Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

I think that the midwest is so competitive is because many of the midwest teams have been around for a long time. Naturally, they have more experience, giving them an advantage. When you have a team that has been around for 10+ years, theyve probably also developed a good sponsor base, that continues to supply them with funds, expertise, materials, shop time, etc, as opposed to teams on the west coast, which are generally the newer teams (overall) except for a few. Im not saying there arent good teams in the west, because there are. Having never been to a competition anywhere but in California and Nationals two years ago, I suppose I really cant judge, but it just seems that the midwest consistently produces more good robots than any other area in the country.

Cory

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

I've given this a lot more thought...
In terms of pre-season, how does one rate the competitiveness of a regional, without knowing what the game/robots will be like?

Well... past experiences obviously... But, what specifically?

In my case, it has to do with the teams attending, and how many of them I think of as "competitive". The regionals with the most competitive teams, will be the toughest.

Which of course brings up another question... in the pre-season how do I define this?

I've given this a LOT of thought, and here is what I've come up with.
A team is "pre-season competitive" in my mind if... I'm scared of the robot they will design, and what they will come up with.

This is based on a lot of things for me...
I've been around this competition for a few years, and I've been described as a "Student of the game" so I've seen my fair share of robots (from all over the nation, not just New England). If a team has consistently put out impressive robots, that scare the bejesus out of me, obviously I'm going to consider them a competitive team.

Cmon guys... you know what I'm talking about.
If you don't understand, look at the Wildstang robots from... ummm...
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. get it yet?

Do the same for the Technokats.
Do the same for Chief Delphi.
Do the same for BBS.
Do the same for Beatty.
Do the same for BUZZ.

Understand yet?

These are the teams I'm talking about. The ones who go out, build an amazing machine, and kick some butt... EVERY YEAR.

Some teams in the country are good... but in my mind, they still aren't quite to this level yet. There are TONS of teams who pull out great robots... but how many do it every single stinkin' year?

So... where is the greatest concentration of these teams?
Midwest. Just look down the team lists for some of those regionals...

Here's another exercise...
This is only for those people who have seen a lot of robots, and a lot of teams over the years... (not the ones who have spent their entire life attending only one regional, and don't pay attention to the "international" scene).

Name your top 10 teams in the nation.
See any one regional heavy in those teams?

I do.

John

Disclaimer: This is obviously a very opinionated subject. I just posted my opinion, and examples to help others understand where I'm coming from. Obviously... there is no "right" answer to this. The only way we can quantitatively argue this is AFTER the regionals have ended. But until then, it sure makes for something good to think about while we wait for kickoff...

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

John,

Excellent way of evaluating my question. I look at the regionals and find the teams that CONSISTENTLY perform in the top 10%. Here is my list for the Great Lakes Regional of 2004:

27 (Team Rush) - Buckeye Regional Winner ('03)
45 (Technokats)
65 (Huskies) - National Title Winner ('03)
66 (Penguins) - National Title Winner ('02)
67 (HOT) - Great Lakes Regional Winner ('03)
68 (Truck Town)
111 (Wildstangs) - National Title Winner ('03)
201 (FEDS)
226 (Sharks) - Great Lakes Regional Winner ('03)
292 - Midwest Regional Winner ('03) & Newton Division Winner ('03)
322
448
469 - National Title Winner ('03)
494 - National Title Runner-up ('03)

These are just the teams that I remember after looking thru the list! These 14 teams total all have high amounts of potential or have already proven themselves as one of the elite.

With this sort of a field, I think that it is hard to dispute the difficulty of winning the GLR.

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

mzitz2k,
thanks for including our team in your list. being on the same list as the other teams you listed is truely flattering (even if you did forget our team name and regional wins, its the team number that counts right?) :)

anywho, history has shown that the midwest produces many competetive robots every year. but who knows, this year could be the year that the national level evens out a little. if the competetion level outside rises and approaches the level of the midwest robots, then this year should be a heck of a lot of fun. however, i still do feel that the midwest produces the most amount of competetive robots, and i still feel that the GLR has the most competetive field. however, if i'm wrong and the other regions do match the level of competetion at GLR, then this years national should be exciting!!!

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

Will,

Sorry for missing your regional win from last year! Like I said previously, all of the regionals that I have attended have been in Michigan or Ohio and I have seen webcasts of the Chicago (Midwest) Regional. Looks like 302 and 322 will be pit partners at GLR and only one spot away at Western MI.

Looking for forward to seeing your team's robot - especially drive train.

