for a red Ford. Nothing spotted so back to Hampden Bottom for a bearing at 8:15. Every bit of attenuation was needed to plot a bearing of 165-deg I think it was, so without further ado Cathy was left to lock the car as Steve and I headed for the footpath opposite, torch in hand.

Cathy quickly caught up and we walked slowly up-hill into the woods eventually settling a while on the bench handily placed at a crossroads in the footpaths. Cathy remarked on the sunset and Steve he couldn't read the map in the fading light. I confess to being more interested in whether or not we were first on-site while itching for the signal to come on! A few minutes later, as always seems to happen, a very, very strong signal had me wondering which of two paths to take. Based on the signal direction as we entered the woods I guessed 'turn right'. Running a short distance with team in tow and df set singing for its supper, I quickly declared we'd run past the operator and we headed from whence we'd come. A few feet back we turned off the path and found Steve & Co while just before ending the half-eight transmission. First in??? ....Fantastic!!

What started out for us as a day with flat batteries and a broken car ended with an enjoyable evening's df and 160 miles of fun driving the Evo around the roads of the shire counties of Oxford and Buckingham. My thanks Steve for putting on a good event, more so given the unfriendly weather earlier in the day, and of course all the competitors who turned out to make the event competitive and fun. I should also thank my team too for a lovely day out, and Jessica, for winning 3 of her four matches!!

Andy Collett

The view from the operator's hide

Disappointing that only four teams turned out, but I guess it's still holiday season. I was situated in Lodge Wood just west of Prestwood, about 20k from the start. Simple aerial and earth stake at TX. Couldn't get the wire very high and what with the wet trees was worried about getting a signal to the start.

Roger Shephard was with me and we were using his new TX. Worked fine except that the ATU wouldn't tune my short aerial, or rather it managed to get a SWR of 1.6 but didn't use the values and Roger had to manually tune it (not a job for mere mortals!).

Reports from the start were encouraging with all competitors hearing me, although weak all competitors plotted roughly North.

All quiet until the 8.30pm transmission when a sudden burst of activity saw Andy and team arrive and come straight into me. Next to arrive was Graham and team about 20mins later. They wandered up and down the path for a bit before Graham spotted me off transmission. John and Dave were next in with John getting excited that he was under the aerial and was close. Yes John, you were close but not under the aerial. Dave actually found me because he could hear my voice and called John in eventually.

Last team to arrive was Karlis, who we guided in from where he was parked by our cars. Managed to get him in with about 3 mins to spare.

Thanks to all for supporting the event.

Steve Stone