Posted by Andy Grady. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #42, P.A.R.T.S, from Alvirne High School and Daniel Webster College.
Posted on 3/20/2000 8:14 AM MST
Hello all, The mid atlantic regional was a really good competition. However I observed a couple of problems while there. First of all, what happened to the little ridge in front of where the balls are by the wall? I just find it kinda odd that First would just get rid of that without telling anyone. Second of all, do referee’s have the ability to take back a flag or penalty thrown? The reason i ask this is because in the semi-finals team 303 was flagged for the 10 second pushing rule against Delphi, however the reason they went beyond 10 seconds is because they were caught on Delphi’s bumper. Now even though the refs saw them caught up on Delphi, they still gave them the penalty. Even though it was just a warning, it could still change the course of a match in a tie. I would think that it would be totally unfair to a team to get penalized just because the design of Delphi’s bumper makes it easy for a machine to ride up on it and get stuck. Maybe i missed something, but these things just didn’t seem right to me.
Good Luck all,
Andy Grady, DWC/Alvirne
Posted by Nate Smith.
Other on team #66, GM Powertrain/Willow Run HS, from Eastern Michigan University and GM Powertrain.
Posted on 3/20/2000 10:09 AM MST
In Reply to: A couple of problems I observed at the MAR posted by Andy Grady on 3/20/2000 8:14 AM MST:
: Hello all, The mid atlantic regional was a really good competition. However I observed a couple of problems while there. First of all, what happened to the little ridge in front of where the balls are by the wall? I just find it kinda odd that First would just get rid of that without telling anyone.
There was an announcement made on Friday at the GLR that they were getting rid of it. As for why they didn’t announce that at the other events, that’s anybody’s guess…from my own experience on the field crew at the GLR, it didn’t actually help that much to hold the balls in place.
: Second of all, do referee’s have the ability to take back a flag or penalty thrown? The reason i ask this is because in the semi-finals team 303 was flagged for the 10 second pushing rule against Delphi, however the reason they went beyond 10 seconds is because they were caught on Delphi’s bumper. Now even though the refs saw them caught up on Delphi, they still gave them the penalty. Even though it was just a warning, it could still change the course of a match in a tie. I would think that it would be totally unfair to a team to get penalized just because the design of Delphi’s bumper makes it easy for a machine to ride up on it and get stuck. Maybe i missed something, but these things just didn’t seem right to me.
As far as I know, the referees have final decision in all scoring matters, so if they decide to retract a warning, I don’t see where the rules would keep it from happening. However, just like any other event that involves an official of some sort making calls, those officials are only human, and cannot see what is going on from every possible angle at once. So, as much as we may not like or disagree with their calls at times, it’s the nature of the sport.
Just my thoughts…
Nate
Posted by Dave. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Student on team #308, Robo Stars, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW.
Posted on 3/20/2000 11:24 AM MST
In Reply to: A couple of problems I observed at the MAR posted by Andy Grady on 3/20/2000 8:14 AM MST:
Hey,
The bar holding the balls in at the end of the field was removed after the pratice day at Great Lakes because too many teams were getting caught on it and it broke off several times. The next day, it was gone for both Great Lakes and the other regional that weekend(Sorry, I don’t remember what it was right now 
Dave
: Hello all, The mid atlantic regional was a really good competition. However I observed a couple of problems while there. First of all, what happened to the little ridge in front of where the balls are by the wall? I just find it kinda odd that First would just get rid of that without telling anyone. Second of all, do referee’s have the ability to take back a flag or penalty thrown? The reason i ask this is because in the semi-finals team 303 was flagged for the 10 second pushing rule against Delphi, however the reason they went beyond 10 seconds is because they were caught on Delphi’s bumper. Now even though the refs saw them caught up on Delphi, they still gave them the penalty. Even though it was just a warning, it could still change the course of a match in a tie. I would think that it would be totally unfair to a team to get penalized just because the design of Delphi’s bumper makes it easy for a machine to ride up on it and get stuck. Maybe i missed something, but these things just didn’t seem right to me.
: Good Luck all,
: Andy Grady, DWC/Alvirne
Posted by Dante.
Student on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 3/20/2000 3:03 PM MST
In Reply to: A couple of problems I observed at the MAR posted by Andy Grady on 3/20/2000 8:14 AM MST:
: Hello all, The mid atlantic regional was a really good competition. However I observed a couple of problems while there. First of all, what happened to the little ridge in front of where the balls are by the wall? I just find it kinda odd that First would just get rid of that without telling anyone. Second of all, do referee’s have the ability to take back a flag or penalty thrown? The reason i ask this is because in the semi-finals team 303 was flagged for the 10 second pushing rule against Delphi, however the reason they went beyond 10 seconds is because they were caught on Delphi’s bumper. Now even though the refs saw them caught up on Delphi, they still gave them the penalty. Even though it was just a warning, it could still change the course of a match in a tie. I would think that it would be totally unfair to a team to get penalized just because the design of Delphi’s bumper makes it easy for a machine to ride up on it and get stuck. Maybe i missed something, but these things just didn’t seem right to me.
: Good Luck all,
: Andy Grady, DWC/Alvirne
Andy,
Even though it is in the past, but when a team drives up on our bumper 5-FIVE times, I don’t think it can be considered an ACCIDENT!!! It was a good strategy for that team because they could do wheelys easily and get stuck on us. And they could of gotten off of us at any time. But I congratulate that team for a job well done!
Dante-driver