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

Thanks!

I am honored that T3 is on your list. Thank you very much.

Our team also is convinced that GLR was, is, and forever will be the most competitive regional. Just the fact that so many good teams choose to attend.

Can't wait to see you there!

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

Alexander,

I have alway had the utmost respect for T3. I get a stomach ache just walking down your row of pits because there are so many top-notch teams with those low numbers. I think T3 is not only a great robot building team, but also a great community and student building team - you guys are top of the line people! We'll see at GLR and GOOD LUCK (68 doesn't really need any though ;) )!

I just want to clarify that I simply read through the list at GLR and then wrote down all the team numbers that consistently build fantastic machines. Please don't hold it against me if I forgot your number because I was simply going by memory! I always like to find the "sleeper" when I am scouting in the pits!

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

A couple of years back, someone put together a spreadsheet with each regional, and which teams were going to be in each.

From that, you work on the theories that a regional is defined as tough by the average years of experience, and that the older a team gets, the tougher they are to beat, whether through people experience or game experience (though this is pretty faulty, it works :) ). The averages can then be used to see which one is "tougher".

Knowing the forums, someone's got to have some free time/enough pent up pre-kickoff energy to burn in making a new one. Anyone upto the challenge? You don't have to check out the age for each team; post-98, they can be discerned by number, and pre-98 can probably be found with a bit of digging.



Ok, some incentive....I'll bake cookies for whomever makes the spreadsheet! Ken Leung can vouch that they are worth it. :)

Have fun!
-Jessica B

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

No need to step back- just a need to step up if you are going to compete at the NJ Regional- for a long time the most competitive and diverse regional.

Thats my biased opinion.

WC

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

Whether it was tough or not, I must say that it was the coolest regional to go to in the New-England area, with it being held in the barn at Rutgers. I loved driving for hours and hours just to wait in line...and IF you did get in, then you got to sit practically on top of the field ! <---no sarcasm there, people, I really do love that regional.

When I read that they changed the venue, I was sad :(

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

I'll also say that Rutgers was my favorite regional compared to the ones I've gone to in Connecticut. Don't get me wrong, the Connecticut ones are good but Rutgers just seemed to have something going for it. Maybe it's as Jess mentioned about going there and finally getting in after waiting hours and sitting right next to the field that made it worthwhile! :D I also liked the fact it gave me a reason to go back to my home state. :p I'm originally from Wanaque, located in northern Passaic county.
Where are the NJ regionals located now?

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

The NJ Regional, formerly the J&J Mid-Atlantic Regional, will be located this year at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ. This venue is exponentially larger and has plenty of room for expansion. More information available at www.njfirst.org.

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

I'd say that the UTC Regional was the most competitive I've been too. There are always great teams there.

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

Hi to all ------- HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!
We at team 88 TJ2 started in 96 in NH that was the first year for us, then it was of to the new reg. in NJ 1997 with tire tubes etc what a great time we have had in FIRST. NH NJ TX FL CT LI and Mini comps after nats. I think each year it is different power to each reg. We all like our own teams and our own regs. but that is part of the fun with the ROBOTS. Check out some of the early years it was very different and hard on YOUR own " no partners" Then we can talk, no one to put the blame on but yourself. Like Football what team is better ????? or who was JIM BROWN ?????? or #5 for GB back in the old days each year is different ---- GOOOoooo PATS ------- How about RUMBLE AT THE ROCK ??????? Teams going 100's of miles in cars and buses in JULY ???? to see what will happen !!!!!!!!
Team 1 - 23 - 25 - 19 - 40 - 45 -47 - 56 - 42 - 61 - 65 - 75 - 95 - 157 - 100 - 180 - 190 - 65 - 126 - 133 - 501 - 16 - 25 - 41 - 66 - 103 - 131 - 68 - 140 - 175 - 173 - 71 - 111 - 69 - 121 - 211 - 191 - 102 - 213 - 365 - ONLY some of the early ones ETC ETC ETC ETC and 88 -----
oh yeah ???? OH YEAH !!!!
Just some of the early years I could go on for ever with this, see me at the 04 regs. and we can talk if you would like.
Team 88 TJ2 wishes all of the participants of FIRST the best of luck see you sooooon.
MOE
:yikes:

Re: Most Competitive Regional
 

Moe!

Your autographed socks are, I believe, the last gift that is left in my dorm room related to FIRST. Best of luck in 04!


Ok, back on topic. Nothin to see here :) Though I'm still looking for takers to make that spreadsheet.