11/13 & 11/14/04
Yet another successful Ft. Wayne Hamfest has come and gone! As always the hosting club was well organized and well prepared. Several of the "die hards" arrived Friday evening, 11/12. After dinner that evening, a "Solve the World's Problems Seminar" was held even though N8DRM had been on the road since Tuesday. We were sorry that John, N4XI, was not more persistent in finding out where the group was meeting! Even though N8DRM had been on the road since Tuesday, early Saturday morning found N8DRM and WA8ZWJ at the hamfest and after a bit of finagling they managed to trade tables and secure a table in the main Expo Center.
It was great seeing old fiends and visiting with them! Sales during the day were a bit slow but even though N8DRM had been on the road since Tuesday, we did manage to sell a few items including KA8ZBW's HF rig! One guy wanted ZWJ to bend over real hard and practically give it to him, but, ZWJ stuck to his guns and managed to get $50 more from another ham later in the day!
Even though N8DRM had been on the road since Tuesday, he did manage to pull off several quick "buy it here and sell it here" deals that helped strengthen his inventory but did not help his sales income. It must be some kind of new math that Dave is using? Or, maybe it was because he had been on the road since Tuesday? Who knows? He also picked up several HT's and accessories, some of which did not make it home, a dual band antenna for use on rental cars, a roll of KR-19 solder and two Garmin GPS II's of which only one went home. WA8ZWJ's new toys included a 6 meter Ringo, a 440 antenna for WD8CJD's new car, a couple rolls of KR-19 solder, 200 blank CD's, some VHS movies and a pair of suspenders. N8KXM got a roll of KR-19 solder, a USB to Serial adapter, a repeater directory and a W2AU 4-1 balun. KA8SFL bought a repeater directory. W8TVC gets the "Big Spender Award" for the hamfest as he bought Betty a new HT and an Ameritron mobile amplifier for his camper! Way to go Dave! He really does want Hoss to hear him when he is camping! :-)
Even though N8DRM had been on the road since Tuesday, N8DRM, WB8VSU and WA8ZWJ stopped at the "Back Forty Junction" for the all-you-can-eat Prime Rib Buffet on their way home! Delicious! Eat your heart out K8OW! We missed you!
As always, a fun time was had and we look forward to doing it again next year!
Respectfully Submitted, WA8ZWJ!
