Mainely SPIRIT Registration now open!

[Justin2648]

Hey CD,
It's that time of year again, join us for our SIXTH Annual Mainely SPIRIT Competition!

Registration for this fun-filled event is now open:
Register Here!

Registration is $150 per team, second robots are free.

Date: Saturday, September 17, 2016
Location: Messalonskee High School, Oakland, ME

FRC Team 2648 would love to see everyone there!

Volunteers can sign up here.

For more information, please visit our website.

If anyone has any questions, please contact missluce@team2648.com!

[Roger]

We're there (Melissa and I)! And 1153 too! We will also have our prototype robot along for the ride for a pre-rookee team to borrow.

It was under great duress I decided Mainely Spirit over our local park doing Beatles For Sale. Yes, I was the one wearing the Yellow Submarine hat at NE Champs. (Cant find any photos?)

[Justin2648]

Hey all! As we are finishing up plans for Mainely SPIRIT, these are the teams we have registered so far:

58
133
172 X2
238
319
1058 X2
2648
3451
3930
4041
4042
4055
4564
4906
5471
5687
6153

We are still looking for more teams to sign up, registration is $150 and second robots are free. We all hope to see you in a month!

[Jay O'Donnell]

How many events and how much distance is 4055 traveling for all of these offseason events? I thought 1058 was always impressive getting to everything north of the Mass-Connecticut border but 4055 is getting to tons of events all over the region.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell

How many events and how much distance is 4055 traveling for all of these offseason events? I thought 1058 was always impressive getting to everything north of the Mass-Connecticut border but 4055 is getting to tons of events all over the region.

Its really cool! More teams should try it out. *COUGH*

Excited to get a chance and come back up to Mainely Spirit after having a blast in 2013!

[swootton]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the shout out. We are making it our goal to play with teams we normally don't play with. We traveled to Yonkers for Hudson Valley Rally and had a blast. We're coming to Bob's event as well.

We would encourage everyone to travel and meet other people. Our team is pumped to be able to attend these events with all the northern NE teams.

FYI, the last trip to South Portland turned into a 6 3/4 hour drive due to 495 being shut down for a fatal accident. Can't wait for next month. And we will be up to 6 off season events after BOB along with 3 district and district champs. One thing we have done since districts started was concentrate on building a robot that doesn't break. 2014 match count was 140+, this year we should be very close to that count or exceed it with a much more abusive game.

[Roger]

Getting ready to travel up to Messalonskee High School to have some fun. Hopefully I remember how to build the field!

Bringing The Hat and Boulder Chess for one last hurrah! I found some appropriate key chains to hang on the tower as a poor substitute for robots.

[Justin2648]

Hey all! Here is some more information about Mainely SPIRIT, starting in just 4 days!

Schedule:
7:30am Pits Open
8:30am Opening Ceremonies
8:45am Matches Begin
11:45am Alliance Selection
Noon Lunch
12:30 Hall of Fame Presentation
1pm Playoff Rounds Begin
4:30pm Awards
5pm Event ends and Cleanup

Those teams who want to join us for setup Friday are welcome anytime after 5:30pm. If you would like to join us for a pizza dinner, the cost is $5 per person. Please have a plan to pay. The pizza is amazing, locally made at our one of our supporters, The Korner Store.

Rule Changes:
Defenses:
The defenses will be set for the entire competition for both Alliances. They will be as follows:
#1: Low Bar
#2: Moat
#3: Empty
#4: Chival De Frise
#5: Rough Terrain

Extra Fun:
One Recycle Rush tote will be placed in the center of the Field with a Boulder on top of it. If at the end of the match, the tote is completely on the Batter (in place of a robot), it will count as a Scale. No penalties will be called associated with the tote.

Chili/Chowder Challenge
We are hosting our first annual Chili/Chowder Challenge this year at Mainely SPIRIT! It is open to the public, and all teams are welcome to participate. There is no limit to the number of entries per team.

Each entry costs $10.
Registration for the Chili and Chowder is from 8am to 10:30am.
Official judging will be from 10:30am to 11am.
All Chili/Chowder will then go on sale as part of Concessions/Lunch until it is sold out.
Winner will be announced during the Hall of Fame Ceremony at 12:30.
Prize winning Chili/Chowder will receive a portion of the Chili/Chowder Registration Fees!

