{"id":53533,"date":"2022-07-24T17:41:32","date_gmt":"2022-07-24T21:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=53533"},"modified":"2022-07-25T10:22:04","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T14:22:04","slug":"w9ims-from-the-speedway-to-your-wall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/07\/w9ims-from-the-speedway-to-your-wall\/","title":{"rendered":"W9IMS: From the Speedway to Your Wall"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

From the Speedway to Your Wall: Taking the W9IMS Checkered Flag<\/h1>\n

By Brian D. Smith, W9IND<\/strong><\/p>\n

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 all who snare the final contact during the coming week.<\/p>\n

As its initials imply, W9IMS stages special events in honor of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway\u2019s three major races. The third and final operation of 2022 \u2013 commemorating the NASCAR 200 at the Brickyard \u2013 will activate between the hours of midnight Indy time (0400 UTC) Monday, July 25, and midnight Sunday, July 31 (0400 UTC Tuesday, August 1).<\/p>\n

Earning the 2022 Checkered Flag Award depends on working or tuning in each of the three special events. Since the first two races (the IndyCar Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500) ran in May, it\u2019s obviously too late to claim the clean sweep.<\/p>\n

However, W9IMS also issues collectible QSL cards for the three individual races, so there\u2019s still time to get a piece of the action.<\/p>\n

Where to start? Well, W9IMS favors 20 and 40 meters, sometimes adding 80 meters later in the week (not to mention 2 meters on Race Day for locals and fans in the stands at the Speedway). Preferred frequencies are 14.245 and 7.245 SSB, plus or minus QRM.<\/p>\n

But rather than spin the dial, try scanning the following tips for finding W9IMS on the air:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Check DX Summit (www.dxsummit.fi<\/b><\/a>) for spots listing the current frequency or frequencies of W9IMS, if any. By typing \u201cW9IMS\u201d in the search box at upper right, you can customize it to show reports for only Indianapolis Motor Speedway special events. Naturally, you\u2019ll be interested in only the ones from July 2022.<\/li>\n
  2. Go to the W9IMS web page (www.w9ims.org<\/b><\/a>) and look for the heading, \u201c2022 Operating Schedule.\u201d Click on the NASCAR 200 link, which opens into a weeklong schedule listing individual operators and their reserved time slots. Your odds of catching W9IMS on the air improve significantly during these hours.<\/li>\n
  3. Prime operating time on weeknights is 6 to 10 p.m. Indy time (2200-0200 UTC). However, W9IMS can appear anytime, even on two bands at once, between 0400 Monday, July 25, and 0400 Sunday, July 31.<\/li>\n
  4. Remember that the published schedule can be shortened by adverse circumstances, such as noisy band conditions, local thunderstorms or a lack of calling stations. Don\u2019t wait till the final hour to chase W9IMS!<\/li>\n
  5. Operators often get on the air at unscheduled times. That\u2019s why DX Summit is your best bet for locating W9IMS\u2019s current spot(s).<\/li>\n
  6. If you plan on going for the 2023 Checkered Flag Award, remember that the three required W9IMS special event QSOs (or reception reports) must come from each of the year\u2019s three races \u2013 the Grand Prix, the 500 and the Brickyard. Making three contacts during the coming week still earns you the colorful Brickyard QSL card, but no extra credits toward the 2022 certificate.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    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 all who snare the final […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[545,3,894,43],"tags":[3963,248,6168],"class_list":["post-53533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-qsl-gallery","category-shortwave-radio","tag-brian-smith","tag-qsl","tag-w9ims"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-dVr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":57413,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/how-to-earn-the-w9ims-2023-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":53533,"position":0},"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":52823,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/w9ims-a-radio-run-at-the-indy-500\/","url_meta":{"origin":53533,"position":1},"title":"W9IMS: A Radio Run at the Indy 500","author":"Thomas","date":"May 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"W9IMS: A Radio Run at the Indy 500 By Brian D. Smith, W9IND You can\u2019t win the Indianapolis 500 until they wave the checkered flag \u2013 and you can\u2019t win a W9IMS Checkered Flag Award unless you contact the Indy 500 special event. You\u2019ll have that opportunity from now through\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\/05\/2021-Grand-Prix-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/2021-Grand-Prix-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/2021-Grand-Prix-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/2021-Grand-Prix-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/2021-Grand-Prix-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62820,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/2025-checkered-flag-award-w9ims-grand-prix-special-event-now-underway\/","url_meta":{"origin":53533,"position":2},"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":59635,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/w9ims-2024-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":53533,"position":3},"title":"W9IMS: 2024 Checkered Flag Award!","author":"Thomas","date":"May 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"2024 Checkered Flag Award: Time to Get Racy! By Brian D. Smith, W9IND You can\u2019t go 3 for 3 if you haven\u2019t gone 1 for 1. And if you want to add the 2024 Checkered Flag Award to your collection, you\u2019ll have to bag the first W9IMS special event of\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\/2024\/05\/2023-GP-Front.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2023-GP-Front.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2023-GP-Front.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2023-GP-Front.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2023-GP-Front.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2023-GP-Front.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39462,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/w9ims-last-chance-for-the-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":53533,"position":4},"title":"W9IMS: Last chance for the Checkered Flag Award","author":"Thomas","date":"September 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"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\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\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-2018-QSL-Card-Indy-1024x649.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-2018-QSL-Card-Indy-1024x649.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-2018-QSL-Card-Indy-1024x649.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48865,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/2021-w9ims-special-event-station-details\/","url_meta":{"origin":53533,"position":5},"title":"2021 W9IMS Special Event Station Details!","author":"Thomas","date":"May 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Now Underway: A More Typical W9IMS Special Event By Brian D. Smith, W9IND The fans are returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year, and with them comes a more traditional calendar for special event station W9IMS. For hams and SWLs alike, that means a renewed opportunity to earn three\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\/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":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53533","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=53533"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53533\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}