On Sat, 25 Jan 2003 13:12:07 -0000, Barry wrote:
>Bill,
>The Indy 500 isn't a good analogy, as not everyone can compete. One
>has to qualify, right? For argument's sake, let's say I did qualify
>to compete. If I expected to be competitive in the Indy 500, I would
>enter the race with competitive equipment. If I was just there to
>gain some experience and have fun, the family sedan works just fine.
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Barry, I think it IS a good analogy. My point was not about qualifying,
it was about a full-out, flat-out race between an Indy car and the
family car (or a super stock or formula 1 or anything else, for that
matter).
The Indy car has a huge advantage and will win. That doesn't mean other
kinds of cars can't race EACH OTHER and have a ton of fun. And it
doesn't mean Indy cars can't race each other and also have a ton of fun.
I don't have exact numbers in front of me, but I'll bet that stock car
racing in the US is far and away more popular than Indy car racing. And
why? Partly because it has more appeal to the Average Joe, but also
because it is designed to be competitive! It is like car against like
car. Put in some Indy cars in there on every race and see how fast
people lose interest.
Likewise, there are far more contesters with modest stations than ones
with mega-stations. I believe they should be allowed to compete with
each other only and not against the mega guys.
To me, the fun of contesting is about the competition - the brainwork,
the knowledge of propagation, strategies and tactics and so on. It
should not be about the acquisition of more and more hardware. BUT IF A
PERSON DOES WANT TO BE A HARDWARE MAVEN, FINE! Just let him compete
like against like.
That's all I ask.
73, Bill W7TI
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