Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Over past seasons, what driver / operator combinations have you seen that just "clicked" and could really "become one" with their robot?

It could be any game, any year, any team.

You can post driver / operator duo's from your team, but don't post about yourself. (If you are really a classic, someone will post it for you.)


I will start it off -

2001 Game, David Kelly and Ellie Myer. This was the game with the large ball that was placed on top of the scoring column. Ellie wore a backpack with a mechanical arm attached to hers and she controlled the arm of the robot with her movements. David drove the robot and the combination was great.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Kyle Love and the 45 drive team have always done very well. Kyle has also made for an....... interesting..... alliance captain.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

The driving team from 488 seems to always be having fun on the field, no matter how good they're doing. They also seem to click together and get right down to it.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

469's drive team from 2004, and 45 from that same year. Then there was 25 in 2003, but that was really a driver, not a "driveteam."

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Any year of Team 71's existence. They face adversity like no other.

For example:

In 2004, I didn't think they had a chance after they were defeated in the semi's of Midwest (don't know other performances for regionals) by the alliance of 648, 65, and 447. However, they ended up winning the whole she-bang...

In 2007, we again defeated them in the semifinals of Midwest and then they were Championship runner-ups...

They tend to bounce back at big events.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

330 2007. Their arm and base driver were perfectly coordinated. One of those special drive teams where you almost can't tell it's two different people controlling the robot.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Jay Lundy from Team 254. IIRC, he won 6 regionals between 2001-2004. In 2001 & 2004, he was simply spectacular.

The Beachbots had an amazing driveteam this year, and of course in their championship year of 2005. I saw a lot of them this year at the championship, and they excelled at making the minimal amount of movements to get from point A to point B. It was really a pleasure to watch.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

It is the same driveteam... Along with being one of the nicest guys I've ever met, their driver shane is currently a junior and has been driving since '05. I'm pretty sure his codriver, elijah, is a junior too. They've got one more season left in them.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Team 25's drivers from 2003-2005 they were great at what they did and were nice guys to.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

176, 201, and 306 in 2006 particularly impressed me with their on the fly strategy decisions in the events we played with them, and their drivers were always on top of things. From 176's picking strategy on Newton, to 201's novel of autonomous modes and play-by-play strategies that they handed to us on Galileo, and 306's genius blocking of MOE at Philadelphia in the semi-finals, these teams were always thinking ahead.

Of course, few can forget 25's base driver in 2006 (Corey Balint), and the undefeated 2 regional winning streak. I hate to patronize my own team as well, but our 2006 base driver (Greg Marra), managed to win 2 regionals using defense, sometimes winning in matches where no balls were scored outside of autonomous, and then arriving on Einstein undefeated at Nationals. Tom Bottligeri of 195 serving as Coach also comes to mind, because the astonishing "A-Bomb" where 195 passed balls to 968 on Einstein was developed by these three.

Both 176 and 148's drive teams deserve very special distinctionfor this year, because they both drove our robot when travel arrangements fell apart. 176 stepped in for us in 2 matches at UTC when our Board of Education told us we couldn't participate anymore, and 148 drove on Thursday of Nationals when only our base driver was present and everyone else was stuck in airports.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

I'll second the vote for Kyle Love. Ever since seeing them for the first time in St. Louis, I kept telling my scouters "man, I would just loovvve to drive a match with 45!" It's really too bad we didn't get more of a chance in Atlanta..

Also, 233's drive team from this year. With that funky arm setup, it would be easy for the driver to say "okay let me position it, you just let go" or the arm operator to say "you just get it close, I'll finish it." Watching them play, however, you can't tell who is the "dominant" member of the driving strategy. It truly functions like one fluid operation.

I'll admit.. I don't know very much else about the history of drive teams, this being my rookie year, but I'd like to throw out 217's driver from last year, Mike Ross. When he gets behind the joysticks, he really is one with the robot. He sees things out on the field as if he's sitting on the robot, and I can vouch firsthand for his defensive driving abilities ;) dude knows what the game is about, and deserves to lay claim to a championship.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Who do is the best driver I have seen.. just look at the trophy's he has under his (big) belt; 4 regional Championships, and a Championship Division finalist.

