Lincs...Notts.... Social

Hi Everybody,
Since the FRA are about to go public and (for my sins) I accepted the post of rep. for Notts, Lincs & Yorks - its my pleasure to initiate our REGIONAL SOCIALS

We plan to hold beer meets where roboteers can chat, swap a few tips, and find out a little more about roboteering and the Fighting Robot Association.

First one will be Sat 1st Nov - so I guess that means the schedule is 1st Sat of every month (unless theres something better going on).

Everybodys welcome, although regulars will be expected to join the FRA (details how in due course).

Time 8.00 till the end.
Venue can be varied - but first one will be in Lincoln area (as its pretty central).
Ill let you know exactly where - when Ive picked a suitable place !

Bring your robots and accessories for discussion and display - but please leave those tramsmitters and CO2 bottles at home

WHAT I NEED NOW is to make a list of roboteers and potential roboteers in our region - even if you dont want to join us on these socials.

Email me or Post Here if you are in the area and Ill put you on a mail list for Info & Invites.
kscott9709@aol.com

Tell your mates and get them to mail me as well.

For more details of the association and a list of other representatives, visit -
http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/

Cheers,
Kev. [Moved and reposted by Admin]

Whoa - seen this text before.Lands here as if by magic :)

First mtg was very sucessful.Think it was 9 attendees and we spent just a short while on official FRA stuff (like Membership Fees & Donations, Rule Changes, Tethers, Future Events, etc) - but my main message was to visit the FRA site, and this forum for latest info.

Rest of the time was general chat, mainly about these electro-mechanical-monsters, but not only.

We agreed to hold these socials on first Sat of each month, and considered places on the main A1 corridor - but did not choose one - so it will be Sat 6th Dec at Pride of Lincoln (for the time being)

This does clash with the Worthing event - but who cares - Oops- sorry - :sad:

Jerremy Cussjeremy.cuss@btopenworld.comhas since posted me offering to hold a social in Huddersfield.I could make the odd one up there, but think Ill discuss it at next Lincoln one before committing loadsa yellow bellies to all that traveling.Post here if you are tempted by a Huddersfield meet.

Cheers,
Kev.

Sorry Kev - When you drive a 20 year old VW Polo, 40 miles to Lincolns pushing it :sad:

2 people so far agreeing to a trip up to Huddersfield, and a couple more not so keen.

Theres been a suggestion that we arrange shared transport (perhaps even a minibus). Anybody got access to one (or an MPV) ?
Kev.

Good plan Kev, Im in on that one.

Not too sure about transport though - I once got 7 people in the Robin if that counts? :)

Sooooo..... when and wheres the next one?

In the absence of a better plan - next one will be on 6th Dec (first Sat of the month) and at same venue, thats The Pride of Lincoln (on the A46 bypass to the South West of town centre).

Tim and I are going - and he would like to discuss a document hes working on with instructions on How to Solve your Interference Problems (thats the electrical kind - EMF and all that stuff) :)

Kev.

Yay!

Can we add a chapter on the issues of friends and family helping build a robot?

I found you some wheels and machined the axle down to match

Thats great! The wheels dont touch the ground! Now I dont need a carrying cradle! :sad:

Ouch!

This has just been emailed to my contact list - let me know i you want to be added / removed.

Hi All,
Now I know that some of you are going down to Worthing - but this is to remind the rest of you that the Notts, Lincs & Yorks section of the FRA will be holding its 2nd social from 8.00 tilll 11.00pm on Sat 6th Dec at The Pride of Lincoln on the A46 bypass near Whisby Road on the S.West side of Liincoln. Access is from the rear. Going south on A46, turn left after the pub, and 1st left twice more when youll see it directly ahead.

Youre all invited for a chat and a beer - on robots - or whatever takes your fancy.

Postcode is LN6 3QP, or contact me on 07751 606007 if you get lost.

Tims working on some guidlines on how to improve your radio reception - and Im sure will be happy to table them thru the evening.

