Trial Events

[Phenylethylamine]

In NY, team members have to do the trials- and our team for Regionals (which is only 10 or so people) is usually decided more than a month before Regionals.

[JBoyd-NY]

I'm sorry you feel the Car of Tomorrow event was poorly run at States, but before you criticize the event supervisor for setting up the track in the incorrect manner, perhaps you should read the rules more carefully. I was in the scoring room doing my event when they settled the appeals filed about the polarity of the track. Two independent event supervisors (not affiliated with COT in any way), tested the track and found that the polarity was EXACTLY the same as what was stated in the rules. So the teams that didn't have to change the orientation of their magnets were being rewarded for actually FOLLOWING the rules.

As for the strength of the magnets on the track, they were the same strength for every contestant, so that shouldn't have had an effect on the rankings of the teams.

[pjgscioisamazing]

I'm sorry you feel the Car of Tomorrow event was poorly run at States, but before you criticize the event supervisor for setting up the track in the incorrect manner, perhaps you should read the rules more carefully. I was in the scoring room doing my event when they settled the appeals filed about the polarity of the track. Two independent event supervisors (not affiliated with COT in any way), tested the track and found that the polarity was EXACTLY the same as what was stated in the rules. So the teams that didn't have to change the orientation of their magnets were being rewarded for actually FOLLOWING the rules.

As for the strength of the magnets on the track, they were the same strength for every contestant, so that shouldn't have had an effect on the rankings of the teams.

I think it's just the fact that we had the same problem last year, so we switched around the polarity for this year (and I'm sure many teams did the same) and then the polarity was switched back

[fmtiger124]

I'm sorry you feel the Car of Tomorrow event was poorly run at States, but before you criticize the event supervisor for setting up the track in the incorrect manner, perhaps you should read the rules more carefully. I was in the scoring room doing my event when they settled the appeals filed about the polarity of the track. Two independent event supervisors (not affiliated with COT in any way), tested the track and found that the polarity was EXACTLY the same as what was stated in the rules. So the teams that didn't have to change the orientation of their magnets were being rewarded for actually FOLLOWING the rules.

As for the strength of the magnets on the track, they were the same strength for every contestant, so that shouldn't have had an effect on the rankings of the teams.

I think it's just the fact that we had the same problem last year, so we switched around the polarity for this year (and I'm sure many teams did the same) and then the polarity was switched back

we made our magnets detachable so we could flip them around if we had to but the thing was their track magnets just were not as strong as the ones we have at our school

[Shad160]

Heh, our magnets were attached by tape. That was easy to remove at the competition .

[Phenylethylamine]

(The comma key on this computer doesn't work hence the lack of commas.)

From what I've heard most of the teams had to switch their magnets. You- meaning JBoyd-NY- seem to know what you're talking about; I didn't do the event myself so everything I've heard is secondhand. However I know that we- meaning our tech coach- checked and rechecked and triple-rechecked the polarities on our car with the rules since like pjgscioisamazing said we had this problem last year. We made sure our track was set up exactly according to the rules. When they got to the competition they found that their polarities were wrong for the track that was there. I find it very hard to believe that our coach just got them wrong but you never know.

I'm not sure but isn't part of the event about predicting/estimating either the time or distance that the car will go with some amount of weight on it? If that's the case then it really isn't fair for the track magnets to be less powerful because then everyone's estimates (which would be based on their testing on whatever stronger-magnet track they had at their school) would be wrong.

[smartkid222]

I'm sorry you feel the Car of Tomorrow event was poorly run at States, but before you criticize the event supervisor for setting up the track in the incorrect manner, perhaps you should read the rules more carefully. I was in the scoring room doing my event when they settled the appeals filed about the polarity of the track. Two independent event supervisors (not affiliated with COT in any way), tested the track and found that the polarity was EXACTLY the same as what was stated in the rules. So the teams that didn't have to change the orientation of their magnets were being rewarded for actually FOLLOWING the rules.

As for the strength of the magnets on the track, they were the same strength for every contestant, so that shouldn't have had an effect on the rankings of the teams.

This is question is unrelated to this thread (Phenylethylamine you can answer this too). How exactly do you make an appeal? Under what conditions would you make an appeal? and what exactly is an appeal?

[andrewwski]

You (well actually, your coach) submit an appeal when you believe there is some wrong in the way the event is being run or scored. It then goes to an appeals committee, who gives the final ruling.

[fmtiger124]

I'm sorry you feel the Car of Tomorrow event was poorly run at States, but before you criticize the event supervisor for setting up the track in the incorrect manner, perhaps you should read the rules more carefully. I was in the scoring room doing my event when they settled the appeals filed about the polarity of the track. Two independent event supervisors (not affiliated with COT in any way), tested the track and found that the polarity was EXACTLY the same as what was stated in the rules. So the teams that didn't have to change the orientation of their magnets were being rewarded for actually FOLLOWING the rules.

As for the strength of the magnets on the track, they were the same strength for every contestant, so that shouldn't have had an effect on the rankings of the teams.

This is question is unrelated to this thread (Phenylethylamine you can answer this too). How exactly do you make an appeal? Under what conditions would you make an appeal? and what exactly is an appeal?

you can make an appeal under almost any condidtion as long as yuo havn't removed ur car from impound. Just talk to your coaches-or if they saw it, have them go and get an appeal form. For Scrambler we appealed along with Eagle Hill(we lost) because Wellwoods coaches saw it and knew the same thing happend to Eagle Hill so we talked to them and the coaches decided to get a form and appeal.

[croman74]

Most appeals usually won't work though. The judges like to stay firm on their rules. And if the judge interpreted it wrong, it would take too much time to fix every team for what they did right or wrong.