[FCG] Re: [FQP]FQP Mobiles

[ku8e at bellsouth.net]

I believe what you say about South Florida and have witnessed it first hand....
After one of our contesting alum at Ohio State - KD8NS - now W4EF moved to Ft Lauderdale both N8VW and myself took a roadtrip to visit him. I was shocked by
how people drove down there... Just about every red light was being run by someone and people in general seemed to be in a hurry by speeding and tailgating....

                        Jeff

> 
> From: Bob Patten <n4bp at bellsouth.net>
> Date: 2004/05/03 Mon AM 08:54:42 EDT
> To: K1to at aol.com
> CC: fcg at kkn.net
> Subject: Re: [FCG] Re: [FQP]FQP Mobiles
> 
> K1to at aol.com wrote:
> 
> Lemme 'splain where I'm coming from with my seemingly ballistic comments 
> regarding drivers...
> I first suggested writing "Rules of the Road" into the FQP rules 2-3 
> years ago following a write-up by one
> of the out-of-state mobiles (I don't think it was even the one you 
> listed below).  The impression left was that
> the pair spent most hours speeding through the state, and even gave an 
> account of passing an 18 wheeler on
> the shoulder at about 100 MPH!
> Then there was last April...  My wife and I both have some minor damage 
> remaining from that motorcycle accident that
> shut down my mobile plans in last year's FQP.  This was caused by 
> another idiot FL driver who made an illegal
> left turn close in front of me.  Not long after that, you probably heard 
> of K4PG's mishap on the drive back from the
> Keys following Field Day.
> Wonder if you have seen any of the polls on the internet about drivers.  
> I've seen several, all of which point out that
> Florida has the worst/rudest drivers in the country - with SFL being the 
> worst of the worst.  Having spent the better
> part of 35 years driving 70 miles/day from home to WPLG-TV, most of it 
> on a bike, I KNOW the preceding to be
> true.  Over those years, I've avoided hundreds of accidents, but finally 
> got caught last April...
> So if I seem overly sensitive to other people's driving, perhaps it is 
> with good reason?
> 
> >The ONLY mobile operation that I know of that has abused anything was a 
> >certain team that (several years ago) sped westbound across I-10 to reach their 
> >47th and last county in time.
> >
> >Team N4TO/m stops frequently to make sure that each county has a minimum 
> >amount of time.  Our stops easily total to over an hour each day.  We spend very 
> >little time on the highways, instead looking for back roads to cut through 
> >county corners on.  It is the efficiency of our route that allows us to hit 44 
> >counties, not our reckless driving.  900 miles in 20 hours does not constitute s
> >peeding.  
> >  
> >
> So far, you, I, and N4KM have at least inferred publically that we 
> followed the FL traffic laws.  I would still like to see it as
> a requirement in the rules for the FQP with it's adherence included in 
> the signed declaration at the bottom.
> 
> >Another mobile team hit more counties than we did this year, employing a 
> >strategy of moving all the time.  One member of that team strongly urged that we 
> >add language to the FQP rules suggesting safe driving, so I doubt that they 
> >abuse the rules of the road either.
> >  
> >
> This is really all I'm asking!  I see it as a positive for FQP PR, "The 
> Florida Contest Group promotes safe driving by
> it's mobile operators in the Florida QSO Party".  And from the above 
> quote, add one more to the mobiles who
> probably did follow the traffic laws this year.
> 
> -- 
> 73,     Bob Patten, N4BP                Plantation, FL
> 
> E-Mail: n4bp at arrl.net                   Website: http://www.qsl.net/n4bp
> QRP ARCI #3412    SOC #1    ARS #799    Whiners #6   FISTS #7871
> 
> 
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