1971 ARRL SWEEPSTAKES – “ASTERISK YEAR” – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this article is to clearly state the argument for accepting the MAD RIVER RADIO CLUB’S entry in the 1971 ARRL Sweepstakes and to present the Gavel to the Mad River Radio Club at an appropriate venue, at the 2012 Dayton Hamvention.
1. Who was the President of the ARRL during the November Sweepstakes of 1971?
Robert Denison, W0DX
2. Who was the President of the ARRL when the ruling was made, that favored disqualification of the MRRC Scores.
Harry Dannals, W2TUK
3. Who were the members of the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee in 1971?
Leonard Chertok, W3GRF (Chairman), Roger Corey, W1AX, Jack Ravenscroft, VE2NV, George Hippisley, K2KIR, Ronald Sigismonti, W3WJD, Kenneth Bay, W4UQ, William Wortman, W5QNY, Katashi Nose, KH6IJ, Fred Deziel, W0HP.
(QST – page 68, 69 April 1971 - ARRL Advisory Committees)
4. Who was the ARRL’s Liaison Director when the Sweepstakes ruling was made against the MRRC in 1971?
Victor Clark, W4KFC
5. Who was the ARRL’s Staff Liaison when the ruling was made against the MRRC?
Ellen White, W1YYM
6. Where was the center of the Mad River Radio Club located in 1971?
In 1971, the center was located at the convergence of the Mad River and Interstate 70, just East of Dayton.
7. When were the Articles of Association for Club Membership filed with the ARRL?
April of 1971.
8. How many entries from the Mad River Radio Club were denied by the ARRL in 1971 in the Sweepstakes Event?
174 Entries of the Mad River Radio Club were denied by the ARRL in 1971.
9. Where was the center for Murphy Marauder’s in 1971? Hartford, Connecticut.
10. How far is Newington, Connecticut from Hartford, Connecticut?
14 Miles
11. Who were prominent members of Murphy Marauder’s in 1971?
W1FBY, K1VTM, K1THQ, W1FLM, K1AR, K1DG, K1XX, K2TR, K1RM, K1RX, and K1ZND.
CONCLUSION – The author believes that the decision to DQ 174 entries by the Mad River Radio Club in 1971 was not acceptable as it was not in the best interest of the hobby and broke a number of fundamental rules. Here are my reasons:
1. The Mad River Radio Club had no representation from any of the Directors from their Division, the Great Lakes Division Director, Alban Michel, W8WC, was not involved in the decision and was totally transparent in the proceedings.
2. Vic Clark, W4KFC, was a legendary member of the Potomac Valley Radio Club at the time of the SS ruling on MRRC eligibility.
3. Len Chertok, W3GRF, was also a member of the PVRC, and also participated in the Sweepstakes event of 1971.
4. There is precedent in transitional periods between Presidents taking office for executive level decisions to be made, that are not truly the policy of the organization in question. The DQ of the 174 Mad River Radio Club entries was unprecedented for the ARRL Sweepstakes.
5. The use of a STRAY to announce the final decision of the ARRL on this matter, basically confirms my theory, that no one at the ARRL wanted to be responsible for the decision.
6. The STRAY does not appear in the December Issue of the 1971 QST, which means this chapter in Sweepstakes History would be forgotten.
7. The Murphy’s Marauders reference is made, so that Newington, CT people can understand the concept of Regional Clubs vs. Local Clubs and why the original Murphy’s Marauders no longer exist.
