MojaveRATS Baker-to-Vegas Team Radio Support

It is 6:00 am and most of us are just waking up for race day. 
Before we get started, the MojaveRATS want to thank some of our help -
 
Precision Digital Color  http://www.pcolordi.com/
For the awesome vinyls for our shuttles and rovers and other important signage.  This is a large format printer based in Las Vegas.
 
Studio1204   http://www.studio1204.com/
Once again coming through on a custom print t-shirt job for our crew.
 
and Reflected Impressions  www.ReflectedImpressions.com
For their support, providing awards and other laser etchings based in La Mirada.
 
Now.... on with the race!

Awesome crew this year!  Nearly 30 Ham Radio operators are ready to support our teams this year!  We can report nine new members, including six new ham tickets.  Everyone expected to take the technician test did - and everyone now has callsigns with a whole 10 days left.
 
We even had time to run an orientation meeting.  During both meetings - one in La Mirada and the other here in Vegas, we invited Joy Matlack Comm 1 and Larry Simon Comm 2.  The MojaveRATS extends a big thank-you for their presentations and many of us old team support hands learned a bunch more about how race ops works and the many challenges they face putting this together every year.
 
In the final preparation days, radios are being serviced, coax and power supplies, finishing touches on a bunch of software, final team meetings - many of us are busy!  Soon the Echolink tower will be installed and the radios programmed.
 
There is an inside joke among a few of us that every week represents one day left to prepare.  We are now - effectively - 1 1/2 days away :)  We started our prep six months ago and still - never enough time.

Welcome everyone!
 
Presently we are confirming our returning Ham Operator roster for the 2010 Baker-to-Vegas Challenge Cup Relay.  Technical projects are underway to improve our ability to track team information during the event.  A special shout-out to all the new followers of our Twitter Feed.   Good to be back!

Official Link - http://www.bakervegas.com/results.php
 
LASD MCJ/IRC - Finish Order #1 - 12:48:46
 
LASD Norwalk - Finish Order #92 - 16:50:05
 
LASD Transportation - Finish Order #110 - 17:08:45
 
LASD CCS / MDR - Finish Order #216 - 19:45:06
 
No Penalties on any teams.

A more current batch of photos is available.
 
Album - http://picasaweb.google.com/mojaverats/B2V2009#
 
Slideshow -http://tinyurl.com/cdpaty
 
If you have photos, send to mojaverats - at - gmail - dot - com.  Especially photos of LASD TST #118.

Once again, a big thanks to our vendors -
 
Precision Color Digital Imaging (http://pcolordi.com/) - A large format printing company located in Las Vegas NV.  They provided our vinyl numbers and banners.
Studio 1204 (http://www.studio1204.com/) - A custom screen apparel printing service located in Union City CA.  They provided our custom-callsign shirts.

On February 15, the MojaveRATS held our annual pre-race planning meeting in the assembly room of the LASD Norwalk Station.  Thirteen of our operators attended, along with one of our long-time friends from the Sheriff Department.  We introduced the race and operations to a few of the new members, discussed our new tiered communication plan to handle four teams, equipment issues, and other transportation and setup items.  Our roster is complete and we are able to properly serve all of our client teams with personnel in their Follows and Shuttles.  Nevertheless, we welcome anyone who would like to join us by contacting us at mojaverats - at - gmail - dot - com .
We now eagerly await the start times so that we can begin building setup, operations, and tear-down schedules.

Our big full-staff meeting will be at the LASD Norwalk Station on February 15, 11:00 hours.  This will be the time we'll develop the working roster; determine equipment needs; car pool and travel needs; and welcome new operators to the MojaveRATS family.  Representatives of our supported LASD teams are welcome.  This will also be our final call for new Ham-Licensed operator volunteers for 2009 - contact mojaverats - at - gmail.com.

Our preparations began in October with a call out to existing members to support the 2009 effort.  We received incredible response, with all of our licensed LASD team volunteers looking to return for the 2009 year!  In addition, we have several new operators planning to take the Ham Licensing Exam in the next couple weeks.  We also have many new friends from the Burbank BEARS group.
 

Over the summer, a few of us met up in Big Bear for some off-roading in the San Bernadino National Forest. Bruce and Phil brought along the 2008 1st Place Open Division Champion Mug given to the MojaveRATS by the LASD Mens Central Jail team. This is an awesome honor given to our group... and a treasured item in the world of law enforcement athletics.
Slideshow at http://picasaweb.google.com/mojaverats/MugShots2008?fgl=true&pli=1#slide...

We thank all our ham radio and support volunteers for running a communications network for 30 hours across difficult terrain and conditions. And we want to thank all the other support volunteers, the team captains, and especially the running teams for making it a joy to support you year after year. Everyone rocks!!!
 
We may have some more photos up in our gallery (http://picasaweb.google.com/mojaverats) in the next few days as we close down our B2V operations. We'll begin our planning process for B2V 2009 in October.

We wish to thank Chuck Johnston and Beverly Johnston at Studio1204 (studio1204.com) in Union City CA for producing our custom team t-shirts; Matt Dann, his plotter, and all the crew at Precision Color Digital Imaging (pcolordi.com) in Las Vegas for vinyl lettering and RATS color team vinyls; and Norman Pearson at Eveloper.com for maintaining an Echolink Proxy.
 

120 Miles are in the books.  Share your stories and experiences here.  Registered users can add a comment here.  We'll keep registration open for a few days if you would like to participate.

Congratulations to all our teams!
 
LASD Mens Central Jail is the overall winner of the Baker-to-Vegas 2008 Challenge Cup Relay! The team finished in 12:48:12, a couple minutes ahead of second place CHP-Statewide.
 
LASD Norwalk Station improved their category position this year and 'mugged', finishing the 2008 Challenge Cup Relay in 16:47:39.
 
Santa Rosa Police Department beat their estimate by a full hour, finishing their first Baker-to-Vegas race in 17:58:31. Awesome debut performance!
 

LASD Mens Central Jail honored the Mojave Radio And Technical Support team for our radio support effort in 2007. Bruce Dixon accepted the honor on behalf of MojaveRATS at the MCJ Running Team meeting on Tuesday April 15. A full-size photo of the honor is in the gallery.