I will have a yellow folder and an FRA marker on the table.

Cheers,
Kevin Scott

Last weekends meeting was another sucess with Myself, Mick K, Tim M, Neil I, Colin S + Robin W and Sam T in attendance. Not as many as the first meet - but damn respectable considering we clashed with the Worthing mtg & our Lincoln Xmas market. Even better since I thought it started at 8.00pm - yet everybody else told me last time it was at 7.00 ! (think Im going to stick with 8.00pm start - if thats ok with you lot)

We had a great idea from Metallis team about running an FRA challenge along the lines of a Squash Ladder. We bounced this around and feel that it would be really neat to list (say) the top 50 in a Pecking Order on the website (printed for events) - and let people challange those above to take their position.
- Win and you jump above them
- Loose and you drop into the pool at the bottom
- Refuse the challenge (give em a bit of grace) and you move down (say) 10 places
Obviously the details need to be worked thru and published - but Challenge Fights could be taken by requesting in advance and/or on the day - by agreement with the event organisers. Winner to report it to the webmaster by a form on the FRA site (which emails his oponent to give him 1 week to appeal). I will definately be taking this up with the FRA comittee when we meet in the new year.

An alternative was to acrue points by attending events and by winning fights - but countered with a blanket removal of points every month. This means teams will drop back into the pool of zeros - unless they keep attending and winning.

Tim passed around his draft document about curing reception problems. This has developed into a booklet explaining What to Do and Why to Do It. Some found it really useful - while others found it OTT on the theory. He was given the message to pull out the specific guidelines, while maintaining the reasons - to educate people who want to understand the principals. Hes working on this by Highlighting all the key actions. I reckon it will soon be in a format to offer to the FRA for review by Paul Hunt (Rx expert) and inclusion on the website.

I did not really discuss membership (since we are expecting most people to join the FRA via Roaming Robots), but did find at least one of the attendees has never been to one of Jonnos events. I guess next time I need to start asking people to join up - maybee.

Next Meeting ?
Sat 3rd Jan is confirmed. Now, Jerremy Cuss has asked if we could hold it up in Huddersfield. We feel that is a bit of a pain for most - BUT - it was agreed that we should move our location around the area. General view is that we want to find some venues on the A1 corridor. SO - can anybody suggest a pub that would take about 12 people on a Sat night that is easy to find. Ideally something directly on the A1 around the Doncaster area - but 30m either way would increase our catchment significantly.

Please make you suggestions asap.

Have a good xmas - Ill be in touch.

Kevin Scott

First suggestion is Ye Olde Bell hotel at Barnby Moor (A634 between Blyth and Retford - just South East of the A1(M).

Click (or Copy and Paste) this for address and directions. Let me know if you are tempted.

http://search.yell.com/search/ShowMap?businessType=HOTELS%2B%26%2BINNS&referer=s earch&scale=200000&replayURL=%2Fsearch%2FDoSearch% 3Fstate%3DAMB%26businessType%3DHOTELS%2B%2526%2BIN NS%26alpha%3D1%2B4%26mqs%3Dx%26targetName%3DAOL%26 broaderLocation%3DNOTTINGHAMSHIRE%257CEAST%2BMIDLA NDS%2BREGION%257CENGLAND%257CUNITED%2BKINGDOM%26sc rambleSeed%3D5785%26location%3DRETFORD%26companyNa me%3DThe%2BBell%26screen%3DVAL&panY=0&panX=0&nat_i d=1893306&location=Retford&bt_term=HOTELS%2B%26%2B INNS&companyName=The%2BBellhttp://search.yell.com/search/ShowMa...&referer=searc h&scale=200000&replayURL=%2Fsearch%2FDoSearch%3Fst ate%3DAMB%26businessType%3DHOT ELS%2B%2526%2BINNS%26alpha%3D1%2B4%26mqs%3Dx%26tar getName%3DAOL%26broaderLocatio n%3DNOTTINGHAMSHIRE%257CEAST%2BMIDLANDS%2BREGION%2 57CENGLAND%257CUNITED%2BKINGDO M%26scrambleSeed%3D5785%26location%3DRETFORD%26com panyName%3DThe%2BBell%26screen %3DVAL&panY=0&panX=0&nat_id=1893306&location=Retfo rd&bt_term=HOTELS+%26+INNS&com panyName=The+Bell

