{"id":56535,"date":"2023-05-06T12:00:44","date_gmt":"2023-05-06T16:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=56535"},"modified":"2023-05-10T07:09:49","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T11:09:49","slug":"2023-w9ims-special-event-station-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/2023-w9ims-special-event-station-details\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 W9IMS Special Event Station Details!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

W9IMS Accelerates into Another Special Event Season \u2013 with a Chance for an Indy Racing Certificate\u00a0<\/b><\/h1>\n

By Brian D. Smith<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s back to the track for collectors of W9IMS cards and certificates.<\/p>\n

The first of this year\u2019s three special events tied to the major races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will begin at midnight Eastern Time (0400 UTC) this Sunday, May 7, and continue through 11:59 p.m. (0359 UTC) the following Saturday, May 13.<\/p>\n

And for hams and SWLs, your chance for a 2023 Checkered Flag Award begins \u2013 and could end \u2013 with it. To earn the certificate, you\u2019ll need to contact or tune in W9IMS during all three special events this year: the Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 (May 22-28) and the NASCAR 200 at the Brickyard (August 7-13).<\/p>\n

Catch W9IMS during Grand Prix week and you\u2019re one-third of the way to Victory Lane. Miss it and you\u2019ll have to wait till 2024 for another shot at the certificate.<\/p>\n

So when and where do you find W9IMS? Any time of the day or night is possible, but prime time is from 6 to 10 p.m. (2200-0200 UTC) weekdays, and the prime bands are 40 and 20 meters (generally around 7.245 and 14.245 MHz). And this year, improved solar conditions could prompt a rare move to 15 and 10 meters, likely around 21.350 or 28.340 MHz.<\/p>\n

The choice of frequencies will be gametime decisions based on a variety of factors, including QRM, band openings and the number of calling stations. So your surest move is to check W9IMS spots, which are frequently posted on DX Summit (www.dxsummit.fi<\/a>).<\/p>\n

While some on-air times are unscheduled, you can also increase your odds by going to the W9IMS QRZ page (www.w9ims.com<\/a>) and clicking the Grand Prix link under the heading \u201c2023 Operating Schedule\u201d \u2013 which displays the shifts that operators have already signed up for.<\/p>\n

If time is running short, listen for happy hour \u2013 the last blast on Race Day (May 13 for the Grand Prix), usually starting at 11 p.m. Indy time (0300 UTC). That\u2019s when W9IMS ops traditionally switch to contest-style QSOs and exchange only signal reports so they can work as many stations as possible. But remember that W9IMS special events can end early if the station encounters sparse QSOs or adverse solar or weather conditions.<\/p>\n

Should you manage to bag W9IMS, don\u2019t celebrate for too long: The Indianapolis 500 special event begins on May 22, only 9 days after the end of Grand Prix week. Then comes the longer wait till the NASCAR race in August.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll qualify for a new and unique QSL card for each W9IMS event you log, regardless of whether you snare all three in \u201923. But why not complete the set and nab the certificate \u2013 starting with the first race this coming week?<\/p>\n

Hams and SWLs alike are eligible for any and all W9IMS cards and certificates; you can even QSL via the bureau. And if you forgot to send in your information from a previous year, it\u2019s still possible to obtain nearly all of the previous cards and certificates. Consult the W9IMS QRZ page<\/a> for full details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

W9IMS Accelerates into Another Special Event Season \u2013 with a Chance for an Indy Racing Certificate\u00a0 By Brian D. Smith It\u2019s back to the track for collectors of W9IMS cards and certificates. The first of this year\u2019s three special events tied to the major races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will begin at midnight Eastern […]<\/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":[3963,4102,248,899,34,6168],"class_list":["post-56535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-qsl-gallery","category-shortwave-radio","tag-brian-smith","tag-ham-radio","tag-qsl","tag-qsl-cards","tag-shortwave","tag-w9ims"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-eHR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44854,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/w9ims-chance-for-a-commemorative-certificate-and-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":56535,"position":0},"title":"W9IMS: Chance for a Commemorative Certificate and QSL Card","author":"Thomas","date":"August 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Indy 500 Week Offers the Chance for a Commemorative W9IMS Certificate and\/or QSL Card By Brian D. Smith, W9IND Your chance to obtain the 2020 W9IMS Checkered Flag Award \u2013 or at least a QSL card commemorating this year\u2019s Indianapolis 500 \u2013 unfolds in the coming week. And both amateur\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-QSL-Card-2018-e1556279998830.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-QSL-Card-2018-e1556279998830.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-QSL-Card-2018-e1556279998830.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-QSL-Card-2018-e1556279998830.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37020,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/w9ims-new-season-of-indianapolis-motor-speedway-themed-special-events\/","url_meta":{"origin":56535,"position":1},"title":"W9IMS: New season of Indianapolis Motor Speedway-themed special events","author":"Thomas","date":"April 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brian D. Smith (W9IND) who shares the following W9IMS press release: Amateur radio station W9IMS prepares to unveil a new season of Indianapolis Motor Speedway-themed special events, with three QSL cards and a certificate available to hams and SWLs. DATE: April 24, 2019 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\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-QSL-Card-2018-1024x649.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-QSL-Card-2018-1024x649.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/W9IMS-QSL-Card-2018-1024x649.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52823,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/w9ims-a-radio-run-at-the-indy-500\/","url_meta":{"origin":56535,"position":2},"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":39462,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/w9ims-last-chance-for-the-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":56535,"position":3},"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":52667,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/2022-w9ims-special-event-station-details\/","url_meta":{"origin":56535,"position":4},"title":"2022 W9IMS Special Event Station Details!","author":"Thomas","date":"May 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"W9IMS Special Event No. 1:\u00a0The 2022 Certificate Chase Begins By Brian D. Smith, W9IND A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, as the proverb goes, and the road to a 2022 W9IMS Checkered Flag Award begins with a single QSO \u2013 or a single SWL reception.\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-Indy-500-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-Indy-500-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/2021-Indy-500-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/2021-Indy-500-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/2021-Indy-500-Front-QSL.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33939,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/today-w9ims-last-special-event-station-of-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":56535,"position":5},"title":"Today: W9IMS last special event station of 2018","author":"Thomas","date":"September 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post contributor, Brian D. Smith (W9IND), who shares the following information about SWL-friendly awards offered by his amateur radio club to commemorate the three major auto races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Brian writes: W9IMS: Last special event station of 2018 Amateur radio station W9IMS will conclude\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Events"","block_context":{"text":"Current Events","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/current-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/W9IMS-QSL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/W9IMS-QSL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/W9IMS-QSL.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56535","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=56535"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56602,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56535\/revisions\/56602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}