Originally published in the March 1985 issue of the C&E.
Q. R. Zedd, A5A, the world’s greatest DXer, will attempt to work his home station from all the countries on the DXCC list starting March 8, he announced this week.
Zedd, Oklahoma’s gift to the world of amateur radio (not to mention women), and holder of the coveted Worked All Stations award on every band known to man, made the announcement at his home, Honor Roll Ranch, just a hoot and a holler south of Norman.
Zedd said he plans to leave San Francisco on March 7, and work the first portion of his journey, all the DX in the Pacific, on March 8.
On March 9 he will work out of all Asian countries, and on March 10 he will finish off Africa and Europe. The 11th will see his work out of both polar regions, while he will do South and Central America on the 13th, and mop up loose ends on the 14th before returning to the U.S. prior to nightfall on March 15.
Zedd will travel in a special highspeed aircraft of his own design. He said he anticipates no problems “barring nosebleeds.”
Tondelayo Schwartz, Zedd’s blond, nubile, 20-year-old QSL secretary and constant companion, will accompany him on the journey. While Zedd operates the rigs, Tondelayo will be in charge of logging as well as maintain a stable supply of food and drink, Zedd said.
Zedd’s momma, Mrs. Constance Wilhemina Zedd, of nearby Mena, Ark., will person the home station.
“I figure working my own self from everywhere will be easy enough,” Zedd said in his press release. “To make things more interesting, I will also try to work 5 or 10 K from each stop, and even listen for W5LFK.”
It was announced in Newington that the American Radio Relay League will award special brass suspender buttons to all amateurs who work the great man on all of his DXCC stops. Details of Zedd’s journey, along with propagation forecasts, will be broadcast at 18 minutes past every hour.
Comment on Zedd’s plans were quick in coming.
“It is wonderful to see that the spirit of free enterprise is alive and well in this country, and I just hope he uses American-made equipment,” said the President of the United States.
“What American equipment,” asked a spokesman for Japan?
“As usual,” said Ohio Dxer Bill Buckeye, “Zedd is showing off. I thought he would keep his yap shut after his Sooners got creamed in the Orange Bowl, but no, he has to keep on showing off. I don’t know when he is going to learn humility. Incidentally, we didn’t really lose in the Rose Bowl. We just got mixed up on what quarter it was. To prove that, let me point out that we scored three field goals in eight minutes right after the USC team went to the locker room.”
“I hope Zedd can find his way around the world,” said Bill Blast, operator of the famed Blast Off DX Net. “And I can assure the world that I will be up there on frequency every morning, taking lists that we will not hold over. As usual, I will be the most important person in this DX effort.”
“Is stupid!” commented’ Russian DXer Boris Badenov. “Is filthy capitalist swine imperialist lackey trick! Is it not true this feat was already done by great radio sportsman of the Soviet Union in 1913? Dah,”
“If that feelthy blond girl goes along on this trip, I will wait until she lands in Mother Russia and then I will stick her with my knife!” said Natasha Bullwinkle, Badenov’s companion from Box 88.
“Pooh,” said Tondelayo.
Reports on the great expedition will be collected from AP, UPI, Reuters and the world bureau organization of Oklahoma C&E, and will be presented in this space next month, the good lord willing and the sap don’t rise.