[Boatanchors] New Ham vs Old Ham/Hamfests

[oldradio at comcast.net]

True Story, and it only happened once.  (you'll see why)

I had a nice 1990's full size Ford van with seats which folded down to a full size double bed, up off the floor about a foot.  It sure looked comfortable and I wanted to try it out.

Now since I have the sweetest, nicest wife in the world, I suggested we save the motel fee since we only intended to stay overnight, and sleep in the van at the Gaithersburg hamfest.  She reluctantly agreed.

When we left home we had a couple of blankets and pillows, so we were all set.

Getting there early in the evening before the hamfest, we picked a nice spot under the trees, not far from one of the buildings with bathrooms.  We walked around, visited the AM Corral guys and gals, did some looking at items from those who were already set up.  We jumped the fence (I was younger then) and visited the Golden Bull (?) restaurant just past the fence and later returned.

By now it was getting late and returning to the van I noticed someone had set up a bunch of aluminum tables near my van and had them all tied together with clothesline. He was not around.  So we went to bed.

The first problem we noticed was the street lighting the fairgrounds had about every 50 feet, and they were brightly shining into the windows.  So here I am trying to tape up one blanket to cover a window area that needed more blankets.  But I got the brightest of them blocked out after a while.

Now, at last, we could settle down and get some sleep.  Then the first freight train went past.  It was a very long one with at least 100 coal cars attached, going slowly enough to set up a wave motion in the ground, as the van was rocking back and forth. (Now I know what you're thinking, but you would be wrong. I - we - weren't the ones rocking it, besides I was way past being a teenager by then.  I found out the next morning the tracks were quite a ways away.)  The trains went by every one hour it seemed, enough anyway to wake us up each time.

4 AM arrived along with several cars and vans without mufflers, with vendors setting up early. (You have to sleep over at a hamfest to fully realize how many hams have defective or missing mufflers on their vehicles.)

I grabbed my flashlight and told my wife I was going out shopping and that I'd be back about 6 AM with coffee for her; for her to get a few more moments of sleep until then.

OK, I was out of the van and started shopping. The Gaithersburg hamfest used to be huge and was always well attended. This day would be the same.  I noticed the AM Corral gang was still 100% modulating the either with a t-386 or some other very big rig, and also noted the big pile of used green 807's lying near by.

Down the road I went and played unofficial greeter to anyone setting up with Boatanchors and the like.  All over, like a flock of crows, there was the unmistakable background caw-ing of, "Do you have any Collins gear." as cars were pulling to a stop. and the flock moved around car to car.

I found a few things and caught up with a couple friends and finally noticed the sun breaking through the morning clouds.  It was time to find the coffee booth and head back.  I didn't know it yet, but my wife was having a fun time in the van.

As I arrived, my wife jumped out and started talking so fast, saying several times, "where were you?"  I tried to calm her down with coffee and get her to slow down.

It seems as I left to shop some vendor pulled in and took all the aluminum tables down and threw them into a big pile about 50 feet away, and then the vendor set up his display. He wasn't careful nor quiet as he set up I was later told.

The next thing that happened was the first vendor arrived to set up on his aluminum tables, and was more than a little upset with what he saw. He pulled in his car or truck? and knocked over the tables which had just been set up by the other guy. Then a shoving match started along with a 4-letter word shouting match, and by the time one said something about the other's mother a real fist fight broke out, up, down, on the ground, with kicking and gouging. 

All of this action attracted a bunch of hams who were watching, one of whom called the police.  The  police arrived and gave both of the fighters a nice ride in the back of the police car.

Meanwhile my wife is peeking through the window of the van, past the blanket I had hung the night before, watching all of this.

It was obvious there was quite a scuffle in the center of the stuff which was to be for sale. Rigs were upside down on the ground and parts scattered all around.

I took my wife away from there, down to the food stand where we had egg sandwiches and coffee while we waited for the returning vendors to clean up their belongings and were either relocated or told to leave by the hamfest committee.  I didn't see either one the rest of the day.

By the time I got set up, the day was half over and sales were not good that trip. But the conversation was great, everyone must have heard about it and came to see and ask what happened.

Last, it was an interesting ride home that I bet none of you would have traded places with me.  And it was the last time I suggested to her we camp out in our van.  She's a 100% motel'er now.  She'll still go with me once in a while, but not to hamfests anymore.  She will attend a radio swap meet once in a while, if other wives also attend.

73, John Dilks, K2TQN


-.-

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Nickels" <ranickel at comcast.net>
   Later, as dark approached, I watched with amazement as he shoved both 
trays into the back of his full-size van, one on top of the other, then 
spread an old tarp over all and crawled on top with a blanket to spend 
the night.  I don't know if he felt he had to protect his inventory or 
what - like they say, you can't make this stuff up!

73, Bob W9RAN