Now I am going to feel old....
My first FIRST event was the NH regional in 1996!! I cant say I remember much other than the "interesting" Econolodge, and eating at Applebee's. I think the competition must have overwhelmed me!
I do remember the Nationals that year very well though. We were the precurser to the Ace's High 176, Team 10 the Raiders (possibly the RoboRaiders). I dont even have a shirt from that year, I cant remember if we had them made or not. We did not have buttons, as we didnt know about the tradition yet.
That year, the competition was actually held inside of Epcot! The pits were a long run from the stage, and mascots were fainting everywhere because it was rather warm out! We used a supersoaker to spray down the head of our Raider, when all the little kids weren't looking. The kids would run up to him and ask for his autograph thinking he was captain Hook!
The party was tons of fun, we made some friends on the Buzz team. Though, I think we were the reason the team has a curfew now!!
We got stuck with the teachers riding things like "its a small world" over and over again *shudder* At least now Im a mentor!!
Rumble at the Rock I. was that year also... in a hurricane!! We drove our robot up in a pickup truck covered with a tarp, were late to competition, and ran in wiping it down with rags towels and anything we could find!!
And that was my first FIRST year
