what was your favorite first compition

[ajlapp]

I noticed that a lot of people in this thread weren't around for 1997, so I thought I'd start with that. The thing that made it so good was the use of innertubes. It was a dynamic game and a sophmore year for many of the best teams in the country, including but not limited to beatty, the chief, 3dimensional services, and wildstang......although they kind of competed in the first competition.
Anyway. The robots were incredible(you all should of seen baxcat, a.k.a. heatwave.......that was when they used to be purple and black.......I've yet to see too many robots that matched that machine in pure beauty.)
I'll through a special nod to wildstang for 1997......they broke out that year with their nested telescoping lift. It's been copied but never replicated, at least not by anyone but wildstang. You can see it in the FIRST Place!
Beatty 3was in top form that year also.....winning their first National Championship.
I guess I really loved it so much because it's old school. The competition was small and the robots were amazing. Hopefully we can continue to recapture that spirit in the years to come.

Anthony Lapp
Team 221
MI Roboworks