[Elecraft] Sweepstakes

[Bob Fish]

Hi Guys,

I, like probably alot of you, have been doing some casual contesting 
this weekend. Once again, I am amazed at how bad of a contester I am. It 
isn't my rig or antenna. I have a K2/100 and a decent antenna. When I 
call someone they almost always respond after the first call. My cw 
skills are pretty good I can exchange contest info at around 30wpm if I 
have to, although I run between 22 and 25wpm most of the time. I try not 
to get distracted, another words I try to stay in front of the radio. So 
I feel as if I should be, at least, competitive. But, it happens every 
time. I sit down, eagerly awaiting the start of the contest, ready to do 
battle, and get slaughtered. Within an hour or so I am hopelessly 
behind. After 4 or 5 hours it is a joke. after 8 or 10 hours every 
station I work has 600 contacts! Some of these guys are averaging a 
contact a minute OVER 8 HOURS! I'm not mad, I am just amazed. My best 
contact rate was about 30 an hour and that was only for a couple of 
hours.I usually run a contact every 3 or 4 minutes. So after a while I 
get discouraged and start getting up and watching football for a few 
minutes or something else and then I really fall behind.  I don't mind 
not winning, but I am getting clobbered by every one I work by a factor 
of 7 or 8. I have to wonder, am I really that bad? The funny thing is, 
by the time the next contest rolls around. I am sitting in front of the 
radio, eagerly ready to do battle.......The lions and Christians come to 
mind except the Christian weren't willing participants.

73,

Bob  K6GGO