Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

In 2002, I drove in my 100th match (I think I was in 111 matches total), and until now, I've never asked other drivers how many matches they were in. Most people probably never kept track, but if you did, or still have match lists, maybe you could let everyone know. I think it'd be kind of interesting. For your current drivers, how many of you are expecting to reach the century mark this season?

The story of my 100th match is as follows: If you were around for the 2002 season, you probably remember team 71's bot - the walker. Well, that particular match we lined up on the outside and only grabbed one goal...the one directly ahead of us. The match started, I tipped, shot towards the goal, locked in, made it to the goal zone, and dropped to the walkers and stood there for the rest of the match as our partner and the other teams battled it out. Not much of a driving display, but I guess I got the match off, so to speak =)

Kev

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

Kev, you were a great driver... As a member of 71... I have gone through countless hours of video of the matches you drove for 71. The matches you drove, you moved the robot with such ease... it looked as if the robot was doing it itself... You've had 100 and I am sure you will have many more even if only in practice rounds or grudge matches.

-Greg The Great

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

I was never fortunate enough to reach the 100 mark as a driver. It was something I was really striving for, and was never lucky enough to be an elititst. I did successfully drive in 98 matches before I retired, not counting practice rounds. Shortly after, I was able to coach in two matches which made me a bit more content, and can state that I was on the floor for 100 matches.


..../me congrats anyone who has, as I know how grueling of an adventure it can be.

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

How many of your four years were you driving? Assuming the "average" team goes to 1-2 regionals and nationals, youve got anywhere from 21-24 rounds per year. Add in an offseason or two and youre up to 35 or so. You mustve been driving 3-4 years, or your team went to a whole lot of offseason competitions :)

COry

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

To clearify, I only counted official FIRST matches in my count. So practice rounds and off-season competitions were not included.

I was the auxillary operator in 2000, where Team Hammond went to Chicago and Nationals. In 2001 and 2002, I was the main driver, and Hammond went to Chicago, West Michigan, and Nationals. In all, I was a driver for 8 total FIRST events, so the average comes out to be 13.75 matches per event. Take into consideration that regionals have been getting less qualifying matches each year, national have been between 8 and 6 matches in those three years, and then elimination rounds, it adds up fairly quickly. Keep in mind that Hammond did win nationals in 2001 and 2002, so that accounts for quite a few extra matches, going throung an elimination tournament and a half at nationals.

Now if I were to throw in my matches as a field coach for Team 1064, then that would be another 15 or so (I'd have to look at the match schedules to be sure...don't remember how many matches at Cleveland and Chicago we had, but I know I coached all but two).

Then the offseason: 1 B.O.M.B. Tournament (which had the single bot competition and the skills competitions as well as the tournament), 3 IRI tournaments, and 2 CDI tournaments = a whole lot more.

I've never realized how much time I've been able to enjoy the spotlight (why did it have to be so hot!?!) =)

Kev

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

I actually did include off-season, for the simple fact my team never really had the opportunity to attend them prior to my first full driving year, and weren't fortunate to attend many Regionals. All in all, between two Regionals, two Nationals, two PARC, MD Fair, and Ramp Riot I accumulated my 98. I began driving in May of my sophomore year.

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

I've got around 75 or so, if you count the off-season. But hey, there's still this year to catch up :cool:

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

I have been a participant in FIRST for nine years, going into my tenth. In that entire time, I have never driven any of our robots - in competitions (obviously, since I am not a student) or practise. My team won't let me - they say I'll just break it like the last Mars spacecraft :(

Not to hijack the thread, but can we also start up the "Zero Club" ??!! :D

-dave

-------------------------

28 days to go!!!

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

I am at 80 or so matches where I controlled the robot in official FIRST compititions, but ive also driven in 2 offseason compititions and been an operator in 2 other.

Mind you that I am a sophomore, drove all last year and 2 yrs ago when i was in the 8th grade i drove at nats.

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

Around 70+ not counting offseasons, around 120 with offseasons (and preseasons). And thats how its going to stay, unless FIRST changes its driver eligibility rules.

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

One of Beachbot's (330) drivers drove from '98 to '02. That was 5 nationals, 6 regionals, and several offseasons.

Of course, he started driving before there were west coast regionals or offseasons, so that limits his numbers.

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

263 usually makes an effort to rotate drivers often to give someone new a chance each year. While down there I drove in 52 matches in 2 Nationals, 1 Regional, and 3 off-seasons. Clarkson should be made the official driver retirement home. We have drivers from 191 177 151 250 263 173 190 237 95 211 and I'm sure many other teams I can't think of at the moment.

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

Our team has two drive teams. The main one does the finals. During regular qualifying rounds, the two teams alternate... meaning I have somewhere around 30-40 matches.

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

Wahooo! Dave and I are in the "Zero Club"!!

Say Dave, I have driven the robot at a demonstration or two... does that count?

-Mr. Van

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

In my first year in FIRST I have Driven in...
3 Regionals
1 National
6 Minis
and to many practices/practice matches to count

My final number is possibly over 100 with minis, no practices

45 regular season though...I think? and I am not sure if that includes nats. (I think it doesn't)

that is my freshman year I have hopefully 3 more if I can keep up at the tryouts we have.

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

*sighs* Sadly, I doubt I made it anywhere near those numbers as a driver. I only participated in FIRST for 2 years consisting of 3 regional and 1 national competition acting as driver in all of them but that's not nearly enough competitions to even gain as much experience as many of you have. Maybe I'm within the 20-30 range.

Alas, alas, I am a college student now, so my driving career has come to an end. But, I have gained so many fond memories from driving. Many say that it was my driving that got us to our first national competition. *shrugs* Couldn't do that without an excellent working robot, now could I? So many memories... So much fun.

Man, I miss the suspense, the intensity, the adreneline, and absolute crazyness that arises from being on that field. I wanna do it all over again! But my time is at a close. I'm gonna miss the feel of the joysticks and the movability of the robot as it coasts around the field. *tear* Good times... Good times :)

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

Do what I did...become the field coach for a new team! Its not quite the same as driving, but its close enough =)

Kev

Re: Driver Experience - 100 club anyone?
 

What an awesome Idea. I am sooo going to do that after I am no longer a student. I have to wait another 3 years though... :(