Critique my VHF roving plan

[K4GUN]

OK... I think I have a plan.  This is my first real contesting experience and I'll be roving.  I've read as much as I can find on the subject and have formulated an operating plan and driving route.  I've even pre-run portions of the route to find where the parking lots are.  

The radio:

Icom IC7000.  This is mounted in my truck now and I have installed an auxiliary cooling fan that works very well.  It puts out 100 watts on 6 meters, 50 on 2 meters and 35 on 432.

I also have an Icom 746 Pro that I could bring, but I don't know if its needed.  It doesn't have 432, but will do 100 watts on 2 meters

The antennas:

There are two masts mounted to a cargo divider in the bed.  I have reinforced the poles and they will survive the drive.  The first mast is 8' with stacked 2 meter and 432 halos.  The total height above ground for the 2 meter is 11' for the highest halo.  The other mast is a 6' with a single 6 meter halo.  These omni directional antennas can be used while driving.  I've become accustomed to tuning and talking while driving.  I will have a passenger in the truck to handle logging chores.

In addition to the omnis, I have an Elk log periodic for 2 meters and 432.  When testing it, it seemed that the stacked loops did just as well on 2 meters, but on 432, the LP made a huge difference.  I am also about to buy a small yagi for 6 meters.  These will be attached to the masts only when parked.  They can be extended 16' above the truck and with the bed of the truck already 3' up, that's 19' above ground.

The operating schedule:

The plan is to start in the mountains.  I want to build up the multipliers by operating at 4000' on Skyline Drive in FM08.  I figure on operating here for 3 hours or until I get bored.  From there, its about a 4 hour drive to Virginia Beach.  I'm taking a slightly circuitous route so I pick up a corner of FM07.  I only need a single contact to open it for a multiplier and since I'll be in it for less than 10 miles, that's all I'll have time for.

Once in VA beach, I've found a parking lot that has good beach access without the hotels getting in the way.  The lot is open until midnight.  This is in FM26 which I understand to be a difficult one to get.  I will have a straight shot up the coast to NY and New England and with any luck, I'll get some ducting.

Sunday will have me on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel (CBBT).  The bridge crosses 3 different grids.  Island 1 has a restaurant and is in FM16.  Island 3 and 4 are in FM17.  Neither of these are rare grids, but the location is great and surrounded by water and I figure about 2 hours in each.  Finally, there is a scenic overlook at the North end of the bridge in FM27.  That is a rare grid.  I plan on spending some time here.  I figure on being done with the CBBT by about 5:00 PM.  

I'll then drive North through the Eastern Shore of MD which will have me in FM28 and FM18.  K8GP is going to be in FM28 in January so it will not be hard for anybody to get that one.  Just before I hit the Bay Bridge near Annapolis, I can make a short detour into FM29.  That's not a rare one, but it is only a couple miles out of my way and there is a rest area with a good parking lot.  Its proximity to Philly and NJ could make for a healthy number of contacts last in the day.  I'll be there by 7:00 PM and will stay until I'm not getting a lot of contacts.  

From there, I'll start the drive home to Woodbridge in FM18.  The drive will take me through a corner of FM19 for about 8 miles and again, I just need one contact to get the multiplier.  I'll finish the night at a park and ride lot near my house which has as much elevation as I can find in this area and its in an urban region to get a good number of last minute contacts.

Overall, its 10 grid squares and 542 miles of driving.  I know its ambitious, but with only 3 bands, I figure I should be able to get a respectable score this way.  I'll work on adding bands in the future, as well as more power, pre-amps and antennas.  My budget and experience can only handle so much for this first one.

I'd appreciate any suggestions based on this plan.  I had originally decided to skip the mountains due to the distance and the risk of bad weather.  An experienced VHF contester talked me into adding it.  I'm open to all comments.  If you know of good places to set-up or anything else, let me know.  

