Mike Hance K5NZ --Club Call W5NN (Sluggo!) Team Cramp Contest Crew I was first introduced to the hobby by Jerry Johnson, K8ANN (Now AE4XW) at age 10. He was my best friends dad and had a whole basement full of ham gear. We moved to Texas shortly after that and I meet Johnny Davis, K5JD. Imagine how many hours my new "Elmer" had to spend with a 12 year old kid asking questions and wanting to listen to his Drake line station! First licensed in 1969 at the age of 13 in Richardson, TX. my friend Ralph and I took our exam on the same day. He received the callsign WN5AAR and I was WN5AAS. Soon after, we talked our other close friend Steve into getting his ticket, he became WN5AOF. Well there must have been something in the water because Ralph and Steve have become very serious and accomplished contesters! Now N5RZ and K5MR! What happened to me then you ask? Well I started racing MotoCross around this time and it became my passion. Then 22 years later I picked up a QST and thought I really wanted to get back into radio and contesting. I found out my buddies that played Risk and rode mini-bikes with me had become Big Time Contesters! Great, because I would be asking a bunch of questions trying to make up for all those lost years of experience.
I now live on 138ac. in the small town of Bedias, TX. It is about 100 miles north of Houston on the edge of the piney woods of East Texas. I made it my goal to build this station on a shoestring. All my antennas and towers have been purchased as used, scrap, horse trading, and in some cases special deals just to help me out. I have more money invested in concrete and guy wire (which needed to be new!) than in all my antennas, rotors, cable, and switches. I have many friends that visit and say "my gosh, how much did all this cost!" Well you can build a nice station if you really keep your eyes open for used stuff. Sure I had to rebuild the antennas and rotors, but that was half the fun!
Well this is the only thing I ever really enjoyed about Ham Radio from the start! I remember our first Field Days with the RWK (Richardson Wireless Klub). Then Joe Johnson (SK), W5QBM, used to let me operate his station after throwing my paper route on Sunday mornings! Now I really enjoy the short contests. I have a great admiration for those who love the 48 hour marathons. I just don't have the dedication for those yet. I have too many other activities that take me outdoors to spend an entire weekend behind the desk. That is why I really enjoy inviting other ops up for a multi. I can play a few hours here and there and still get out and do other things. Besides it gives ops that live on a city lot a chance to turn an antenna and enjoy a Little Pistol station.