You probably guessed what team he is from, the powerful Simbotics team (1114). He knew how to get the most out of his bot, I've heard mythical stories of how much time he spent from Shipdate to GLR driving their practice bot.

He is the one, the only.... BECKETT!!!

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

I think a TON of drive teams were amazing this year.

148, 1114, 71, 330, 233 and many many more.

*just realized they will all be at IRI :ahh:*

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

There are some great drive teams listed here. Here are some others:

old school... Weren't Andy Grady and Colleen Shaver on the same drive team on Gael Force in '98? That would have been interesting. Colleen was very good in 1999, and with Grady as a partner in '98, they probably were awesome.

Kevin Kolodziej and Sarah Michna on team 71 were great in 01 and 02. Their skills led to 71's dominance. Add these two to the winningest coach in FIRST, Brian Beatty, and you have an unbeatable drive team.

Also, in 2002, I believe that Joel Johnson and Jeff Rodriguez were on the same drive team for RAGE. This duo capped off a Championship with their mad skills. Joel even was caught smiling a few times, they were so good.

But... if I had to pick one drive team who made the most out of each situation they were in... Tyler and Nick from team 292 in 2003. They were #1 seed at Great Lakes, Midwest, and won the Newton division as alliance captains. Everyone who played against them didn't know how they did it... but they just drove well. They did this with a coach who gave little direction (he didn't need to... the drivers were that good) and a robot that was very reliable but also very simple.

Andy B.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

I think 108's 2005 drive team was 108's best, if not one of the best in general. They worked great together, and took a decent-at-best robot and made it into a division winner. They both understood how key a good strategy was and always had a way of winning. (most of the time...)

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

The 2001 Bobcat Team (177) of Eric O'Brien and Tom Schindler. They drove that robot as though it was a perfect extension of their own arms. Handling the Big ball, dragging goals around and balancing them on the bridge, as well as limbo'ing, were all made to look so easy... They turned an average, "do all" robot (one that didn't specialize in any one task, like most winning robots in 2001) into a Championship caliper Robot.

I guess that goes to show how much of a difference stick time on the robot means.

BEN

P.S. Andy, your alliance toasted our 175/126/230 alliance with your auto-balance. So, I can't give all the credit to your drivers that year...

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Yeah, they were very good. They toasted our alliance in the finals of our division in Epcot. Didn't these two goofballs wear "Sugar Daddy" (the candy) shirts or something like that? Crazy.

Andy B.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

The "best" driver combo from our team would have to be the 2003 drivers. They were -from what Ken said- in sync with each other. And not to mention our driveteam is on the FIRST brochure :) I love pointing that out to kid in our school.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/12562

I think we found one of those shirts lying around the shop earlier this year near one of the 1997 Ring Wrangler cowboy hats

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

The Beachbots (330) 2005-2007 drivers strike me as frighteningly talented. They took two great bots and took them up a notch into elite competitors.
Pretty much anyone behind the sticks for Buzz (175) is spectacular (unless their drivers end up sidelined...like Chesapeake 2007). Every year their drivers elevate their machines to compete with bots that should totally outclass them (not that 175's bots are bad).
222's 2004-2006 (2003 too?) driver was amazing as well. Even when the Tigertrons weren't particularly overwhelming in 2005 and 2006, he managed to get them into positions where they could win every match, and they often did. Pity 222 still hasn't been able to capture a regional title.
1038's 2006 driver managed to captivate me a few times with some ridiculous driving on Galileo. The Thunderhawks pulled off some moves that robots shouldn't be able to do (especially without an omni-drive), it was downright amazing.
And, of course, a shout out to 116's 2006-2007 drivers, Baxter and Justin. There's no way our machines should be putting up the scores they were when they were driving (including the 2006 & 2007 VCU high scores, and the 2007 Galileo high score). In 2006, we were one of the best offensive and defensive bots at both of our regionals, not because of our bot itself, but because of how well they could handle the machine. In 2007 the bot was good enough that we became the primary offensive option in every one of our matches, and they got a new job, beating the opposing defense, which they had mastered by the end of VCU (8 matches against the best defender we faced all year, 122, helped), and put on display at Championship, where we were routinely scoring through defense, even often double-teams.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

