SCRIW (South Carolina Robotics Invitational and Workshops) 2011

[Billfred]

Save the date!
Teams 1293 and 2815 Present:
SCRIW
(South Carolina Robotics Invitational and Workshops)

-Saturday, October 29, 2011
-Irmo High School (6671 St. Andrews Road in Columbia) Moved to Columbia High School, 1701 Westchester Drive Columbia SC 29210
-24 teams (plus or minus some pre-rookies)
-$300 per team
-Official FRC field, pending all the paperwork and paying the related costs

Further details to come, both here and at http://scriw.org/.

On a personal note, two things:
1) I'm tremendously happy to be working with 1293 on this project.
2) After attending over a dozen off-season events in my time in FRC from Florida to Massachusetts to California, all I can say is this: FINALLY!

[Thermal]

Looks like I got to put my big boy pants on for this one. I'm quite eager towards helping host this event. Hopefully our fellow South Carolinian teams will turn out in good numbers, it is after all no more than a 2.5 hour drive from anywhere in South Carolina to get to Irmo. (Okay, maybe 3 hours from Myrtle Beach)

[Josh Drake]

I can't commit to anything yet, but will definately keep it in mind for our team. Maybe you guys could do a pre-ship scrimmage next year if 281 doesn't do it. The great thing about the midlands is location, location, location. See everybody in a few weeks!

P.S. Is it pronounced "Screw"

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by DRAKE2751

Maybe you guys could do a pre-ship scrimmage next year if 281 doesn't do it. The great thing about the midlands is location, location, location.

We do think Columbia is a great location for an event--we're no more than about two and a half hours from anywhere in the state, making it an easy day trip for in-state teams (and still doable for teams coming from a little further away).

Pre-ship scrimmages are always a tough thing to pull off, and I applaud 281 for running theirs for as long as they have. (We actually intended to ask about their field before we found out this year's scrimmage wasn't happening.) I know 2815's a ways away from being able to do that, but maybe someday we'll pull that off.

Originally Posted by DRAKE2751

P.S. Is it pronounced "Screw"

Indeed it is--hopefully we'll avoid the confusion FIRST encounters with its name. (Besides, screw.org was taken. )

[Billfred]

Okay, so I try to avoid posting directly under my own posts, but it's been a month.

A few things I can confirm now (which have mostly been posted on scriw.org):

Pre-rookie and B-team discounts If you enter as usual and bring a pre-rookie team and robot, the pre-rookies will compete for free as space allows (and we will try our best to make sure it will). If you want to bring a B-team instead (more of your own team's kids versus the beginnings of a new team), they can compete half price (a total of $450 for both teams) if space permits after the regular teams and pre-rookies. We will be looking for bumpers on these robots, particularly on the corners, but we understand if your 2007 robot has an open front. Do what you can.

Refereeing I've got a handshake commitment from seven-year Palmetto head ref Terrell Burch to bring his skills to SCRIW. Train your newbie drivers well.

Registration is open, though we're not quite ready to take your money yet. (The perils of two separate school districts working together...) Visit http://scriw.org/team-registration-form/ to sign up; we'll contact you once we've got that sorted out. (Forms are also online if you're interested in volunteering or giving a quick workshop about basically anything FRC-related. Hint Hint. )

Talking with teams in the pits at Palmetto and Peachtree, it seems like there are a great number of teams interested in SCRIW. I'm excited.

[JohnFogarty]

I can't say for sure yet. I forwarded this to my mentors and I'll take a look at this. This sounds like it would be a really cool event!

[Boydean]

Volunteer sign up? Done. I don't know where I'll be in the country during this time, but I'll try very hard to make it back for this.

I'm so excited.

[Billfred]

The first registrations have come in for SCRIW! Welcome 1553 (KC Revolutionists) and their B-team to the roster:

1293 - D5 Robotics
1553 - KC Revolutionists
1553A - KC Revolutionists B-Team
2815 - Los Pollos Locos

[ghostmachine360]

I would be up to volunteering for SCRIW; I know I'll be there already with 1002.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by ghostmachine360

I would be up to volunteering for SCRIW; I know I'll be there already with 1002.

Excellent! We're looking forward to a good group from Georgia (and, speaking for 2815, we're hoping to make GRITS two weeks prior).

Speaking of Georgia, welcome the Gear Devils (FRC1379) to the roster of teams who've registered on SCRIW.org!

1293 - D5 Robotics
1379 - Gear Devils
1553 - KC Revolutionists
1553A - KC Revolutionists B-Team
2815 - Los Pollos Locos

[JohnFogarty]

I have been talking to Billfred about also starting a FTC pre-season scrimmage since SCRIW will be about a month or 2 into our new 2011-2012 FTC game. If there is enough space that is. He will be letting me know soon. We would supply a full (WOOD) feild with a Samantha based control system.

Realizing how early in the season this would be I'm not sure of the intrest in it. If you have some FTC teams you know who might be intrested let me know. As it stands we would more than liekly be bringing our 3 teams.

@Billfred I should know by tommorow night about our attendance with M'Aiken Magic 1102.

John Fogarty
Surfingkidjohn@yahoo.com
Aiken County Robotics

[torihoelscher]

is it too late to sign a team up?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by torihoelscher

is it too late to sign a team up?

Definitely not! The nominal deadline* to register for SCRIW is September 30, or until we reach our 24-team capacity.

*Caption contest people, please note that nominal here and nominal there may have differing fudge factors...

[wendymom]

Bacon is considering riding the Amtrack Silver Star up and back. No hotel costs. The train leaves from South Florida, runs through Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville and lands in Columbia.

If enough of us take the train, we can get a bus from USC for ground transportation to and from the venue and for breakfast and dinner.

Then we ride the train home. Total cost 125.00ish per person. (depending on where you leave from)

How much fun would it be to have 6 or so Florida teams traveling on the train!

[torihoelscher]

Originally Posted by wendymom

Bacon is considering riding the Amtrack Silver Star up and back. No hotel costs. The train leaves from South Florida, runs through Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville and lands in Columbia.

If enough of us take the train, we can get a bus from USC for ground transportation to and from the venue and for breakfast and dinner.

Then we ride the train home. Total cost 125.00ish per person. (depending on where you leave from)

How much fun would it be to have 6 or so Florida teams traveling on the train!

I know Krunch is interested!!!