Mad Sunday 2008

by MD0MDI
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IOMARS Mast with Manx Flag

Mad Sunday 2008 Special Event Station by the IOMARS

Every year in the Isle of Man the local club used setup a small event at the local Tractor Show over here which happened at the same time as the middle Sunday of the Tourist Trophy Motorcycle Road Races which happens to be called ‘Mad Sunday’, where many motorcyclists and also boy racers in there cars travel over the mountain course trying to out do each other at whatever speed they feel safe at doing this, and whats more it’s legal for just one day, not that there are speed limits on most of the mountain course anyway, but on this day each year the boy racers out there just have fun at speed on our mountain road.

Whilst all this mental stuff is going on there is a small field down south of the Island that hosts an event for all the tractor restoration people that are on the island, and as one of the organizers of this event is also a radio ham, the local club get to put up a tent, throw up an antenna or two and play radio.

This Mad Sunday event is quite good for a PR exercise and the club normally get a steady steam of people popping in for a chat…

Steve Kelly (GD7DUZ) started assembling the Mosley Beam on the floor with the help of John Butler (GD0NFN) and Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB).

John Butler (GD0NFN) and Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) helping out Steve Kelly (GD7DUZ) with the IOMARS Club Beam.
John Butler (GD0NFN) and Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) helping out Steve Kelly (GD7DUZ) with the IOMARS Club Beam.

With most of the antenna built it was just a few final touches needed doing…

Harry (MD0HEB) and John (GD0NFN) keeping a close eye on Steve (GD7DUZ) who is doing 'ALL' the work
Harry (MD0HEB) and John (GD0NFN) keeping a close eye on Steve (GD7DUZ) who is doing 'ALL' the work

Matty Cunningham (MD0MAN) turned up at just the right time to help out. Next job was to turn the beam upright so that it can be fitted onto the stub mast.

With the added help from Matty (MD0MAN) it did not take long to fix the beam to the top of the tower.
With the added help from Matty (MD0MAN) it did not take long to fix the beam to the top of the tower.

Steve Kelly (GD7DUZ) bolted the beam on to the stub mast, now all they have to do is insert the last of the elements.

By raising the tower a little at a time they are able to add the remaining sections to the beam.
By raising the tower a little at a time they are able to add the remaining sections to the beam.

By raising the mast a little Steve (GD7DUZ) was able to add the last elements in place.

Steve Kelly (GD7DUZ) finishing off the last few sections of the Mosley Beam
Steve Kelly (GD7DUZ) finishing off the last few sections of the Mosley Beam

With Steve tightening up each element that John was passing to him, the beam was nearly finished.

Steve (GD7DUZ) working on the beam with John (GD0NFN)
Steve (GD7DUZ) working on the beam with John (GD0NFN)
Steve (GD7DUZ) finishing off the assembly of the Mosley Beam under the gaze from John (GD0NFN)
Steve (GD7DUZ) finishing off the assembly of the Mosley Beam under the gaze from John (GD0NFN)
Matty (MD0MAN) with his bad habit, whilst Harry (MD0HEB) cranks up the tower under the watchful eyes of Steve (GD7DUZ) and John (GD0NFN)
Matty (MD0MAN) with his bad habit, whilst Harry (MD0HEB) cranks up the tower under the watchful eyes of Steve (GD7DUZ) and John (GD0NFN)

Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) is always a good wind up, so he gets the job of getting the antenna up in the air…

Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) putting in some effort to get the tower up
Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) putting in some effort to get the tower up

Nearly there….

Up she goes
Up she goes
Everyone watching Harry (MD0HEB) crank up the tower.
Everyone watching Harry (MD0HEB) crank up the tower.

Looks like the flag is going to get a little messed up, hopefully it will all work out well in the wash…

Not a lot better than a Manx Flag and a Beam
Not a lot better than a Manx Flag and a Beam

Steve keeping an eye on things to make sure that everything is going OK.

