Debenham 10th/11th April 2004

I notice the web site is now advertising the ticket number (for non-roboteer types), so I just gave them a buzz. Since they had some information not yet on the web site, I thought Id post it here, if only so that Ed can correct me (and them) if its wrong. This might stop them getting lots of phone calls from inquiring members of the public like myself...

Sessions run 10am-1pm and 2:30pm-5:30pm Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are £5 for kids at the front on benches and mats, tiered seating is £10 for kids and £15 for adults, and the balcony is £10 for everyone.

Theyll take credit card bookings over the phone, but only from Monday (8th March), so the Tickets are ON SALE NOW is a little early. Hence they were a bit confused when I phoned them.

To save interested parties looking it up on the web site, the ticket number is 01728 861101.

Note: Obviously Ive got nothing official to do with this, so please treat all the above with a pinch of salt until confirmed by someone authoritative.

Few more questions for the organizers:

If I want to take some pictures, I presume Im best off up on the balcony (with a decent zoom lens) so the railings arent in the way so much? Will we be able to see in okay from up there - ISTR the roof wasnt on the arena in 2002, and there was no balcony (obviously) last year? Also, is anyone doing a video/DVD this year? Ive got the one from the year before, but in spite of the people with the cameras, nothing seemed to happen last year (although Ive got pictures of all but one of the fights).

Looking forward to it so much I bought a new camera specially...

--
Fluppet

News to me Andrew, all I was asked to put online was that tickets go on sale on 1st of March and the phone number !

Ill make some enquiries and find out if theres some more information that should be going up on the website !

Ed
http://www.robotrumble.co.ukhttp://www.robotrumble.co.uk

john, i will hopefully bringing Blazer along with us. Ill give SS a fight, i dont mind about the extra couple of kilos, as i might be abit over then anyway.

should it be required I can bring Tanto Jnr

think the info is 12 months old there Andrew... might be wrong but it looks like most of the site is last years.

do you have any intentions to put up the reserve list Ed? just wondering how close to getting on the list with my heavy I am?

There is archive news on the site James, but at the top of the News and Tickets section youll find the current 2004 news.

Ed
http://www.teamstorm.comhttp://www.teamstorm.com

is there anymore space for a willing ant i know its late

And to confirm, James: the information I posted was the result of a phone call with the ticket office a couple of days ago, so as far as I know it applies to this year (they were a bit confused, then called over someone who purported to know).

Its quite possible that the ticket office have picked up last years information and have confused it with this year (hence my disclaimer), but its definitely what *they* think is going on. Or at least, did on Tuesday.

Not that *Im* never confused, of course. :-)

--
Fluppet

Sorry to chivvy, but ticket purchasing day is approaching.

Could somebody with an idea of the likely layout (has it been decided whether the pits are in the same hall yet?) or who was on the balcony a couple of years back please advise me? Im hoping to take some good photos, but I remember the railings being a bit of a pain from that point of view (partly from aesthetics, partly because theyll play hell with the autofocus).

Is the view likely to be less obstructed (if more distant) from the balcony? Would I only be able to see through the roof - and if so, how transparent is the roof? Ive only ever been in seats, so Ive not been in a position to tell.

On a similar note, any idea how crowded the balcony is likely to be? Could I rest a camera on the railing, or would I be shooting over someones shoulder? Could I get away with bringing a monopod if Im careful not to trip anyone with it?

Id rather stand up all day than have no decent photos to show for it, so this decides which tickets I buy.

--
Fluppet

I live near Harwich (Essex) and I was wondering if there was any posters to advertise the event as I could put some up near me as I know a lot of people are interested in Robot Wars, and would love to go to an event.
So if any of the organisers or anyone has some, I dont mind putting some up to advertise the event.

Ed, is it just me or does the website not actually give details of dates and times for the event? I know that at first you are most concerned with participants but now its getting close and members of the public want to buy tickets this would be very useful information to provide.

