Flash back 1976- a group of hams formed the Bi Centienal Worked all States net.. It was really fun.. The ARRL offered a BICentinial WAS award.. at th eend of the year, some of us decided to continue the group, and offr -especially new hams with modest or QRP sttions a chance to work all states and other such awards.. On 2 occasions I was involved in we had all 50 states check into the same net on 80 meters. Both times I was #50 Alaska.. They have expanded to multi modes, multi bands and have quite a following.
I am a charter member of the group.. and they just announced this years eyeball.. It floats about the country.
anyone ever hear of Guntrie, OK??? Now it's the same weekend as Huntsville, AL.. 3rd largest hamfest in the country, so I'm torn..Huntsville is 800 miles.
Here's what I know:
The 2025 Eyeball will be in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Dates for the event are
August 14-17, 2025. The location is the Logan County Fairgrounds Education
Building, 215 Fairgrounds Rd, Guthrie OK 73044. This site is just a few
minutes west of I-35.
Guthrie is a town full of history. It is the county seat for Logan County.
It was the first capital of the State of Oklahoma. In 1910, Governor Charles
Haskell called a special election to decide a permanent location of the
capital and Guthrie lost to Oklahoma City. Guthrie residents are still salty
about the loss.
Many of the downtown buildings are at least one hundred years old. One such
building currently houses a Federal Court and the Post Office.
The registration is $90.00. If you want to register now, you can send me a
check or money order to my QRZ address, made out to Clay Mayrose. You can
also Venmo the funds to me at: 405 201 6343. Matt, K2YS is working on the
Eyeball webpage and there will be online payment and more information there.
If you have special dietary requirements, let me know privately. My personal
chef is well adept in these matters.
You can easily operate from the Capital (Oklahoma City) 25 minutes south. If
you are a POTA activator, there are two entities in Guthrie. One more entity
is about 30 minutes south and several more that are less than two hours
away. I will research the park numbers and post them later. The two Guthrie
entities should be close enough to do the QRP nets. (one mile) I will
have to test that out.
Here are the places to stay in Guthrie (listed best to worst)
Holiday Inn - 2227 E Oklahoma Ave Guthrie 405-293-6464 (free breakfast)
This is the best choice according to the Emergency Manager
Hampton Inn - 401 Cimarron Blvd 405-293-9595
La Quinta --406 Heather Rd. Guthrie 405-293-6000
Sleep Inn - 414 Heather RD. Guthrie 405-260-1400
Territorial Inn - Do not stay here.
Additional accommodations are available in Edmond Oklahoma which is 30
minutes to the south.
Hilton Garden Inn - 2833 Conference Drive Edmond 405-285-0900
Hampton Inn - 300 Meline Dr Edmond 405-844-3037
Fairfield Inn - 301 Meline Dr Edmond 405-341-4818
Home 2 Suites -- 321 Meline Dr Edmond 405-285-8380
La Quinta -- 200 Meline Dr Edmond 405-513-5353
Holiday Inn Express -- 3840 E 2nd St Edmond 405-844-3700
RV - Guthrie
Cedar Valley RV Park 725 Masters Dr Guthrie 405 282-4478 (This is the best
choice according to the Emergency Manager)
Pioneer RV Park - 1601 Seward Rd. Guthrie 405-282-3557 (Just off Interstate
35)
I will put out additional information periodically
Larry Macionski