yep ill be at that one

Our 3rd regional meeting is confirmed for Ye Olde Bell Hotel on Sat 3rd Jan 2004 at 8.00pm in the Ledger Bar.

Various robotic things to be aired - so have your say here and Ill take the message back to headquarters - or just come along for the beer :)

Location is Barnby Moor (DN22 8QS) which is a little vilage on A634/A638 between Blythe and Retford. Full addy & direction in long link above. Easy access from A1 just south of the motorway section.

Go thru reception and lounge area. Ledger bar should be signed (they said it is the only one - but plenty of room and comfortable).Ill have a yellow FRA table marker on our patch.

Ill also be bringing some membership forms. Fill em in and post back to Andy Kane with your £5 subscription (additional donations optional) - then youre all sorted for the future meetings.

If youve not recieved a similar post direct to your mailbox - then mail me to get on the address list.

Have a very merry Christmas - and dont forget the date.
Kevin S.
Our 3rd regional meeting is conf

Heres my report on our Jan mtg :)

Happy New Year to you all,

We held out 3rd session in a smashing place with real log fire, and comfortable armchairs. Althought there were not many of us there, those who made it were rewarded with some excellent scenery to admire ;) ;)

We discussed the agenda for next weekends mtg and recognised that the main topic will be where the sport goes in the future. No specific plans were aired, but there is obvious support for anybody keen enough to take over the challange.

We looked through Tims manual on Electro Magnetic Interferance in Robots (and How to Deal with it) - which is in excellent shape and will be proposed for adoptation by the Association at next weeks meeting (Thanks Tim - an brilliant piece of work).

I tabled some charts showing a way to assess the KE in robot spinning weapons - and picked up some ideas which have assisted in presentation.

Ive since showed them to James (whos working with me on the project) and was very relieved when he agreed with my maths :)

These are Not ready to be published (as FRA havnt even agreed if they should reconsider the damn things) - but I think they neatly present Allowable lines for a range of different styles - at variety of energy levels. You can plot your spinner without any knowledge of the formulae, and readily compare to an Allowable which can be specified for each arena or event. Hopefully there will be an opportunity to air these at the next central meeting as well.

FRA application forms were handed out (please send them off guys) and the evening continued with the usual banter about whos done what, and where . . . .

Next meeting is confirmed for Sat 7th Feb - venue TBD. PLEASE advise if youd prefer Lincoln or Barnby Moor - but I can state that BM is a more comfortable venue, and the management made us very welcome.

In the future, Steve W has offered to bring his Antweight arena - so get your Ants out and lets lean on him to set it up. Post here if you can. It may influence our choice of venue (coz this time of year his Ant box will not be viable at The Pride of Lincoln).

Regards,
Kevin Scott
FRA Regional Rep.
Notts, Lincs and Yorks

Sorry could not make it guys i was going to come but a big merc van had other ideas and ran into the back of my car on the saterday. Deff try and get to the next meet

pride of lincoln please!,£2.75 for a pint of shandy at barnby,thanks but no thanks-more scope at p of l,for now,plus theres room for steves arena,that place is massive.

Barnby moore please Kev

Pride of Lincoln please.

**** forgot the arena! *Goes to cut a new baseplate*

Kevin
i have tried to reply to your email but it bounces back to me

Next meeting will be Pride of Lincoln on the 7th Feb (sorry Lee - but did get your message). We will return to Barnby Moor in the future - unless somebody can suggest a cheaper option.

Will be able to share some interesting ideas which came from the main FRA meeting since our last social - but only for the ears of members.