Harry (MD0HEB) cranking up the mast under thw watchful eye of Steve (GD7DUZ)
Harry (MD0HEB) cranking up the mast under thw watchful eye of Steve (GD7DUZ)

Finally there and ready to be used.

Up she goes, slowly of course with Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) on the winch handle.
Up she goes, slowly of course with Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) on the winch handle.

There is nothing nicer than a portable tower, with a beam and a flag on a nice summers day.

IOMARS Tower and 4 Element Mosley Beam
IOMARS Tower and 4 Element Mosley Beam

The view up the tower, looks quite nice in the sun, we certainly had great weather for Mad Sunday in 2008..

Up the Tower!

The Manx Flag flying high over the field, it managed to get caught up a little in the head unit, but it still looks good in the light breeze that we had that day

Closeup of the Mosley Beam an the Manx Flag
Closeup of the Mosley Beam an the Manx Flag

Steve (GD7DUZ) working on sorting out the cables to make sure that they don’t get tangled up or damaged if the wind blows up, better to be on the safe side. Meanwhile Harry is locking off the lifting wheel to make sure that it is nice and tight.

Steve Kelly (GD4DUZ) sorting out the feeders while good old Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) puts all the tools away
Steve Kelly (GD4DUZ) sorting out the feeders while good old Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB) puts all the tools away

At least the weather held out for the day…

Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man
Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man
John Butler (GD0NFN) adding another contact to the logbook whilst being checked over by James Kelly (MD3WKJ)
John Butler (GD0NFN) adding another contact to the logbook whilst being checked over by James Kelly (MD3WKJ)

The workings of an old steam engine.

Some beautiful machinery at the show
Some beautiful machinery at the show
Some beautiful machinery at the show

The mast standing tall over the field ate the Mad Sunday show and Special Event Station.…

The Tower looking rather excellent in the sun
The Tower looking rather excellent in the sun
Vintage Tractor at the Mad Sunday Agricultural Show in Port St. Mary
Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man
Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man

This is Dave Corkish’s (2D0RGW) domain, not only is he a Radio Amateur, but he loves his farmyard equipment as well.

Dave Corkish (2D0RGW) who was one of the main organizers behind the Mad Sunday Show in Port St. Mary
Dave Corkish (2D0RGW) who was one of the main organizers behind the Mad Sunday Show in Port St. Mary

The view across the field to the make shift ham shack..

IOMARS Tower at the Port St. Mary Agricultural Show
IOMARS Tower at the Port St. Mary Agricultural Show

James Kelly (MD3WKJ) making the most of some radio time whilst being watched by passing people.

James Kelly (MD3WKJ) doing a grand job with some visitors to the shack.
James Kelly (MD3WKJ) doing a grand job with some visitors to the shack.

John Butler (GD0NFN) posing for the camera in-between a contact or two on the radio.

John Butler (GD0NFN)
John Butler (GD0NFN)

John Butler (GD0NFN) was working on one of the stations whilst James Kelly (MD3WKJ) was on the other, and both making quite a few contacts throughout the day.

John Butler (GD0NFN) and James Kelly (MD3WKJ) trying to work a few stations
John Butler (GD0NFN) and James Kelly (MD3WKJ) trying to work a few stations

There is something quite nice about watching these old belt driven machines at work!

Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man

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Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man

There are lots of old machines around and most are running so that you can see how they use to be used.

Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man

One of the larger attractions at the event is an old working thresher and baler, and the team of operators are always willing to show how things were done in the old days.

 
Vintage Jones Baler at the Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man
Vintage Jones Baler at the Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man
Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man
Mad Sunday Agricultural Show, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man
Not a lot better than a Manx Flag and a Beam

Tynwald Day 2008

Special Event Station run by the Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society (IOMARS)

Museum's on the Air 2008

GB4MNH Special Event Station run by the IOMARS and organized by Harry Blackburn (MD0HEB)

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