Route 66 on the Air

(From Flagstaff Business News)

There will be a major pileup in the Flagstaff area in September. Fortunately, it won’t be on the highways, but rather on the airwaves. 
                                     
A unique international amateur radio event, “Route 66 On The Air,” sponsored by the local Northern Arizona DX Association (NADXA), will be coming to town Sept. 6-14, and will welcome more than 10,000 amateur radio operators to connect across continents to celebrate Route 66.

Marking its 26th anniversary, this special event began in Flagstaff and has since grown into a much-anticipated, worldwide tradition. Much of the global interest stems from Northern Arizona’s historic connection to the iconic Mother Road.

Longtime Flagstaff resident Bob Wertz, who was born in Illinois, said he has been interested in amateur radio most of his life, with many of his extended family members involved in the hobby as well.

Wertz, whose call number is NF7E, is very involved in publicizing and coordinating the Route 66 On the Air event. “It seems the entire world knows about the Mother Road. We have had calls from Europe, Asia, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and have talked to more than 100 countries about it.”

Even remote locations like the Canary Islands and far-away places like South Africa are calling, he says.