Mayhem in Merrimack, Final Thoughts

[tckma]

Originally Posted by Pamela

It is truly amazing how many people at the drop of a hat volunteered their time and effort into making this event happen, people I had never met before walking in and joining our little Merrimack FIRST family.

Ha! But you've met me now! And I bet your life will never be the same!

Hopefully next year I can coerce my team to register. Though I did enjoy volunteering -- I've always wanted to get up-close and personal on the field... being a mentor, I've never been able to drive a robot in competition (which is as it should be), and this is the next best thing.

I think it went very smoothly considering this was your first time hosting the competition. My only recommendation would be to order more staff shirts.

I also think I sweated off about 15 pounds, but hey, that's environmental factors beyond your control.

[Pamela]

Originally Posted by tckma

Ha! But you've met me now! And I bet your life will never be the same!

Hopefully next year I can coerce my team to register. Though I did enjoy volunteering -- I've always wanted to get up-close and personal on the field... being a mentor, I've never been able to drive a robot in competition (which is as it should be), and this is the next best thing.

I think it went very smoothly considering this was your first time hosting the competition. My only recommendation would be to order more staff shirts.

I also think I sweated off about 15 pounds, but hey, that's environmental factors beyond your control.

Haha, the wonderful staff shirts.... We totally did not have enough money to order any more, between shirts, ryder trucks, food, and janitor fees we're pretty much in the hole as far as expenses went. Next year we'll have to figure out a more viable entry fee, don't worry kiddies, it'll still be one of the cheapest off-seasons out there! (as you can probably tell, we were in it for the fun, not the money )

Maybe next year we'll have to have a mentor match instead of clone wars... any teams willing to let some of your kooky mentors have a spin at the wheel?

Yeh, it was quite hot all day, as those who were planning it with me knew I was in Vegas till Friday morning, I wanted to go back there to escape from the NH heat!!!! The fact that it was 95 instead of 105 can be blamed on our lovely janitor Jerry (he's the man!) cause he borrowed us a jumbo sized fan to attempt to cool the gym down! Maybe next year the school will install air conditioning *crosses fingers*

Oh by the way, you owe me $150 for those 15 lbs you lost, you've now become a Pamela crash diet success story!!!!

[tckma]

Originally Posted by Pamela

Haha, the wonderful staff shirts.... We totally did not have enough money to order any more, between shirts, ryder trucks, food, and janitor fees we're pretty much in the hole as far as expenses went. Next year we'll have to figure out a more viable entry fee, don't worry kiddies, it'll still be one of the cheapest off-seasons out there! (as you can probably tell, we were in it for the fun, not the money )

But you did give us free shirts... they just didn't say "staff" on them... soooo... yeah if you'd given those to us in the morning, we could have made a duct tape "STAFF" label which would have looked nice on the back.

Ah well. Hindsight is 20/20, I suppose. And I really have no complaints.

Mentor match, eh? I actually drove my team's 2005 robot for the first time tonight (we had our open house)... and I made a few mistakes but overall I think I wasn't too bad. I'd love to do something like that in competition.

[tckma]

Originally Posted by Pamela

Oh by the way, you owe me $150 for those 15 lbs you lost, you've now become a Pamela crash diet success story!!!!

The check's in the mail.

[Elgin Clock]

Where is that pictue with all the crew, refs, and volunteers that was taken late in the day after the event was over?

[tckma]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Where is that pictue with all the crew, refs, and volunteers that was taken late in the day after the event was over?

Our team's main driver, to me:

"Did you see the picture on Delphi when the refs got bored and were playing with the tetras on the autoloaders?"

My response:

"No... and I was doing field reset all day, more specifically manning an autoloader, so I think I would have noticed something like that."

...unless it happened during lunch.

I came here and looked when I got home, but I didn't see the pictures. I'm not exactly a Delphi addict, though.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by tckma

Our team's main driver, to me:
"Did you see the picture on Delphi when the refs got bored and were playing with the tetras on the autoloaders?"
My response:
"No... and I was doing field reset all day, more specifically manning an autoloader, so I think I would have noticed something like that."
...unless it happened during lunch.
I came here and looked when I got home, but I didn't see the pictures. I'm not exactly a Delphi addict, though.

Hehehe.. I think it was either on Friday night, or very early Saturday morning.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/pi...le&picid=11488

And during part of the lunch at least, I was chillin' (literally) in the Theater across the hall from the gym where it was like.. maybe 55-60 degrees F... Ahh.. the perks of being a ref.

[Heretic121]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Hehehe.. I think it was either on Friday night, or very early Saturday morning.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/pi...le&picid=11488

And during part of the lunch at least, I was chillin' (literally) in the Theater across the hall from the gym where it was like.. maybe 55-60 degrees F... Ahh.. the perks of being a ref.

you guys let elgin be a ref!?! =P

*back to topic

[winterfairy100]

yeah, we needed refs and he offered.

[rocknthehawk]

Mayhem was AWESOME.


Seriously, i had a ton of fun....it was one of the most fun off season comps i've ever been to.

Big thanks to the PVC Pirates for picking us we obviously made a great alliance, and your operators were awesome to work with....i'm still in shock that we took down the Aztechs and WPI! Awesome job guys!

Overall, i don't have any complaints....honestly, i thought it was all great.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Heretic121

you guys let elgin be a ref!?! =P

Yes, and I had the golden position on the field if you will.
The Automated loader I was watching for zone penalties in incurred none.
I think people are finally learning how to play the game.

Should be a great time this weekend at Battlecry.

Originally Posted by tckma

Aha, blue side. Okay, so that ceases to explain why one of the red loaders was so easily knocked over during the final match.

That is because Velcro does not make a good adhesive material for attaching anything with less weight on the field than a tetra goal, and we even saw that a tetra goal can be knocked down as well.. Namely the center one.

[tckma]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

I think people are finally learning how to play the game.

Come on, It's only been six months since kickoff! Cut us some slack!

That is because Velcro does not make a good adhesive material for attaching anything with less weight on the field than a tetra goal, and we even saw that a tetra goal can be knocked down as well.. Namely the center one.

I was <B>very</B> surprised that that happened, especially when I looked at the bottom of the goal, and was told "that's ALL Velcro." I'm also surprised there was a rule about it that made it so the match didn't have to be replayed. (Yes, I've been a bad boy and should have memorized the rule book cover to cover on January 10th...)

[tckma]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Hehehe.. I think it was either on Friday night, or very early Saturday morning.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/pi...le&picid=11488

And during part of the lunch at least, I was chillin' (literally) in the Theater across the hall from the gym where it was like.. maybe 55-60 degrees F... Ahh.. the perks of being a ref.

Aha, blue side. Okay, so that ceases to explain why one of the red loaders was so easily knocked over during the final match.

I saw a sign on the theater that said "staff and refs" -- maybe I should have ventured in there. Oh well.

[Pamela]

Originally Posted by tckma

I saw a sign on the theater that said "staff and refs" -- maybe I should have ventured in there. Oh well.

You should have, cause you did count as a volunteer, (which was also on the sign) , I was wishing all day that the field would fit into the Little Theater (that is what the real name is, and yes, it is very tiny). But alas, FIRST makes things to big to save us from the heat!

[K.Shaw]

id have to say this was an awsome competition! i do agree we should of had more qualification matches.....this was my second time reffing this year and it was better than the first time!

more teams should definately sign up next year because they are definately missing out on a great time.

Thanks to the George family for letting us crash in their basement friday night


cant wait til next year!