By Carmine Prestia, K3CWP
The Penn State Cycling Club put on its first ever Nittany Stage Race on Saturday, August 1st and Sunday the 2nd. The Road Race on August 1st was held in the Black Moshannon State Park and Forest. Race organizers asked local amateur radio operators to provide communications during the Saturday event. Eight (8) Amateurs volunteered and staffed the Incident Command Post and several positions along the 21 mile route. Two operators provided roving coverage or ‘tail end’ coverage as needed. This year saw the addition of an amateur radio equipped vehicle at the Command Post that was loaned to the event by Centre Communications, Inc.
K3CWP operates the Incident Command Post/Net Control Station out of the Centre Communications display vehicle.
The race began at 9:00 though amateurs reported at 08:00 for briefing then deployed to their posts. There were six separate ‘heats’, three in the morning and three in the afternoon. Radio communications related to racers dropping out of the race, needing mechanical assistance, and administrative issues were the main work of the day with the exception of a rider who crashed near the Baney Road/Rattlesnake Pike intersection. Injuries were significant enough to require calling an ambulance and transporting the rider to the Mount Nittany Medical Center.
Gordon, KC0QJX; Richard, KC3FEZ; Nick, N3NR; Craig, K3OOL; Carmine, K3CWP; and Rich, KB3QKR waiting to start the pre race briefing.
As in past years the Park Rangers provided one of their radios as did the Hope Fire Company Fire Police and the Race Officials/Judges. These radios proved invaluable while coordinating the information for notifying the standby ambulance service.
Amateurs participating from the Nittany Amateur Radio Club, Philipsburg Amateur Radio Association, and Penn State were:
- Richard Brnik, KB3QKR
- Evan Duffey, KC2WBK
- Craig Miller, K3OOL
- Carmine Prestia, K3CWP
- Elaine Prestia, K3ERP
- Nicholas Roscoe, N3NR
- Gordon Vanauken, KC0QJR
- Richard Weddigen, KC3FEZ
The radios used for Amateur operations are in the stack to the right. The handheld radios were loaned to us by Hope Fire Police, Black Moshannon State Park Rangers, and the race judges.
Here’s another view of K3CWP Operating ICP/NCS.
Centre Communications Sales Representative Kevin Ermol had their display vehicle equipped with several radios programmed with amateur VHF and UHF frequencies. The vehicle provided a convenient and stable platform for the Incident Command Post.
A special thanks to Centre Communications. Owners Karl Hosterman, K3ARL and Eric Brooks, N3EB are members of the Nittany Amateur Radio Club.