[sanddrag]

With the current set up restrictions, we actually are at somewhat of a competitive disadvantage compared to teams with a minimal amount of "stuff" they bring to their pit. We bring everything we could ever need, and everything we own that our partners or any other team could ever need. We know many teams are not well equipped, so we like to be, not only for our benefit but also for theirs. Also, we like for the pit area to be a showplace, not a haphazard work - on - the - floor trainwreck like 80+% of them are. It takes some time to put this all together. While it may give us an advantage in judged awards, it's most certainly a disadvantage on the field because we are still setting up the pit when teams with less stuff are passed on inspection and out practicing.

And on the topic of practice, Frank, why the heck do we close the field SO early on practice day? It kills us for a perfectly good Field to be sitting right there, and not being able to use it past 4PM or whatever it is when practice day goes until 8PM. We pay an aweful lot to just stand around and look at an empty field Thursday night.