Mad Metal Machines - Who's interested?

Between talking to folk and discussions on both this forum and the RW101 forum, there have been a few expressions of interest in going over to Bochum, Germany for the 14th Mad Metal Machines event on September 29th/30th.

I believe it's full combat (unless someone can clarify otherwise) so it would be a chance for the spinners to get a run out.
I thought a thread would help to keep things together, see who's going, discuss travel/accommodation etc rather than trying to pick up bits from various different threads around the forum.

So, to start off, who would be tentatively interested in going?
I'm hoping to go, but need to wait for a month or so before knowing for definite.
Been thinking about travel and figured that if there are quite a few roboteers interested in going, it could be worth organising mini-bus hire to take us all across (and van hire for all the robots/tools). Could work out quite cheap if the cost of hire and fuel was split between several roboteers and those with suitable licences could help share the driving. What does everyone think about that, and any other suggestions/alternatives?

Advice and recommendations from people who have travelled over to the event before will be much appreciated (cough *David Weston* cough) :)

yes definetly interested as long as fw spinners are allowed

We have already more or less made the decision to go. If it isn't full combat, though, then perhaps not.

I like the idea to travel in a group. If a group is going to be organize I would most likely come along as well.

Id be up for it, as long as either 360 or my new one is finnished.

Wouldnt it be cheaper (due to the cost of fuel etc) for us all to get flights then maybe a rental van at the airport?

Flying incurs it's own set of costs.
Travel to airport, parking at airport/taxi, the flights themselves, extra luggage for our stupid heavy toolboxes, the inevitable destruction of ones soul for flying with cheap air travel.....

Given how much fuel is though, this could still prove cheaper.
Are all viable vehicle crossings going to be in the South-East/South?

Getting a Mini Bus could be a good idea. We'd all have to meet somewhere in the UK though, hire a minibus, need someone who can drive it.

I am attending this one, just need to find someone that is willing to drive us from whatever airport or train station to the venue.

What would be the general consensus about getting over to the continent ? I go over by train because I can fit 2 FW's and my toolbox onto a sack truck (TX's in the holdall) and I manage ok, and there is no limit to luggage size or weight (you may have fun with customs though).

Anyone here willing to drive on the wrong side of the road ?

How about you all fly down to Spain and then you we can all drive up in our motorhome?

Sounds efficient enough to me.

Robot road trip! Pick up Guilherme on your way....

German gr¼ndlichkeit has been mentioned a few times since this has been possible. Maybe we should let them organise this, I bet they would have it done in minutes and more efficient than we could imagine!

How high is the arena roof?

I am driving there. 100% going. Could possibly take robots in the car which could free up roboteers to travel light. Depends on who comes in the car and what i take tho. Will know more at a later date. Plenty of time to get things sorted yet.

About the same as the RC roof, maybe a little higher from the floor.

I should point out that there is NO exclusion zones, so OOTA's are impossible. But most Flippers can get them propped up on the walls or across the arena into the pit.

Ok cool

The floor is wood, so keep in mind that magnetic wheels have 0 effect. And yes, it is full combat.

Is it a good floor? Or does it get pretty crappy after a few fights?

So who's bringing a wooden robot?

Tentatively interested... but it will depend on when I have to be back at uni and how much money I have when the time comes... and if Shrapnel (aka Conker II) is finished

I'll be up for going with cobalt

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xtreme

Is it a good floor? Or does it get pretty crappy after a few fights?

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It's a good floor. less traction than MDF but it stays consistent throughout the event.

So a load of British are going to fight the Germans?
Wonder what the outcome will be?

Im tempted to go, just depends on the cost

Quote:

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So a load of British are going to fight the Germans?
Wonder what the outcome will be?

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Maybe we should fight in the skies over south-east England.... :shock:

Flying machines? No biggie, we have Grant on our side. :wink:

Just strap Cobalt to Grant helicopter and the it will be like an eagle with very nasty bite!

Sinds the Germans changed the floor from veneer particle board(driving on ice anybody?) to OSB board , we like the floor there.

And it is screwed on solidly on a very strong frame, and if there is a problem, it gets fixed after the first fight it becomes appearant.

Seems like a good level of initial interest :)
Thanks Leo & Mario for the information regarding the arena.

I hadn't actually considered alternative transport options such as trains, will have a look into it soon and see what rough costs are. Plenty of time to sort stuff out anyway as Shane said.

I might take my MDF bot PJ, should be finished by then but depends how good/crap it is :P

And hotel possibilities are better then in The Netherlands.

Hey, I´m on of the German Roboteers.
We´re looking forward to see some new faces at the MMM 14 ;)
It´s a Antweight, Raptorweight (6 Kilogramms) and Fetherweight Full Combat Event.

Saturday (12-19 p.m.) is the Full Combat Event 3 or 4 Rounds (don´t know how many participants and how much time) each Weightclass with the presentation ceremony at the end (dont know if it´s the right word) and in the evening we all go to a restaurant.
On Sunday (10-14 p.m.) there are funfights, Team Competitions, Soccer, Annihilator and other games.
After that we still need some time to dismantle the arena, so we finishe in 16 p.m.

As Marien said we have many different Hotel possibilities.

Still any questions ?

Sorry for my bad english :P

What hotel possibilities are there? Struggling to find any. Thanks!

http://www.hotelbb.de/portal/en/index.html?language=en B und B Hotel

http://www.ibishotel.com/de/hotel-0790- ... ndex.shtml Ibis Hotel City

http://www.ibishotel.com/de/hotel-1440- ... tion.shtml Ibis Hotel Zentrum

http://www.park-inn-bochum.de/default-de.html Park Inn Bochum

http://www.accorhotels.com/de/hotel-270 ... ndex.shtml Formula 1 Hotel (cheap, but not so good in my Opinion)

http://www.acora.de/de/Bochum.htm Acora Hotel

There are a few more Hotels, but the prices are in my opinion a bit to expansive.

Thank you very much, I'll have a look through.

We prefer this hotel.

Hey guys

I've been looking up how best to get to the event, and theres all 3 options, planes, trains and automobiles :P

Plane: Easyjet flights from London Gatwick to Dortmund, closest airport, less than half an hours drive, so possible to arrange transport from there.

Train: Trains go from London St Pancras to Cologne, which is an hours drive from Bochum, again, we can arrange a lift

Automobile: Anyone fancy driving on the wrong side of the road for us ? ;)

I am not sure about costs for the train, but the flights average at about £55-60 total (return, with admin fee).

Any preferances ?

EDIT: You can get a train from Cologne to Dortmund which is a lot closer as well, does mean some pain in the ar$e train changes...

How would we arrange transport the other side? Rent?

I'm comfortable driving on the wrong side of the road, but too young to rent cars from most places.
Plus currently don't have a robot to take, so can't commit myself to going.

The right side of the road u mean :proud:

we may be coming. If we do its likely we would drive.

If the rest of us came by different methods, would you be willing to drive a rental van to get us to the venue ?

As far as we're concerned this is still happening. Money allowing, that is. If we go we'd drive up in our motorhome, as we did for the champs. It may work out cheaper to fly, so we'll see.

There is the potential that a few could come with us from a pickup point to the event.

Does anyone have a link to the rules for Raptors, in English?

I've attachd them to this posting. They originaly come from: http://forum.roboteers.org/filebase_entry.php?entryid=6