December 15, 2002 marked a final gathering of the WRTC2002 Organizing Committee and of all the spirited WRTC hosts in the shadow of a Formula racing track in Vantaa, near Helsinki Airport.
Following an official report and a handover of the remaining work and accounts to Contest Club Finland (CCF), it was time for some fun activities. All the hosting station groups selected their driver and went for a session of serious racing. A total of ten (10) drivers, representing the same number of WRTC hosting teams, completed warm-up and qualifying laps and finally an actual race. These racing cars employed 10 h.p. engines - hence the race was quite speedy indeed.
The finish line was cut first by Toni, OH2JTE (1), followed by Pasi, OH2MZB (2) and Esa, OH2KPU (3). A large scoreboard kept the crowd entertained, just as at the WRTC2002.
The day was completed with a viewing of the WRTC official video which will be launched to the public at a CCF meeting January 17-19, 2003. It is a dynamite "sports video" which shows amateur radio contesting for the first time as a serious sport. The narration is by ESPN Sports Channel commentator Mr. Kurt Perry and script by WRTC competitor James Brooks, 9V1YC.
Some 32,000 OJ1 thru OJ8 QSL cards will be released during the month of January while the certificates and T-shirts for the competing general participants will keep CCF active well into the year 2003. WRTC2002 was financially sound, and it is expected that the event’s finances will stay positive even after these obligatory activities are completed.
While wrapping up their organizational activities / responsibilities, the WRTC2002 Organizing Committee members and the hosts finished off the evening by story telling about their hosted teams. They also wanted to extend Season’s Greetings to everyone involved in the WRTC2002 in various parts of the world.
Very Merry Christmas,
Martti Laine, OH2BH
WRTC2002 Organizing Comittee
WRTC - World Radiosport Team Championship in Finland - July 9-16, 2002
© WRTC2002 Org. design: OH1NOA