Beetleweight Events

[daveimi]

Hi all, wondered if anyone could shed some light. I'm aware the Kinematic Facebook page that they're doing another UK champs in November, but then the posts also talk about Redditch? I wondered what the state of beetle events are and if they are at most of the heavy events? I was robot fighting nearly every month last year so decided to take time away from it to have lazy weekends. But am getting the itch, and wondered just in general when the events are, do feathers fight more regular, etc. There seems to be more going on than gets advertised despite checking the pages all the time. Any help appreciated.

[tweedermeister]

There's a beetle arena at all of the robots live events, and at an event in scotland later in the year run by the scotbots guys.

[daveimi]

Oh cool. I haven't heard about them.lol will look into it. Do you know where the details for scots bots events are?

[qbnut]

I'm also finding it tough finding Beetleweight events. I contacted Robots Live and it's true they do run an arena, but it's limited for pit space so pure Beetleweight teams are kind of left out in the cold.

Also Kinematic have put their championship back to February now based on their Facebook posts.

I guess that it's not popular as a weight category in its own right but seems to be most popular as a side event for roboteers in Feather and Heavy events

[daveimi]

Yeah, been building a featherweight because of this and the beetle is finished but sat on a shelf lol.

[EventorizonIan]

As we mentioned at the FRA agm we have currently cancelled plans for beetleweight event because of the cost of insurance. Together with Dave Weston we discussed the idea of putting on joint ant and beetleweight competitions. This would increase the number of possible participants.
I even have access to a venue near Watford just off the M25.
The key question is what would roboteers be willing to pay per robot entry to fund the day.
All we want to do is break even.
Robots live have been fantastic in supporting beetleweight events without asking for any financial contribution but would roboteers support a funding model for this weight category that included event fees? And if so how much?

[R9000]

Seems like something that needs a Kickstarter/Patreon to gauge proper interest.

[john_frizell]

Would be willing to pay an entry fee of it comes to that.

[daveimi]

Sorry, I've only just noticed this. I'd pay £20 or so entry fee if needed. I'm in Blackpool so factoring in the cost of the robot and the fuel to get down there it means I can do the day for less than a hundred quid. Which is manageable if it's once every few months. The beetle thing is such a good weight category, I'd get involved to grow it if needed. Small enough to be doo-able with off the shelf parts, big enough not to be a faff like the ants are. Running a combined Ant and Beetle day would be great, and, like I say, I'd pay a £20 sign up fee. Maybe bit more, maybe bit less depending.

[qbnut]

I would pay entry as well, I never really expected to attend events for free anyway

[Jimmy]

I think something like £20 sounds reasonable to me, although admittedly, I don't know how events like this are usually financed. If its a well run event, and a fun day, I'm all for it. My first beetle is pretty much done, so something to actually take it to would be good.

[daveimi]

I definitely think there is a market for beetle events.