{"id":59635,"date":"2024-05-08T17:16:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T21:16:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=59635"},"modified":"2024-05-08T17:16:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T21:16:17","slug":"w9ims-2024-checkered-flag-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/w9ims-2024-checkered-flag-award\/","title":{"rendered":"W9IMS: 2024 Checkered Flag Award!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

2024 Checkered Flag Award: Time to Get Racy!<\/b><\/h1>\n

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

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 the year sometime between now and 11:59 p.m. Saturday (Eastern Time)\/0359 Sunday UTC.<\/p>\n

Besides the currently running IndyCar Grand Prix event, hams and SWLs will need to work or tune in W9IMS two more times this year to take the Checkered Flag. After this week, W9IMS will return to the airwaves for the Indianapolis 500 (May 20-26) and the NASCAR 200 at the Brickyard (July 15-21).<\/p>\n

The prime time to find W9IMS is from 6 to 10 p.m. Eastern (2200-0200 UTC) on weekdays, sometimes extending to midnight (0400 GMT), and the prime bands are 40 and 20 meters (generally around 7.245 and 14.245 MHz). However, frequencies can change as a result of QRM and other factors.<\/p>\n

You can save time by checking W9IMS spots, which are posted frequently on DX Summit (www.dxsummit.fi<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Also, while W9IMS can appear at any time of day before the final signoff on Saturday night, you\u2019ll have a better chance of finding the station by going to the W9IMS QRZ page (www.w9ims.com<\/a>) and clicking the Grand Prix link under the heading \u201c2024 Operating Schedule\u201d \u2013 which displays the shifts that operators have already signed up for. The same page contains answers to a great many questions pertaining to the W9IMS QSL cards and certificate.<\/p>\n

If you still haven\u2019t worked W9IMS by Saturday, remember that at the end of the week, operators often start requesting calls only from stations that haven\u2019t yet worked the current special event.<\/p>\n

Another tip is to hang around for happy hour \u2013 the last blast on Race Day (May 11 for the 2024 Grand Prix) \u2013 which usually starts around 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 put as many stations in the logs as possible. But keep in mind that W9IMS special events can also end early if the station encounters sparse QSOs or adverse solar or weather conditions.<\/p>\n

If you just can\u2019t complete a QSO, you can always create an SWL report by copying down details of other W9IMS contacts \u2013 including frequency, UTC, and a few of the stations you heard W9IMS working. This can count as a credit for a Grand Prix QSL card and\/or one of three credits toward a certificate. SWL certificates feature names instead of callsigns, but are otherwise indistinguishable from awards issued to amateur radio operators.<\/p>\n

Whether or not you catch all three W9IMS events in 2024, you\u2019ll qualify for a new and unique QSL card for each race that you log. But why not try for the trifecta? Stay on your toes, though \u2013 the Indy 500 special event begins only 9 days after the end of the Grand Prix!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 the year sometime between now […]<\/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":[3,894],"tags":[3963,6168],"class_list":["post-59635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-qsl-gallery","tag-brian-smith","tag-w9ims"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-fvR","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":59635,"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":39462,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/w9ims-last-chance-for-the-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":59635,"position":1},"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":60240,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/winning-with-flare-an-easier-path-to-the-w9ims-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":59635,"position":2},"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":57413,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/how-to-earn-the-w9ims-2023-checkered-flag-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":59635,"position":3},"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":49961,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/last-chance-to-grab-a-2021-w9ims-special-event-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":59635,"position":4},"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":52823,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/w9ims-a-radio-run-at-the-indy-500\/","url_meta":{"origin":59635,"position":5},"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":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59635","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=59635"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59637,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59635\/revisions\/59637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}