Last call - Id like to buy some tickets this afternoon (anyone know the ticket office hours), and Im still hoping someone will tell me what the view from the balcony is like (either someone who was there two years back, or someone who knows the planned layout). Will I be able to see over the railings? Will the roof be in the way? I honestly cant remember enough about the layout in 2002, and I was in the seats then anyway.

Hoping Im not going to regret a decision...

Thanks,

--
Fluppet

Andrew, Id offer some suggestions, but a) I cant remember what the venue was like either, and b) I havnt been given any further information to put on the website other than whats on there.

I *think* youd be able to see over the balcony ok (unless youre 3ft tall). You could always buy a seat and see if you can get up to the balcony on the day. Cover both bases ?

Ed
http://www.teamstorm.comhttp://www.teamstorm.com

Thanks, Ed. To clarify, I know I can see over the railings on the balcony - I meant the railings used as the inner arena wall. (i.e. with only macrolon between me and the robots).

Ill try asking the box office. I vaguely remember, but not having been up to the balcony I dont remember whether its looking down on the arena roof, hence my confusion.

Dont suppose anyone knows how high the ceiling will be? Maybe Im just being paranoid.

As for buying seats and trying to swap... arguably, but Im buying five for both sessions on the second day, plus myself for both sessions on the first, so Im trying to save sixty quid for my robot. :-)

--
Fluppet

Okay, I have my balcony tickets for all sessions (and some for four friends for the Sunday). I gather the balcony is 13 up, although Ive not established whether thats the base of it or the top of the railing. If anyone knows if the ceiling of the arena is going to obstruct a view from that height, now would be a good time to tell me. :-) (Hope that does a little bit to help with the losses from last year, anyway.)

As a couple of years back, if youre after volunteers to put the seating away, let me know. I need the exercise.

--
Fluppet

Ed - Did you get my e-mail about G-Force?

Yes

I would just like to point out that it will be Daniels birthday on the Sunday. He will also be taking his girlfriend with him.

Mike.

Updates and emails to teams will be out on the Robot Rumble site after the weekend.

Ed
http://www.robotrumble.co.ukhttp://www.robotrumble.co.uk

Im sorry Ed, Im not going to make it. Take Scraptosaur of the list and let someone else have a go.

Marien

did anybody get our entry
team knuckles

Hi guys,

Sorry if you are short of information about the Easter Robot Rumble.Hopefully what follows will help.

Entry list is restricted to 30 heavyweights with feathers/ants in same ownership if hotel allocation is required.Additional feathers/ants accepted but not with hotel allocation.Entry list is full, but volatile as some drop out, leaving space for those from reserve list.(Ed should consider publishing reserve list so that reserves know where they are in the heirarchy).

The event is two days (Easter Saturday/Sunday) with a morning and afternoon session for audiences of 3 hours each day.Food will be available throughout (and licensed bar) from Leisure Centre (well organised with food service to the Pits with a wide menu.)

Photographers/Video people can contact me for advantageous viewing points (through Makralon though) - my contact details to follow.

The Saturday evening will incorporate the usual social event at the venue and is mostly a chat shop with food and drinks but will be backed by a Roboteer Disco (Team Gladiator).A food voucher will be allocated to each roboteer team (three members), additional guests of roboteers are more than welcome to join us though.

The Judges will be Alan & Ann Gribble (Pussycat), Rex Garrod (Cassius series) and Arthur Chilcott (Mortis).

The Pits will be partly in the Arena Hall and partly in the Squash Courts (as formerly).Overhead electrics supplied to Pit benches; C02 courtesy of Dave Melton (Firetrace)and workshop facility available.

Hotels have been booked in accordance with numbers supplied by Ed.Venues and names will be issued a few days before the event when final entry list is confirmed.

The format of the event is being determined and run by Jonno and his Roaming Robots crew.So any questions or suggestions direct to him please.

The audiences will be held in the adjacent Community Centre building prior to release into the Arena area and will be able to return there afterwards also.Food and drink will be available to them there and some stalls will be set up.A good place for Memorabilia sales if you wish to set up shop.