Here's the proposed route on Mapquest.  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=10230709997768688362,38.626728,-78.322638%3B3953695024119519478,37.978290,-78.212830%3B6410003316534577153,39.078519,-75.977830%3B16191966500674749177,38.677704,-77.276674&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=Skyline+Dr+%4038.626728,+-78.322638&daddr=Culpeper,+va+to:orange,+va+to:US-15+S+%4037.978290,+-78.212830+to:Rudee+Inlet,+United+States+to:Easton,+md+to:US-301+N+%4039.078519,+-75.977830+to:38.858959,-76.961975+to:VA-641+W+%4038.677704,+-77.276674&mra=dpe&mrcr=6&mrsp=7&sz=11&via=7&sll=38.853612,-76.843185&sspn=0.365752,0.63858&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=38.099983,-76.690063&spn=2.485441,4.405518&z=8

[N2RRA]

Damn! I admire your ambition!

Seems like you have it all covered, and I'll be following your every move, and looking for all those grids. Don't know how much more info you need, but I'll wish you a fun safe journey.

If I were you I'd most likely take the Icom 746pro for at least 2 meters for the 100 watt, or use it for 6 and 2 meters. I think would be best benificial for operating purposes, and the great audio it has. I'd leave the IC-7000 to only work 432. That's diffinitly what I would do, but that's just my two cents.

If you can spring for an updated Elekraft 432 transverter that know reads the actual operating frequency off the 10 meter I.F. would eliminate the IC-7000, and all you'll need is the one rig with some great performance. That's just another thing I would do. The only thing is doing it this way will leave you with only 25 watts output out of the transverter. I don't think that 15 watts could make a difference, but there are always amps. to pick up the slack.

73!

[K4GUN]

I have a bit of an update to this in terms of equipment.  One of the guys in my club has a 222 transverter he's offered to let me use.  It only puts out about 10 watts but at least it gets me that 4th band.  I can use my 746 on 28 MHz for the IF.  I will likely buy an Elk LP for that band and I've already figured out how to add it to one of my masts.  

I also found a Par Stressed Moxon for 6 meters.  After a lot of deliberation, I decided the compactness of this made it more practical than any yagi I could find.  

I've also been learning about the new Rover rules for this contest.  It seems there are now three different Rover classes.  There is the basic Rover class which is largely unchanged from before except you can't contact any one other rover station more than 100 times in a single contest (no grid circling).  There is Unlimited which is exempt from that rule plus they are allowed to use equipment that is not transported by their vehicle.  Finally is Limited rover which is limited to 4 bands and 200 watts (less on the upper frequencies).  

I'm liking the idea of Limited Rover.  That looks idea for a guy like me.  In looking over previous year's scores, I think I could be fairly competitive in this class.  I just hope there's enough participation to justify its continuation.

[N3AWS]

Sounds to me like you've done your homework!  I agree with taking the 746 Pro and think it's a good idea to have a spare rig.  Then if there is a rig failure you just scale back, but you aren't dead in the water.  Sounds like a great route!  Be sure to try out your final configuration as much ahead of time as possible.
 
I have an Elk 2/432 as well and my experience is the opposite--better than expected 2 meters and little success on 432.  But I suspect that is due to the lack of VHF/UHF activity here in South Mississippi and not a fault of the Elk.  
 
I tried a very limited rover once with no success, so I went back to my favorite category (QRP Portable).

Good luck and 73,

Jim Walroth N3AWS
EM50

[KA3ZLS]

I will definitly be looking for you during the contest.  I hope to work you while you are in FM26 and FM27.  I didn't get those grids in september.  You say K8GP is going to be in FM28 this January.  Where they operating from Ocean City or somewhere else over on Delmarva Pen.  

Thanks
Chris
KA3ZLS

[K4GUN]

Thanks Chris.  I'll be posting a full drive schedule the week before the contest.  At present, the plan is to be in FM26 on Saturday night and FM27 on Sunday afternoon.

I believe K8GP is going to be at the home of K3CB.  During my practice run I was calling CQ on 2 meters and he answered me.  I think he's near Salisbury MD.  He's the one who told me about K8GP and I have since confirmed that he knows what he's talking about.  

[KA3ZLS]

Oh ok.  That's cool.  Well I won't get started until around 430-5 o'clock on saturday.  I have work until 4pm but I plan on being on the air most of the contest.  I took off work on sunday so I hope there will be some good band openings.  I will be on 6,2,222,432 and 1.2mhz.  I have been trying to aquire a 903mhz tansverter so can at least have 6 bands going but down east microwave is redesigning their 903 transverters and SSB Electronics doesn't make them anymore. So hopefully by June I will have at least 7 bands going.  
 
Thanks, Chris, KA3ZLS