2011 Baker to Vegas Race (B2V-2011)

This photo taken in 2006 provides a great "feel" and terrific view of the open desert with the OPD runner (then Team #57) leading what seems to be an endless line of runners and support vehicles from the competing teams. Click on the thumbnail to see the detail in the high-res JPEG.

Photo by Byron KC6YNG

At the Communications Center in the very small town of Shoshone, Rich KR6BA experimented with solar power this year to run all the radio equipment during the B2V race.

Photo by Steve KB6ROL

Behind the motel used as the Communications Center in Shoshone, is the vertical antenna used to contact the cross-band repeater on 144 MHz.

Photo by Bill W6VKO

The normally empty "sides of the road" in Shoshone fill up with motorhomes and command centers for various teams on Saturday morning of the race.

Photo by Jay KI6WZU

A medical helicopter raises a cloud of dust as it lands. A runner had collapsed (team unknown) on the race course and was going to be rushed to a medical center.

Photo by Polly KI6CUK

The sun can really get hot in the early legs of the race. Here the OPD runner uses the water bottle to perform a cool-down,

Photo by Mike Smith KC6ZTP

Radio operators enjoy a relaxed group buffet dinner in Pahrump before the race begins. On Friday afternoon the antennas were set up before it got dark, then dinner, and then finish setting up the voice and APRS radios.

Photo by Jay KI6WZU

In Pahrump, Nicholas AF6CF takes a turn with the "voice radios" to keep in touch with the OPD Follow-Vehicle and Las Vegas Comm Center.

Photo by Ken W6HHC

At the Pahrump Comm Center, Ken W6HHC (at keyboard) and Jay KI6WZU use a spreadsheet to keep track of the runner's reported times. The same computer is used for APRS tracking the progress of the OPD runner

Photo by Ken W6HHC

The sign in the window identifies this room as the COAR RACES Communication Center for the OPD runners in Pahrump who want the latest report on the status of the race.

Photo by Bill-W6VKO

Jay KI6WZU (center) stands in front of the Pahrump comm center and talks to Dave KG6RWU (right) after transferring more bottles of water to the follow-vehicle for the runners.

Photo by Bill-W6VKO

The runners at night face colder conditions. Here the OPD runner has just received the baton and is taking off though the "chute" made with yellow tape.

Photo by Mike Smith KC6ZTP

The Comm Center located at Sandy Valley Road is "in the middle of nowhere"!! There are no fancy hotels (like in Shoshone)...just hard working hams and a few motor homes and trailers. The cross-band repeater kept communications flowing on both sides of the mountain ridge.

Photo by Bill-W6VKO

A view of the radio trailer at the Sandy Valley Comm Center. The radio trailer basically supports all the antennas and radios used at this location.

Photo by Bill W6VKO

The Las Vegas Communications Center was located in the Emerald Suites Hotel near the finish line. (L-R) are Steve-KI6DDE and Robbie-KB6CJZ.

Photo by Sam - W6RDS

Sam W6RDS takes a turn keeping the "runners' times" spreadsheet up to date in LV.

Photo by Sam W6RDS

In Las Vegas, COAR set up a “long john” 16-element 440 MHz yagi beam that is clamped to the hotel railing. This beam is aimed up at the cross-band repeater that COAR has set-up at Sandy Valley Road on top of the mountain ridge.

Photo by Sam W6RDS

At the Las Vegas Comm Center, the upper-vertical antenna shown here is for the 144 MHz band and the lower antenna is for 220 MHz (a back-up frequency used if propagation conditions change).

Photo by Sam W6RDS

The finish line was located inside the Hilton Hotel in LV. Here is the final OPD runner, Officer Mark Lensing, crossing the finish line on Sunday morning.

Photo by Mike Smith KC6ZTP

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to each radio operator who helped support the Orange PD running team with the Baker-to-Vegas race, by Chief Bob Gustafson of the Orange Police Department