254's drive team always are such smooth drivers/operators.
330 i have to say has had an amazing drive team since `05.
When it comes to my own team, I have to give props to our driver Rafi Ahmed because even if we get stuck with a boxbot or a drive base he is still able to play some amazing defense.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

We can't take much credit for the 2002 season....anyone could drive that robot! Thank goodness there was no autonomous that year...I'd have been out of a job!!

71's drivers before my time would put me to shame though.

I'm also adding Tony Morales and Allen Hoem from Wildstang (Tony was driver from 98-01 and Allen from 01-03...I think!). These guys could control those maneuverable Wildstang bots like nothing. I had some great friendly rivalries with them in my days.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Drive Teams that I remember as amazing

179 '05-Tytus and Amanda were just a perfectly coordinated team. That robot was pretty good, but they elevated it to another level. Two regional victories and making the Archimedes division finals with the six seeded alliance is a pretty impressive run.

330 '05 and '07-Great machines need great drivers and the Beachbots fielded some of the best drivers ever. They were able to dominate matches in two years where in which your success was entirely dependent on those teams you were partnered with.

25 '06-Corey and Bharat were the two best drivers I have ever seen. I think 25's robot was good, but they made it legendary. I still am amazed by their streak of consecutive matches won and the dominance they displayed. This was what made their team great.

The best drive team that 494 ever had was our 2004 drive team. They were very good at working together and could play with the best of them.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

I really think that 968 had an amazing drive team this year. They were putting up more tubes then 254 was.

As for the all time best drive team I have to give it to Jeff Kane & Co. from 1138. They take what is a mediocre robot every year and make it amazing. They constantly impress me.
-guy

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Hands down my favorite drive team has been Corey and Bharat from 25. 25 had a decent bot in 05, but it was still threatening with their driving skills, especially as a rookie driver that year. Of course, they were deadly in 2006. It was simply inspiring to see them win so much. Corey also spent a lot of time talking different driving strategies with me from 06-07, and I have to admit, I owe some of my team's success to those talks for this year. Thanks Cor Cor.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Team 254's best was probably Matt Yu and John Kiely in 2005.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

i'm gonna chuck one up here for whoever swamp things base driver this year was. i think they made it from one side of the field to the other in 3 seconds and flew up 71's ramp.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Oh man, I totally forgot about that. MAJOR props to whoever that was; I was watching the field, and I saw them start to come back with literally 4 seconds left. I'm thinking "there is noo wayy they are going to make it in one try at that speed, with that much pressure [from time]." Incredible job there.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

I see our 03 and 06 bot coming up. I whill have to say the 03 driver (steve) was hands down the best. Our 06 guys were great (cory and bharat) but no one and i really mean no one could stop a robot like steve could on that plastic stuff. Also i asked steve how he knew where the robot was on the feild, because the bot was so small you could not see it over the ramp. Steve said i just watch were the boxes were flying.:eek:

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

I want to mention the 121 driver, Jon. I remember seeing that robot drive backwards across the field while avoiding other robots. He can make those robots dance around the field.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

I have to vote for 1997 Team Hammond (now 71, can't remember their number back then). How they rank compared to all time is hard to say since ever year is a different game and many other factors, but no drive team has ever out-classed the competition like they did that year.

It was 1997 that made the rest of FIRST realize that you can double your robot's productivity by having a finely tuned drive team, and this was all thanks to the way Beatty/Hammond looked like a smooth, well oiled machine and no one else came close.

Re: Classic / Ultimate Drive Teams
 

Team 179's drivers were very fluid and fast, you would turn away for 20 seconds and the whole bottom row would be filled.

Also 1902's base driver last year (2006) was awesome Chuck took a very moderate robot and made it into a regional finalist, semifinalist, and Archamedies finalist.