‰  NOW 25 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM DECEMBER 2008 QST  PAGES 55, 56 AND 73  ‰

THE CHALLENGE CUP/BAKER TO VEGAS RELAY ROAD RACE WAS THE VISION OF OFFICER
CHUCK FOOTE, THEN GENERAL MANAGER OF THE LOS ANGELES POLICE REVOLVER AND
ATHLETIC CLUB, INC LAPRAAC AND OFFICER LARRY MOORE, THEN LAPD ATHLETIC
DIRECTOR.  ITS PREDECESSOR, THE LAPD METRO DIVISIONS DEATH VALLEY RELAY,
ESTABLISHED THE FORMAT STILL IN USE TODAY.  COMMS CHALLENGES SUCCESSFUL
COMMUNICATIONS OVER SUCH WIDE AREA AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS DOES NOT COME
WITHOUT ITS SHARE OF CHALLENGES.  JOY RELATES THAT THERE ARE LOCATIONS
HAVING MINERAL DEPOSITS THAT SEEM TO ABSORB RF LIKE A SPONGE.  THIS REGION
HAS ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO OCCASIONALLY SHIFT THE POLARIZATION OF A SIGNAL AS
IT WENDS ITS WAY ACROSS THE DESERT.  PROPAGATION ALSO VARIES WITH HUMIDITY
AND OTHER ATMOSPHERIC AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.  OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS A
SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL PHENOMENON.  THERE IS ONE SPECIFIC AREA WHERE CELL PHONE
‰  FROM PAGE 73  ‰
ARC K8GC 93 2 20 846 MI Lockport ARA W2RUI 152 2 14 842 WNY Laurel ARS
‰  END OF 25 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