The 3.875 group gathers annually; sort of like an old family reunion to meet all their on the air
friends, have a good pitch-in picnic and test there ham mobile antenna building skills against
each other. Farthest attendee was from Burnsville MN.!

The result is one of the friendly and  "awesome " good times (next to Dayton ) that any ham
operator interested in HF mobile could ask for. Yes; this is  a week day event and most that
attend are retired or playing hooky form work for the day!

There is no formal administration of this event; it just happens as the hams meet on the
frequency of 3875 Khz daily from 8PM until?. They discuss and share tons of technical info and
other items and plan the picnic/ shoot out. The main summer Shoot Out always falls on the 2nd
Wednesday of June each year Rain or shine in the Woodland shelter house, thanks to Harold
Hitchcock (WB9ZBH). I guess they have tried different times and days of the week over the 11
years of the events existence, but the best attendance seems to happen when it is during the
week. 

There is a lot of old-timers in this bunch of radio hacks, all very friendly and willing to help. Not
to mention all the food. WOW! ...Oh! did I mention the six piece band that played before and
after the picnic lunch?...Even Hams have to relax under the shade trees once and a while.!
As for the actual Shoot Out event; Rules are pretty simple: Your 75 meter mobile antenna can't
exceed 13 feet 6 inches. Can't be connected to your power amplifier when the test is made.!
Oh Darn!; The one with the best signal at the receiver antenna, which is approximately 100
yards from your transmitting antenna, WINS !..".Big Dawg" for the event.

All the testing was organized by Jim (KJ9T) Isom; he attaches each separate antenna under test
to a standard set up using the same radio, running 80 watts calibrated. The receiver is a 75
meter loop antenna connected to a calibrated microvolt meter system. each participant transmits
and is recorder for the final ! tally? 

If your looking for good HF mobile antenna designs; check out their websites.
Results and information for the 3.875 group picnic & shoot out are at the following links:
http://users.hsonline.net/gtaylor/index-2.htm   Greg Taylor's Webpage
http://www.100megspopup.com/kj9t/index.html    Jim  Isom Page
http://www.100megspopup.com/kj9t/55/index.html  3.875 group shoot out page.

"Displayed on this website are some of his circuits that are still being used by many of us. These
can be found on the "Construction Projects" page. Thank you all for taking your time to join
with us in honoring our old and dear friend, Dick Perry. Please keep in mind, there will be a
second picnic this fall, the date to be announced on 3.875 and also on Mid-Cars. Stay tuned for
the Game Plan." ( www.100megspopup.com)

Special thanks to: Greg Taylor (N9OUK) for helping locate some of the informal leaders and
the website info; Jim Cook (WD9AQN) for telling me & then reminding me about this
interesting event; Bruce Balsley (W9OTN) for the picnic info and hospitality; Jim Isom (KJ9T)
& Harold Hitchcock (WB9ZBH) for volunteering me to assist with the Shoot Out testing.

Article By; Chuck Crist, W9IH