So get those applications in first :)
Kev

Ill be there (work permitting).

Hi all. Feb 7th was another sucess. 11 attendees which included most of the regulars + the Judge Shred boys who came to see what was going on. Lots of interest in the comming season, etc., and Ive come away with 2 FRA applications which Il be sending on to Andy Kane. Also more talk of the need for a league or ladder. Some details were thrashed out which Ill get onto the agenda for the next executive mtg.

Next month we agreed to meet a little further south in the Roman Way at Newark. Thats on the A1/A46 roundabout with access to the pub (a little complex with Travel Inn, McDonalds, etc) from the road going south into Newark. Date will be 8.00pm on Sat 6th March.

Sam Townsend was describing his new Mag S28-400s - it would be really neat if you could bring em along to show us. Anybody else got any toys to display? Im sure that little bits can be brought into the pub :)

Sorry to the Yorks boys, well definately make the nest one up in your neck ot the woods - although the Roman Way is straight off the A1 and probably no harder to reach than PoL.

Ive actually had a lot of Yorks people respond to my roboteer Contact enquiry. Im again thinking that we should set up a regular Yorks mtg. Any volunteers to host it (JC? :) )

Kev.

does a 12kg feather weight count as a toy to display ???

:)

If any Yorks teams want to have a regular yorks mtg send me your emailsand i will have a word with JC and see if we can sort something out
send tomillrd@lineone.netand subject yorks mtg

Toy Feathers - now I reckon that term could upset a few builder !

Yea, bring em along - we want something to look at.

toy?
oh boy will people be ruing that this season...

I will take that as a no then better put yorks back in the title then Kev

Dont forget - March mtg on Sat 6th at The Roman Way - Newark. Bring your bits - we wanna see them ! !

And for the Yorks people - as promised we are going Up North very soon.

I will be helping Jeremy Cuss launch a Yorks sub-section meet in Huddersfield on Sat 3rd April. More details to follow.

Yeah, Ill be there.

Not too sure about showing my bits off though, its farking cold out there!

Report on last nights meet at The Roman Way

Attendees Arthur C, Steve W, Pete L and myself :)

Apologies from several who were still at the Featherweight Smash :sad:

Lucky really - coz at 8.00pm the place was Damn Crowded :proud:

Excelent discusion about recent and future events :)

Went thru the interesting bits minutes of last Exec meeting :)

Then as the place thinned out Steve tabled an arrangement hes building to mount a drill motor/gearbox assembly, and Pete brought in Tilly 2 (featherweight spinner) where we promptly took the top off and examined the workings. Thanks to you both :) :)

I explained that the next meet will be up in Huddersfield hosted by Jeremy Cuss. All 4 of us plan to go up probably meeting at Arthurs place (Kirton Lindsey) and sharing transport thereon. Details to follow :)

An excellent meeting.
Check back as we firm up arrangements for April.
Thatll do for now.
Kevin S.

Sorry, should have been a bit more clear about the ownership of the design. The motormount is designed by Dom, from the constrictor team, all Ive done is tweak his design to make it easier to install (the compression spring and the black plate).

Kev - could you let me know which bits of the main topic of discussion can be discussed in public (ie this forum). Its important to the future of the sport, and for FRA members, but I dont tread on anyones toes.

Ill be at the Huddersfield meeting (as usual, work permitting), Ill be glad to help with the transport, but I only have small cars (if you dont count the Rickman, which only has a narrow back seat anyway), so Ill only be able to carry 1 or 2 other people in relative comfort.

Hi Roboteers,

I have volunteered to act as a deputy for Kevin Scott to organise meetings for roboteers in Yorkshire. This is not intended to be exclusively for Yorkshire people, and roboteers from Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire (and elsewhere) would be welcome. Kevins contacts and my own are limited, so please pass on this invitation to anyone else who might be interested.

