W4BFB - MARS

Start2Finish Time Trials: May 2018
2018-05-01 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC, 28027, United States
These events are held once a month and we are the Track Marshalls for the event. All that is required is a handheld radio as we use a 440 simplex frequency. If you have never worked a public service event this is a good way to learn more about public service. We are there for safety/security as well as to make sure the cyclists pass correctly and do not draft. We always try to put any new volunteers with a seasoned volunteer the first time they work the event.
Operators will need to be on-site by 6:00PM. We drive into the infield at the Motor Speedway and need seven radio operators for each event. There are radio operators on the track – one on each corner and one on the each straightaway.
The dates for these events are:

May 1
June 13
July 18
August 8
September 12

The time trials are a great way to get started in public service. We just use a handi-talkie for the event and operate on a simplex frequency. We always put someone new with a veteran ham so they can teach you the ropes.
To sign up to volunteer, please visit https://w4bfb.org/go/s2f2018 (Access Code is the club’s callsign).

Board Meeting - May 2018
2018-05-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States
W4BFB Board Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. The board meeting is open to all members of the club.
This month’s Board Meeting will be held at our Alternate Location – Unified AV Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217.
All members are welcome to attend.

Club Meeting - May 2018
2018-05-29 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States
W4BFB will meet in the Fellowship Hall of St. Giles Evangelical Presbyterian Church the last Tuesday of every month (except June & December) at 7:00 PM. The meeting typically lasts about 2 hours.
Check out the latest newsletter for an overview of what this month’s meeting topic(s) will be.
The address of the meeting place is 2027 Emerywood Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210.

We hope to see you there!

Board Meeting - June 2018
2018-06-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States

ARRL Field Day 2018 - Setup
2018-06-23 08:00 - 12:00 | Park On Wilgrove, 7750 Jim Harper Ln, Mint Hill, NC, 28227, United States
More information to come

ARRL Field Day 2018 - Picnic
2018-06-23 12:00 - 14:00 | Park On Wilgrove, 7750 Jim Harper Ln, Mint Hill, NC, 28227, United States
More information to come.

ARRL Field Day 2018
2018-06-23 14:00 - 2018-06-24 14:00 | NC

Assault on Morrow Mountain Ride - July
2018-07-07 08:00 - 15:00 | Morrow Mountain State Park, 49104 Morrow Mountain Rd, Albemarle, NC, 28001, United States
From the Official Event page…
The Assault on Morrow Mountain Series consist of six “Show & Go” rides held each year from March through September. The rides attract a wide range of cyclists from all around the Carolinas. The route is a 60 mile loop from Locust, NC to the Morrow Mountain State Park and back. Quiet country roads and beautiful scenery are highlighted by the mid-ride climb to the top of Morrow Mountain. However don’t be fooled by the beauty that surrounds you. The first 20 miles are deceiving fast. Moderate climbs and the famous “Chicken Shit Hill” will soon give way to the climb up Morrow Mountain. Enjoy the view at the top and be sure to leave a “little gas in the tank” because the last 30 miles will prove to be the real test of your strength and stamina.
Assault on Morrow Mountain Ride Details
Start Time: 8:00am / West Stanly Middle School – 339 Running Creek Church Rd, Locust, NC 28097
Registration: Not Required Waiver: Yes Cost: $2
Ride Distance: 60 miles, marked route with approx. 4400ft of vertical climb.
Difficulty: The ride is best suited for Intermediate and Advanced level riders.
Ride Type: The ride is a “Show & Go” ride that offers minimal support. Rest stops at local stores are located along the route. We provide sports drinks and snacks at the top of the mountain and an ice-cold Coke at the finish. Diet Coke’s for the triathletes. I know…that’s a lot for $2.
Weather: The ride will be canceled if the temperature is below 40 degrees at the start or if the chance of rain exceeds 40% before 11am. Weather related cancellations are based on current weather predictions for Albemarle, NC and will be posted on the WeeklyRides.com Facebook group page no later than 6am on the day of the ride.
Rider Satisfaction Guarantee: Best $2 ride ever or I’ll double your money back.

Board Meeting - July 2018
2018-07-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States

Club Meeting - July 2018
2018-07-31 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States

Assault on Morrow Mountain Ride - August
2018-08-04 08:00 - 15:00 | Morrow Mountain State Park, 49104 Morrow Mountain Rd, Albemarle, NC, 28001, United States

Board Meeting - August 2018
2018-08-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States

Charlotte CF Cycle for Life 2018
2018-08-18 07:00 - 15:00 | Clutch Kitchen & Pour House, 601 S Cedar St, Charlotte, NC, 28202, United States
Get your wheels in motion and join us for the 7th Annual CF Cycle for Life (CFL)! We will be starting and ending the ride at The Foundry, right beside Bank of America Stadium, and riding through the cycle friendly outskirts of Charlotte. CFL is a fully-supported ride with 15-mile, 35-mile and 50-mile route options. From breakfast to our cycle post party, you can enjoy fully stocked rest stops every 8-12 miles, bike mechanics for bicycle maintenance and repair, ride marshals to cheer you along the way and plenty of support vehicles to help you complete the ride.
This unique event empowers participants to take action and demonstrate their fight in finding a cure for cystic fibrosis in a tangible, emotional and powerful way. This is not a race, so we encourage you to sit back and enjoy the ride!

