Big Blue Whale Official Unofficial Fun Station
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: Because we can and because we want to. It's located on Historic Route 66, it's a neat site and the date corresponds with the larger Route 66 On The Air Special Event sponsored by the Citrus Belt ARC.
Q: When is this going to happen?
A: Saturday, September 20, 2008. We'll be set up and running by 1000 HRS (CDT) and hope to work until about 1600 HRS. Depending on the conditions we will operate on 20 and/or 40 meters. We'll just have to see how it goes. We really hope the band conditions are good and we can make a lot of contacts.
Q: What kind of equipment will you be using?
A: The transceiver will be a trusty old ICOM 751A, running barefoot, thru an LDG Z-100 Ultra auto tuner and into a pair of hamsticks (horizontal configuration) on a 16 foot metal pole (made for holding bird houses!). We will have commercial power. The antenna pole will be lashed to a ladder on the tail of the whale and we're hoping that the water will help act as a ground plane.
Q: Where is the Big Blue Whale?
A: Good question! The BBW is east of Tulsa and north of Highway 412 on Historic Route 66. Follow 66 thru Catoosa until you come to a big store complex called Reasor's. As you proceed north watch on your left. You can't miss it because its bigggg and verrrrry blue! (PDF aerial photo)
Q: Where did it come from?
A: Originally, A retired land owner named Hugh created this project for his wife Zelta (who collected whale figures) for her birthday back in the early 70's. She knew nothing about it until it was done. The pond was at the time a spring fed pond. Although it was for family use only others would sneak in so he trucked in tons of sand to create a sandy beach, built picnic tables, opened a snack stand, and hired life guards. Then he opened it to the public. It was closed in 1988 and fell into disrepair. It has since been restored and opened to the public, but no swimming is allowed due to liability reasons. There are picnic tables and restrooms available. Children are allowed to fish in the pond. Blaine Davis, the current owner, has graciously consented to let us use the whale for a fun station event.
Q: Can I get a special QSL work working the station?
A: Yes you can! I will design and hand print my own QSL cards unless, of course, we get a bazillion contacts. Them I'll have to have the cards commercially printed and that may take a bit longer, but it will be done. To get a QSL just send an SASE (be sure it's a standard #10 business envelope) to my contact address on QRZ.com. I'm even thinking about designing a nice 8 by 10 certificate in PDF form that you can download and print. It will have your call sign on it with the contact info. You can print it and frame it for the wall of your shack.
Q: Where did you get this hair brained idea in the first place?
A: I thought you'd never ask. I became interested in the history of Route 66 about three years ago when my wife and I went to Arizona on vacation. Returning to Arkansas via I-40, we spent a night in Holbrook. Just a few hundred yards from our hotel was the old Wigwam Motel with its restored conical shaped cabins and collection of old vehicles. When I talked to the owner he said that his father had built the place more than 50 years ago.
The next morning at breakfast I heard French, Australian English and German being spoken among my fellow travelers. I sat with a trio from Germany and they told me the had flown into Chicago, rented a vehicle, and were driving the original Route 66. All of these folks were doing the same thing!
Then while googling I discovered Route 66 OTA where I worked a few stations. Then, to top it all off, someone told me to watch the movie CARS. That did it; I was totally hooked. I bought several books, searched the Internet and I was on a mission to read about anything and everything Route 66.
Last March when I went to the Green Country Hamfest (an excellent hamfest BTW) in Claremore, Oklahoma I made my first visit to the Big Blue Whale. It was a cold, damp, blustery day, but I enjoyed it immensely. Sometime thereafter the idea came to me. And, it seemed only proper to do it during the period of the Route 66 OTA event.
Q: Enough talk. Please show me the whale?
A: Okay, I got your whale right here...
 
 
Q: When will we know how it went?
A: Impatient aren't we? I will be posting photos and information on how the event went. If it's as much fun as I think it will be I hope to organize a real special event station next year with a 1X1 callsign, lots of operators, publicity and the whole nine yards.
September 21st... The event happened and a good time was had by all. Click here for info and photos.
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