The AM Forum

It has ceased to be. Its expired and gone to meet its maker. Its an ex arena.

After sitting vacant for a while and getting wacked by a tornado they finally demolished it.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLsjo7IHZYg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLsjo7IHZYg)

Flyover of the narrow tornado track.  https://youtu.be/2bjEpp3-zPA?t=79 (https://youtu.be/2bjEpp3-zPA?t=79)

Roaming around the destruction.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4f6vlveFuw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4f6vlveFuw)


Happier days ...
(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R1b0f481dc868d55a5ca4874c21e537f6?rik=vDOtxB1HgERorg&riu=http%3a%2f%2ftrbo.org%2fdayton2014%2fHamventionMap.png&ehk=mdYGPLSXz8RXmBEFhz0NNPoqhM%2fp6dZDTNxwxLoT2o8%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw)

(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R6e657413eb3c641ec2ba776fc022cdb7?rik=mjyJcLEIhIhJ%2fA&riu=http%3a%2f%2fwww.qsl.net%2fn8lfp%2fImages%2fP5180001.JPG&ehk=JAGb832kaTT6Aext%2fsSt3p3XS%2bNOLvOy%2bp%2btlIN7IS4%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw)



(https://i1.wp.com/www.libraries.wright.edu/community/outofthebox/files/2015/04/The-Rolling-Stones_0008.jpg?ssl=1)

Well that settles the question on if the Hamvention, that is if we ever have one again will move back to the Harr complex. I had been there for a number of years and don’t miss the over priced rat hole hotels in Dayton, the wonder that is Trotwood and last but not least the run down, dirty, pot hole ridden dump that was the Harra Arena.
Think the first time I was there was around 1981 or so and was not that bad then but it went down hill every year after that. The only good thing was that when I was both young and poor you were able to camp out in the Hamvention tailgating lot and did not have to get a hotel.
More then the dump that was Harra I think the hotels down on 75 are worse being they would at least double their rates during the event and after the Hamvention week go back down to the $60 a night that they would try to get for those flop houses for the rest of the year.
Think the last four or five years stayed over in Fairborn being those hotels were not cheaper but at least were clean. Also stayed at U of D and assorted other places like Springfield but never saw Homer.
Did stay a couple years at the Holiday Inn at Fairborn where the Collins collectors have their big get together and spent more money on the hotel then at the fest, was interesting watching the CC group and all the weird Collins worship events.
At the end of the day have to say good reddens to the Harra complex, its time it was put out of its misery and now can become one of those things that people can make into something that will at some point become “Mythical” that they can tell you that if you were not there you can’t understand. But for me if and when I think of that venue will always be linked with the 2011 septic eruption and how that was a metaphor for the state of the complex.
Xenia has its shortcomings, the first year for me will always be the year of the “Mud Fest” but will take that venue over the run down, dirty and impoverished state of Trotwood and what was the Harr arena any day of the week. Now if we can just get back to having Ham fest again.


     

Some of my favorite Hara moments

Mobile AM broadcast transmitter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyGMO89RD9o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyGMO89RD9o)

2 kW backpack  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxp_Nsa54_Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxp_Nsa54_Q)

Bluegrass dudes  https://www.youtube.com/embed/4xZkGLyKW0M (https://www.youtube.com/embed/4xZkGLyKW0M)  and  https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7VUYZyCKDY (https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7VUYZyCKDY)

FAVORITE HARA MOMENT - GOING HOME

I'm guessing that's from manning your flea market spot for three days.  Did you take any pictures over the years? 

I did but have no clue where they are. Probably sitting on one of my older PC's.

Old Military Radio Net from the Hara parking lot: https://youtu.be/yfTJ-RL8YKU?t=184 (https://youtu.be/yfTJ-RL8YKU?t=184)


3885 group at Hara
(http://staff.salisbury.edu/~rafantini/IMAGES/Dayton/388507D.jpg)

Sandy Mendelson, of Mandelson's tent fame, passed away recently https://www.whio.com/news/local/sandy-mendelson-longtime-dayton-businessman-passes-away/R3SYQTYQVFCV7FGQWQWSUVX4IE/ (https://www.whio.com/news/local/sandy-mendelson-longtime-dayton-businessman-passes-away/R3SYQTYQVFCV7FGQWQWSUVX4IE/)

(https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.9c1b9c5bbdf2a687d3d0a871f1436951?rik=UYiewaJH6yCEgw&riu=http%3a%2f%2faimmedianetwork.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2fsites%2f50%2f2017%2f05%2fweb1_Hamvention2016.jpg&ehk=GD6W4gTdC2ZCFfUH5XhlEUfl0Mh%2fP7ZsrXyloid2ITo%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw)

If there was scavenging, anyone able to get the PA speakers hanging from the middle of the ceiling, or the amplifiers?
Sometimes they sell that to a bidder, other times they just destroy it.