{"id":39462,"date":"2019-09-07T06:36:51","date_gmt":"2019-09-07T10:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=39462"},"modified":"2019-09-07T06:36:51","modified_gmt":"2019-09-07T10:36:51","slug":"w9ims-last-chance-for-the-checkered-flag-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/w9ims-last-chance-for-the-checkered-flag-award\/","title":{"rendered":"W9IMS: Last chance for the Checkered Flag Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Brian (W9IND), who writes:<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re chasing the W9IMS Checkered Flag Award, this weekend marks your last chance to snare the third and final special event of the year. The Brickyard 400 operation will conclude at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8 (Indianapolis time)\/0359 UTC Sept. 9.<\/p>\n

The W9IMS crew will be working other amateurs around the world, but SWLs can qualify for the same certificate and QSL cards that are offered to hams. The Checkered Flag Award is available to anyone who contacts or tunes in W9IMS during all three special events commemorating the major races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway \u2013 the IndyCar Grand Prix (early May), the Indianapolis 500 (late May), and the Brickyard 400 (September).<\/p>\n

For those who already logged W9IMS during the IndyCar Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500, this is your opportunity to complete the clean sweep and earn the colorful 2019 certificate, as well as the three QSL cards. Even if you missed one or both of the previous races, you\u2019re still eligible for a Brickyard 400 QSL card, which is redesigned every year.<\/p>\n

Look for W9IMS on 20, 40 and 80 meters \u2013 generally as close as possible to 3.840, 7.245 and 14.245 MHz, and often with two SSB stations on the air simultaneously. W9IMS also has a digital presence, periodically transmitting in FT8 mode.<\/p>\n

To see\u00a0if the station is on the air at any given time, go to DX Summit \u2013 http:\/\/dxsummit.fi\/#\/<\/a> \u2013 and type \u201cW9IMS\u201d in the search box.<\/p>\n

For more information about W9IMS, including how to obtain certificates and QSL cards, go to www.w9ims.org<\/a>. The W9IMS page also contains a link to the Brickyard 400 operator schedule, but remember that ops can get on the air at any time between now and Sunday night.<\/p>\n

If all else fails, look for W9IMS during its final hour of operation, between 11 and 11:59 p.m. Sunday (0300 to 0359 UTC Monday). That\u2019s usually the time when W9IMS engages in a contest-style \u201chappy hour\u201d blowout, sometimes on two bands, as the closing minutes tick away.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thank you for the reminder, Brian!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brian (W9IND), who writes: If you\u2019re chasing the W9IMS Checkered Flag Award, this weekend marks your last chance to snare the third and final special event of the year. The Brickyard 400 operation will conclude at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8 (Indianapolis time)\/0359 UTC Sept. 9. The W9IMS crew […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,3,43],"tags":[3963,248,6168],"class_list":["post-39462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-brian-smith","tag-qsl","tag-w9ims"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-agu","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":62820,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/2025-checkered-flag-award-w9ims-grand-prix-special-event-now-underway\/","url_meta":{"origin":39462,"position":0},"title":"2025 Checkered Flag Award: W9IMS Grand Prix Special Event Now Underway","author":"Thomas","date":"May 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Make the Month of May Even Merrier: Earn Your First Credit Toward the 2025 Checkered Flag Award By Brian D. Smith, W9IND Never mind the old saying about April showers bringing May flowers. In Indianapolis, the month of May ushers in auto racing season, with two major events scheduled at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/W9IMS-2024-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/W9IMS-2024-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/W9IMS-2024-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/W9IMS-2024-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/W9IMS-2024-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49961,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/last-chance-to-grab-a-2021-w9ims-special-event-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":39462,"position":1},"title":"Last chance to grab a 2021 W9IMS Special Event QSL card!","author":"Thomas","date":"August 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brian D. Smith (W9IND), who shares the following announcement: Last W9IMS Special Event of 2021 Brings a Final Chance to Qualify for a \u201cCheckered Flag\u201d certificate or QSL card If the month of May took you two-thirds of the way to the W9IMS Checkered\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/w9ims-qsl-card-e1620686981762.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/w9ims-qsl-card-e1620686981762.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/w9ims-qsl-card-e1620686981762.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/w9ims-qsl-card-e1620686981762.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57413,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/how-to-earn-the-w9ims-2023-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":39462,"position":2},"title":"How to Earn the W9IMS 2023 Checkered Flag Award","author":"Thomas","date":"August 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Once, Twice, Three Times a QSO: How to Earn the W9IMS 2023 Checkered Flag Award By Brian D. Smith Two out of three ain\u2019t bad, proclaims the late \u201970s classic rock song. But three out of three gets you the Checkered Flag Award from W9IMS. That\u2019s another way of reminding\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2022-Indy-500-Front.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2022-Indy-500-Front.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2022-Indy-500-Front.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2022-Indy-500-Front.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2022-Indy-500-Front.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2022-Indy-500-Front.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60240,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/winning-with-flare-an-easier-path-to-the-w9ims-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":39462,"position":3},"title":"Winning with flare: An easier path to the W9IMS Checkered Flag Award","author":"Thomas","date":"July 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Brian D. Smith NASCAR comes to Indy this Sunday, which means that from now until then, you have a chance to snare the third and final QSL card in the 2024 set of amateur radio station W9IMS. Better yet, you can earn this year\u2019s Checkered Flag Award with less\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/W9IMS.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/W9IMS.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/W9IMS.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/W9IMS.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/W9IMS.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/W9IMS.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53533,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/07\/w9ims-from-the-speedway-to-your-wall\/","url_meta":{"origin":39462,"position":4},"title":"W9IMS: From the Speedway to Your Wall","author":"Thomas","date":"July 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"From the Speedway to Your Wall: Taking the W9IMS Checkered Flag By Brian D. Smith, W9IND The Checkered Flag is in sight \u2013 for hams and SWLs who\u2019ve completed two-thirds of the chase for the annual W9IMS certificate. And for those who haven\u2019t, there\u2019s still a special QSL card awaiting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2021-Indy-500-Back.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2021-Indy-500-Back.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2021-Indy-500-Back.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2021-Indy-500-Back.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2021-Indy-500-Back.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63451,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/taking-the-checkered-flag-at-indy-by-racing-and-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":39462,"position":5},"title":"Taking the checkered flag at Indy by racing and radio","author":"Thomas","date":"July 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Brian D. Smith, W9IND It\u2019s Brickyard 400 week in Indianapolis, and the checkered flag awaits \u2013 not only for NASCAR drivers, but also for radio enthusiasts who\u2019ve contacted all three of the 2025 special events staged by amateur radio station W9IMS. From now through the end of Sunday (Race\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2024-GP-Front-w9ims.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2024-GP-Front-w9ims.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2024-GP-Front-w9ims.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2024-GP-Front-w9ims.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2024-GP-Front-w9ims.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2024-GP-Front-w9ims.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39462"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39462\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}