VE Test Session - August 2018
2018-08-18 09:00 - 12:00 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States
MARS will hold its next WCARS ham radio licensing exam session on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at 9:00am at the St. Giles Church gymnasium.
All MARS-sponsored Amateur Radio exam sessions are open to all applicants. The exams are held in the Gymnasium building behind St. Giles Evangelical Presbyterian Church at 2027 Emerywood Avenue in Charlotte. Walk-ins are welcome, but we find it helpful if you register by sending an email to our VE Team Manager or by calling 704-641-0959. You may also contact us if you need additional information.
Please bring the following to the test session:

$10.00 (cash preferred) WCARS-VEC Exam Fee.
Photo ID (drivers license, passport) with current address; if the Photo ID does not have your current address, please bring a utility bill that has been mailed to you.
If you are already licensed, bring your original Amateur Radio License and a copy to attach to your application.
Any CSCE’s and copies from your previous exam session.

Registration starts promptly at 9:00 am. Exams are administered for all of the Amateur Radio License categories (Technician, General and Extra) at each session. The Session is structured so that all applicants complete the registration process and forms first, then these are checked and the exam fee is collected. Once the paperwork is correct, the multiple choice exams are handed out to those taking the exams. The exams are not timed so that applicants can take them without being rushed. The exams are graded during the session by three trained Volunteer Examiners, and the results (passed/failed) are shared at that time. If a person passes one exam, they are eligible to take the next Class license exam at the same exam session. We ask our applicants to stay on site until the exam results are known so that the CSCE for that exam can be completed. Our results are then submitted to the WCARS-VEC that in turn submits them to the FCC. Once these are in the FCC database, new callsigns are generated and published.

New amateur radio operators may obtain their callsigns by checking the FCC Universal Licensing System here and selecting the “By Name” search in the box.

The Mecklenburg VE Team tries to accommodate special testing needs such as providing verbal exams. If you have a special need, you must request an accommodation at least two full weeks before the testing date so that the Exam Manager can determine if we can meet your need. The all-volunteer Mecklenburg VE Team cannot guarantee that special need requests can be honored at all testing sessions.

If you have any questions, please contact Steven Burke, KI4FAQ, MARS-WCARS VEC Liaison here or by calling 704-641-0959.

Club Meeting - August 2018
2018-08-28 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States

Assault on Morrow Mountain Ride - September
2018-09-08 08:00 - 15:00 | Morrow Mountain State Park, 49104 Morrow Mountain Rd, Albemarle, NC, 28001, United States

Board Meeting - September 2018
2018-09-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States

Charlotte Tour de Cure 2018
2018-09-15 07:00 - 15:00 | Ballantyne Corporate Park, 13860 Ballantyne Corporate Pl, Charlotte, NC, 28277, United States
This event is sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. It is September 15, 2018 and starts/ends at Ballantyne Corporate Park. There are four routes on the event:
62 mile 43 mile 25 mile 6 mile
There is a route for every level of cyclist. They also have a walk starting at 10 am. The first route leaves the park at 8 am and we normally finish up around 3 pm. We will use Repeater Frequency 444.30 with a PL Tone of 100. We will also set up the W4BFB Communications Trailer at the start line for Net Control.

Club Meeting - September 2018
2018-09-25 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States

Board Meeting - October 2018
2018-10-09 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Clubroom, 2425 Park Road, Room 023, Charlotte, NC, 28203, United States
W4BFB Board Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. The board meeting is open to all members of the club.
This month’s Board Meeting will be held at the American Red Cross on Park Road – 2425 Park Road, Room 023, Charlotte, NC 28203.
All members are welcome to attend.

Club Meeting - October 2018
2018-10-30 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States

VE Test Session - November 2018
2018-11-10 09:00 - 12:00 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States

Board Meeting - November 2018
2018-11-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States

Club Meeting - November 2018
2018-11-27 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States

Board Meeting - December 2018
2018-12-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States

Board Meeting - January 2019
2019-01-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States
W4BFB Board Meetings are generally held the 1st Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. The board meeting is open to all members of the club. For January, it will be the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
This month’s Board Meeting will be held at Unified Technology Systems – Charlotte, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217.
All members are welcome to attend.

Club Meeting - January 2019
2019-01-29 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States

Board Meeting - February 2019
2019-02-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States
W4BFB Board Meetings are held the 1st Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. The board meeting is open to all members of the club.
This month’s Board Meeting will be held at Unified Technology Systems – Charlotte, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217.
All members are welcome to attend.

Club Meeting - February 2019
2019-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | W4BFB Meeting Room / St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 2027 Emerywood Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States

Board Meeting - March 2019
2019-03-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Unified Technology Systems, 5100 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28217, United States