We will have plenty of power available for crockpots to be plugged in. Each entry will be responsible for having someone at their station from 10:30am to 11am during judging time.

Rules:
All entries must be registered no later than 10:30am.
You must provide information about basic ingredients, but don't have reveal "secrets" (Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, etc)
You must provide any additional toppings needed.
5 judges will decide the winner!

As part of the menu:
After judging is complete, all Chili/Chowder will be available to public as part of concessions.
$5 for a whole bowl of 1 Chili/Chowder, plus chips and a drink
$5 for 10 tasting size portions of the Chili/Chowders of your choice.

All entries will receive part of the proceeds from the sales of the Chili/Chowder.

Concessions:
We will still offer our regular concessions, beyond the Chili/Chowder available, including:
Meatball Subs
Hot Dogs
Chicken Caesar Salad
Baked Potatoes with toppings
Chips
Desserts
Drinks

Volunteer Needs:
We are looking for people to help with the competition, as well as interested people who want to become regular volunteers across New England. For SPIRIT, we are looking for:
Referees (must be out of high school)
Field Reset Crew
Official Scorekeeper (must be out of high school)

If you have someone on your team who would be willing to help, please have them register here.

Pit Sizes and Twin Robots:
As most of you know, we work under limited space in our school for this event. We will do our best to make the pits as big as possible, but please don't bring any elaborate pit displays. We just don't have room for them. We hope to get pits to 9'x9' but they could be smaller.

Please plan to have these robots driven by Pre-Rookie Teams! We have one signed up already, but, please be prepared to drive your twin yourself, too! We never know who is going to be available.

We will do our best to provide with 2 full pits for your robot and your twin, but we may only be able to give you 1.5 pits. Please be prepared for any situation!

T-Shirts will be available for sale for $15.

Team List:
58
133 (plus their twin)
172 (plus their twin)
238
319 (plus their twin)
1058 (plus their twin)
1153 (plus their twin)
2648
3451
3930
4041
4042
4055
4473
4564 (plus their twin)
4906
5265
5471
5687
6153
6172
MCI (Pre-Rookie)

We on 2648 can't wait to see everyone this weekend!

[scaryone]

Can't wait! One of the best off season events!

[Roger]

Originally Posted by Justin2648

Rule Changes:
Defenses:
The defenses will be set for the entire competition for both Alliances.

Well, that's good news/bad news for my resetters! Good news: no moving defenses. Bad news: I've already reserved time in the Weight Room for the resetters to warm up.

Originally Posted by Justin2648

Extra Fun:
One Recycle Rush tote will be placed in the center of the Field with a Boulder on top of it. If at the end of the match, the tote is completely on the Batter (in place of a robot), it will count as a Scale. No penalties will be called associated with the tote.

So if a Tote is Tottering with or without a Boulder-Toted Ball on the Itty-Bitty Batter after a Battle with a Big-Bad Bot, that's Sold as a Scale and not as a Scolding?

[Branden2648]

Originally Posted by Roger

So if a Tote is Tottering with or without a Boulder-Toted Ball on the Itty-Bitty Batter after a Battle with a Big-Bad Bot, that's Sold as a Scale and not as a Scolding?

The Boulder does not need to remain on the top of the tote at the end of the match to receive the scale points.

[EmileH]

Kudos to Infinite Loop for a wonderfully well run and organized event. We had a great time with lots of laughs (totally worth the 3 hour drive) and we learned a ton from our fellow teams.

We can't wait to see you all at River Rage and Battle of the Bay!

[Jay O'Donnell]

Anyone got alliances and results?

[Cavan133]

I don't recall all of them but the 4th seeded alliance with 4564, 3310 (133's backup robot) and 4041 were the winners!

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell

Anyone got alliances and results?

1. 238, 1058, 5265 SF
2. 319, 133, 4042 QF
3. 3930, 4055, 5471 QF
4. 4564, 3310 (133's second bot), 4041 W
5. 6153, 4565 (4564's second bot), 2648
6. 4555, 4906, 172 F
7. 1056 (1058's second bot), 5687, 910 (319's second bot) SF
8. 6172 58, 4473 (QF)

105(8/6) had a blast and it was a pleasure playing with some new teams. 1058 enjoyed playing with 238 & 5265 for the first time in Stronghold and we hope to do so again in the future! I know the 1056 group enjoyed working with 5687 & 319 again!