Anyone able or willing to display posters in their locality, please contact me (phone or email) with address and quantity required.

The details of the Box Office etc posted earlier were correct and I confirm the number is 01728 861101.

Note to Ed:Please add this information to the Robot Rumble website ASAP.

I hope the foregoing is helpful, but if anyone needs additional information,please contact me on eddy@portsupport.co.uk or 01728 860564.My mobile is 07989 971702. but I rarely carry it as it cant be used in the car or in the Council Chamber where I spend much of my time.

Best wishes to all and looking forward to seeing many of you at Easter.

Eddy Alcock (also for Roy).

Does anyone know what hotel(s) the roboteers are staying in? I need to book myself a room as I only have a featherweight and it would be nice if I was at the same place as the rest of you.

Joseph Townsend

The two travelodges just south of Stowmarket.

Ed
http://www.robotrumble.co.ukhttp://www.robotrumble.co.uk

Ive got a feeling there booked up...

Regards
Dave moulds

They are, and so are all the B&Bs I can find, looks like a lot of driving for me :sad:. Lucky
I only live in London

Joe Townsend

Will there be an offical DVDr released after the show?

Joe so you know there is a travel lodge i think it is just off of kelvedon/ feering on the a12 on the way to ipswich/ debanhnum there is also a little chef and petrol station there as well

The next closest places are :

Travel Inn in Ipswich
Holiday Inn Express in Ipswich
Travelodge at Capel St Mary (just south of Ipswich)

Ed
http://www.robotrumble.co.ukhttp://www.robotrumble.co.uk

I wish that I was going. It looks a very promising event. Oh well, next year.

Mike.

Darn - place I as planning on only has 2 rooms availbile...we need 3. Got any contact numbers handy Ed?

Regards
Dave moulds

If those places are booked looks like Ill be camping.

Hang on Mike, If your not going can we still get those two motors from you?

Ed Wallace
Team Turbine

Dantomkia is still on the list as going?? Is this out of date?

The list is out of date on the offical web site...I pulled Turbulence out of the comp about 3 weeks ago and Bodger took its place, I know that Horizon and Storm 2 (featherweight) will also not be apearing. I think Mike is going to pop in for a visit but no Dantomkia this year :sad:.

Dave moulds
Team Turbine

Yeah sorry, not had a chance to update the site guys !

Half-way through the weekend! Speaking as man in audience, can I say thanks to everybody involved for a great afternoons worth of entertainment. It was worth a 5 hours round trip to get to see!

I hope the roboteers enjoyed it as much.

Special thanks to Eddy, Roy, Ed, Roaming Robots and all the rest for a well-presented show.

Looking forward to next year :)

got back last night, great event. Alpha Vs G3 feather final (the whole 15seconds of it!). Well organised, shame to see it not going ahead next year.

well done to all involved and Big Nipper (another trophy, youre going to need a seperate room for them all!) Think weve blowen a speedo in the last fight.

Why wont there be one next year?

yea what a great event I cant think of a downside to it other than there wont be a next time
Well done to all involved not just to the winners to everyone who brought a robot and everyone who just came along to see it.

All finalist I thought deserved to be there really thought Barbaric response looked almost unstopable if it werent for a very good Bignipper both look promising for the world championships,
The Young brothers make a return to making the final with both robots well done alan and david
well done to Mark with Porsche who came second in a final that could have gone either way in the ants,

heavy weight 1st- Big Nipper
2nd- Barbaric Response

Featherweight 1st- Alpha
2nd- G3

Antweight 1st- Anto
2nd- Porsche

well done to Eddy Roy Raoming ro bots crew for a suoerb event

and Kane for that god awful drink had to be there


Craig

Great event! Welldone to eddy and roy and RR lot. I got my revenge on Alpha in the garden today :)

Report and pics should be up by end of week.

Dave
teammad.co.uk