The first meeting will be held in the Founders Bar at the George Hotel in Huddersfield at 7.30pm on Saturday 3rd April. The George is in the centre of Huddersfield, and can be found by reference to the attached maps. The hotel is across the road from the Huddersfield Railway Station and only 300m from the Bus Station. There is limited free hotel car parking on the railway side of the hotel, and a larger pay car park associated with the station.

The address of the hotel is:-
The George Hotel
St.Georges Square
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD1 1JA
Tel: 01484 515444

The provisional agenda is:-

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Report from Kevin Scott, a member of the FRA Executive, with a discussion on the future of fighting robot competitions.
3. My robot - A volunteer (could this be you?) gives a 15 minute round-up of how his/her robot was designed and made, and what is promised for the future.
4. Exchange of information/equipment between roboteers.

Do let me know if you think that you will be able to attend.

Best wishes,

Jeremy Cuss

I will be there Jeremy

Thanks for your support. I have 7 people coming within the first 24 hours of posting the invitation. I look forward to seeing you at the George.

Jeremy

As mentioned above - for Jeremys social, Im meeting Arthur Chilcott at 6.00pm on Sat 3rd April at his place in Kirton Lindsey and sharing transport to Huddersfield.

Arthurs in France till midweek, so if you want to join us, mail (or call) me and Ill give you his address and a link on Streetmap.

Kirton Lindsey is West of the A15 and about 10mins from the M180. The A15 runs directly north from Lincoln to the M180. Im guessing that Huddersfield is about 1 1/2hr from Arthurs place.

Kevin S.
07751 606007

Sorry folks, really wanted to make it, but I got detained at work.

Steve, you missed a really good one :sad:
Check out Jeremys post on the Yorks thread :)

My thanks to Jeremy, and everybody who made the effort - it was the best in our region to date :)

We agreed to maintain our meetings on the 1st Sat of every month, but to alternate venues between the Lincs/Notts and the Yorks ends of the region. Ill host one set and Jeremy the other.

That makes the next one Sat 1st May in Lincs area.

Venue to be confirmed, but we have a plan . . .

Cant say to much yet - but it involves a pub which is adjacent to a Secure, Private, Fenced, Illuminated, Factory Site - which is under offer for Robot Testing ! :)

Details to follow - when were sure of the arrangements.

Cheers,
Kevin S.

Ok - next East Midds social (thats the Notts & Lincs end of the region) is 8.00pm on Sat 1st May at Brewsters in South Hykham, LN6 9UH. Thats 4 miles southwest of Lincoln centre, and 100m from the (Thorpe on the Hill) roundabout where the A46 dual carriagway joins the Lincoln Bypass. Cant miss it - has a USA style lollipop sign, and is next door to McDonalds.

Now - the plan is that we have private access to a yard associated with an industrial unit just 100m into the industrial estate (in fact, its the last unit before the estate finishes).

Bring you robots along - and if the weathers good - then you are invited to get them out for a working display.

Drop us a line if you are likely to come - just so I have an idea on numbers. Email on profile.

Kevin S.

Hi All,
I was not sure what to expect last Sat (with lots of you at Denbigh, etc). We went ahead anyway and were joined by a small selection of regulars + Tyrone Ellis, a newcommer to our scene who brought Big Fish down from Yorkshire.

The venue has a nice lounge area which was perfect for us to get together away from the diners - well use it again.

After a bit of chat - we went outside to look at Big Fish and give it a demo. We were very impressed :) Small solid 6mm steel fabricated shell with everything tucked neatly inside.

It was virtually a first run, and needs some electrical adjustments - but the thing is really promosing. Tim was able to give Tyrone some tips to reduce radio interference.

Tyrone has been on the TV show, but is not on the live circuit (yet) - Im sure that if he can find the time, this will be a neat new robot on the block :)

Anyway, our next regional is due 5th June at Harrogate. Thats Jerremys area, see Yorks thread for details - while the following in this end of the region should be back here (Brewsters, Lincoln) on 3rd July.

Cheers,
Kevin S.