The 6 Week Build Season and 'Mentor Burnout'

[Siri]

Originally Posted by IanW

Second, using rules tests as a barrier to entry isn't anything new in student design competitions. I joined a Formula SAE team this year (Go GFR, btw), where rules tests are part of the process of applying to competitions. I feel that this would be easier to implement, though there would need to be penalties in place for late completion/failing to complete the test. However, the penalties also couldn't prevent teams from competing. A rules test could even serve as the milestone described above.

Agreed. I think they really could pull off a rules test without much trouble, actually. Just throw the ref & inspector tests (or lite versions) onto STIMS and TIMS, and require say 70% of those registered to pass before the team has access to their PDV voucher codes. All electronic, totally enforceable. Even if teams go open book or take group tests, they'll still absorbing the information better than some do now.


Err...I think I've forgotten how this sub-topic connects to the thread title. Put me down for what Jim and Chris said.


I also agree with Taylor's paths of inspiration. We've never been 0-N exactly, but we went 2-9 at Pittsburgh 2007, with similar results elsewhere 07-08. We moved-ish mostly, in a direction or two. The most inspiring years of our team's history. I can trace it directly to our swerve drive, and in fact to every banner we've ever achieved. I just wish we'd had the opportunity to iterate more back then and receive more team mentorship to get better faster. The team is 9 years old and our first winning season was 2011. (thanks MOE!) We're now happy to be a mid-level team eagerly--but manageably--chasing the elites for 4 solid months of the year.