[MrForbes]

Unfortunately you still have to be connected to a school to participate in AUVSI.

SparkFun AVC is worth looking in to...although it's in Colorado.

NURC was fun while it lasted.

I play with cars in some fun competitions...been doing Drag Week for several years, and went on the inaugural LeMons Rally. But this stuff is a lot bigger than robots, and takes quite a large time/money commitment.