Ron, our roving Atlantic Coast reporter submitted these photos from the Southington, CT Hamfest, which took place late last month.
He snagged these photos of MCU-2, a whackertruck designed and built by SPARC – the Shore Point Amateur Radio Club.
MCU-2 in all its glory.
A closer look, with lunch.
While we are not against amateur radio clubs building mobile communications units — when constructed with the blessing on the local community and as a bona-fide emergency backup, they do serve a purpose. However, going out of their way to make it look like an official emergency vehicle (nowhere on the vehicle, except for the small door crests, does it indicate that it is affiliated with an amateur radio club), crests the wave of whackerdom. It is a nice build, but…. the whackerchills run deep with this one.
I have a problem with the use of the word “Tactical” on the side of the vehicle. Would not “Emergency” or “Disaster” be a better definition? Let’s go to Webster’s Dictionary…
Tactical:
1. Of, relating to, or using tactics.
2. Of, relating to, used in, or involving military or naval operations that are smaller, closer to base, and of less long-term significance than strategic operations.
3. Carried out in support of military or naval operations: tactical bombing.
4. Characterized by adroitness, ingenuity, or skill.
5. Designed or implemented so as to gain a temporary limited advantage
I think it should say “Testicle Comms Unit” because they’re nuts!