Huntsville, AL? Why would we want to go there for a Regional?

[Gary Dillard]

Originally Posted by waialua359

Other than getting hit with a possible tornado, this is a must do regional!

The day that the 2011 Tornadoes came through and knocked out the main power grid here for 4 days, my wife and I were driving to St. Louis for the Championship and we just missed them (we stayed in St. Louis an extra day until our power came back on). The next year I was parked in the volunteer lot at the Championship and had major hail damage to my car from the tornado that came by during Einstein. Hopefully we're early enough in the season but you never know - we were at a Smoky Mountain regional where there was a tornado warning during the competition, but the venue was a shelter so we just kept going.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I'll throw in my two cents here. Huntsville is a great town. It is easy to get to via I65, it is a beautiful part of the country at the southern end of the Appalachians and not far from Chattanooga or Nashville. The NASA complex is something special to see. And yes, there is Ed Sparks.

[Billfred]

I just wonder if the BBQ talk will increase the BBQ of the event...

[James1902]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I just wonder if the BBQ talk will increase the BBQ of the event...

Can somebody whip up a graph comparing regional BBQ quality with Regional BBQ scores? I'm sure we have that data floating around the interwebs somewhere.

[Tim Sharp]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Lafayette and Baton Rouge are both farther north than New Orleans, and each has better Cajun food in gas stations than New Orleans has at sit-downs. Maybe you should move that line up to 31N or so.

I concede to your obviously superior experience...and move the line as suggested.

[teku14]

Are any of the NASA powerhouse teams in a 7 hour drive radius interested? Pink? Robonauts?

[Gary Dillard]

Originally Posted by teku14

Are any of the NASA powerhouse teams in a 7 hour drive radius interested? Pink? Robonauts?

Houston and Titusville are both about 10-11 hours drive but we'd love to have them; Pink came to Bayou a couple of years ago which is about the same distance.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Foster

(note, that is a made up quote. I can see him saying it, but presently those words in that order have not yet left his fingers)

Normally I'd object to fake quotes, especially fake quotes from me, but this time it pretty much nailed it.

[Ed Sparks]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I just wonder if the BBQ talk will increase the BBQ of the event...

Sounds like the RPC better get some BBQ vendors to the Rocket City Regional. I'm a fan of MOE'S and the Chuck Wagon.

The event will be held at the VBCC South Hall ...... lots of room for robots.

Looking forward to it!

[Fusion_Clint]

Count Team Fusion 364 in!

It is only a 6 hour drive for us, we can bring fresh seafood from the Gulf if you need it.

[Gary Dillard]

In case you didn't see it (this was changed from TBD just before registration opened), Rocket City Regional is one of the 2 regionals identified this year for NASA regional challenge grants, up to 10 rookie and 10 veteran grants.

[PaulDavis1968]

Originally Posted by Gary Dillard

I'm glad you asked. Here are some things to consider about the inaugural Rocket City Regional week 4 this season:

1) As home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the Army Materiel Command, Huntsville is a high-technology community with a significant number of large corporations having major offices or division headquarters in the area.

2) A recent analysis showed that "The Huntsville, Alabama, metro area is the best place for engineers by far"

3) The Convention Center venue (The Von Braun Center) is named after a Rocket Scientist - this city loves its engineers!

4) The Regional Planning Committee, bringing together many years of experience as members or mentors of FIRST robotics teams from around the country as well as serving in leadership roles as volunteers at numerous regionals, has received overwhelming support from local business and community leaders who are committed to bringing the best experience possible.

5) Huntsville is centrally located in the Southeast but far enough north to be within a reasonable driving distance for many teams in the central US as well.

6) Home to the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center and Space Camp (we're not allowed to say anything official about a team social yet, but just sayin'.....)

7) Lots of good, reasonably priced restaurants nearby that can handle a large team - both chains and local favorites - with Southern hospitality you have to experience.

I'd like to personally invite you and your team to join us for the Rocket City Regional this season March 23-26.

I have spent the last year, on and off, in Warner Robins Ga this year. I see the article lists that as #2. WR has great people but it is one of the last places on earth I would live. So I find the list suspect

[Jack S.]

CRyptonite is looking into a tour of the Space and Rocket Center at some point during our visit. We're excited to get to know all the teams from the area as well as meet up with our good friends the Robonauts once again. Can't wait to see what other teams decide to make the trip and support the rookie regional.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Gary Dillard

The day that the 2011 Tornadoes came through and knocked out the main power grid here for 4 days, my wife and I were driving to St. Louis for the Championship and we just missed them (we stayed in St. Louis an extra day until our power came back on). The next year I was parked in the volunteer lot at the Championship and had major hail damage to my car from the tornado that came by during Einstein. Hopefully we're early enough in the season but you never know - we were at a Smoky Mountain regional where there was a tornado warning during the competition, but the venue was a shelter so we just kept going.

Sorry to hear about the hail damage!
We were soo lucky!
That last day, we decided to park in the structure and didnt get hit by it.
We had no extra insurance purchased for our minivans and would have been hit with a major bill!
One of our Hawaii teams was not so lucky and had to pay $$$. Her insurance company and the rental car company were battling in a long drawn out process on what the exact charges were going to be.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Jack S.

CRyptonite is looking into a tour of the Space and Rocket Center at some point during our visit. We're excited to get to know all the teams from the area as well as meet up with our good friends the Robonauts once again. Can't wait to see what other teams decide to make the trip and support the rookie regional.

Its great seeing that both you and 118 are headed there. We just found out today that the NASA grant is supporting this event also. Its too bad they didnt announce it much earlier after teams had already applied.