Blog 26: Senior Project Reflection

Title: Senior Project Reflection

Label: Presentation

Directions: Please answer the following questions and turn it in to the blog.

Due Date: The day after your two-hour presentation by 8:00 A.M.

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I am most proud of being able to explain every detail about an R/C car. All of my research was present in my presentation. I thought I did well for making so many changes to my powerpoint in just a few days.

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

I was able to make time and present over all of the information that I thought was necessary. I was glad overall and felt that I did a good job on giving a brief overview of the sport side of the hobby. I  also provided information about how everything works. That would have been hard to explain at the beginning of the year without doing any research.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

I would add as many slides as I possibly could (the first time) in order to ensure that I would meet the time requirements. Then rehearsed the presentation to make sure that all of the information being presented flows together smoothly. After that I would sell the newly found time machine...Hello early retirement!

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

If I really wanted to I can apply for a job in the industry of radio controlled racing. I can use my senior project as experience on my resume. Also I made a lot of friends during these nine months. This made me a more social person. If it weren't for the senior project, I wouldn't have gone out and made friends outside of school. I also  wouldn't  have a part-time job that helps fund my hobbies.

Lesson Plan

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmpmpmuN9b9PdHpCRGc2ei01T01ORVVvQ0xEWkpvN3c#gid=0

Blog 25: Mentorship

 Literal

·     Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties

·     Contact Name & Number - Brendon Larrowe - 6268486695

    Interpretive

     What is the most important thing you gained from this experience?Why?

The most important thing I gained from this experience is the new friends I gained through mentorship. My mentor gives me rides to all of the bigger race tracks. Without him driving me I would have never met all of these different people that have the same interests as me.

   Applied

     How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ?  Please explain.

I get to use everything from my research and try it out in a real race. I get to see what works and what doesn't work. It was a very unique experience for me.

Blog 24: Exit Interview Questions

(1) What is your essential question?  What is the best answer to your question and why?

What is the best way to earn multiple sponsorships in R/C car racing?
Having the correct equipment and building relationships with other drivers is needed in order to get sponsors, but my best answer is attending big races because it will get you the exposure necessary to get you noticed by potential sponsors. It also shows how good you are compared to other drivers on the circuit. Your sponsors want to see that you are worthy of their support, and the only way they could tell is if you race outside of your comfort zone and race against other high caliper racers. My team manager Randy Pike stated that he would rather see someone make the bottom of the main against 

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

Asking different people, fellow racers, team managers took some time to do, but they gave me the same answer. Everyone said that you need to attend big events if you are interested in getting sponsors. Also there were several articles that I researched on LiveRC.com that I used to figure out that racing at just your local track is not enough to get sponsors. 

(3) What problems did you face?

During the first semester, it was hard to find research on my topic. Most of the articles I found were foundational. I had enough foundational information at the time but what I needed was information about sponsors and current news in the industry. 

Another problem that faced was switching mentors. My first mentor helped me all the way through summer, but unfortunately, he moved. I was forced to find a new mentor and that really set me back. 

How did you resolve them?

To resolve the first problem which was research based, I found a really helpful website online through my new mentor. The web site was called LiveRC.com, and it included a new article every week regarding tips on how to earn sponsors. Also the web site was updated every day with new product that were released in the industry. This gave me a huge advantage against other people because now I am up to date with the newest products and trends. 

For the second problem, one of my racing friends, Brendon Larrowe agreed to be my mentor. He knows so much information about racing. He has been through it all, and he was the perfect choice for my mentor. 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

LiveRC.Com - provides me with the latest information about the industry including info about when companies are accepting resume's for sponsorships and jobs.

Brendon Larrowe - He helped me focus and come up with an answer to my essential question. He is a walking encyclopedia, and he knows exactly how to get sponsors behind you.

(5) What is your product and why?

Over these nine months I have made a number of friends and people that have the same interests as I do. If it were not for my senior project forcing me to go out and find people that I can learn from, I would have never had the opportunity to meet them. I think my most important product is my ability to make new friends. I think that this skill has always been there, but this experience really made me polish this skill. To me, nothing fells better than being known and recognized by people all around at different places that I race. I’m not just another racer on the grid. During the summer days of mentorship I didn’t know that many people so I would keep to myself and do my own thing. I would miss out on new setups and information. Now mostly everybody knows me, and I have built up a reputation at other tracks. It’s a great feeling to have people come up to you and ask questions and an even better feeling is when you help them out. I may not compete anymore because I get more out of it if I simply help other people. Now I wish to take all of these skills and apply them to my future. The Senior Project opened up a new world for me and I am glad everything worked out.

                   

Blog 22: Three Column Chart

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmpmpmuN9b9PdEFPUHhBRDRMNWd6aWszTHpsanNHTFE#gid=0

Blog 21: Independent Component 2

Title: Independent Component 2
Label: Independent Component
Due Date: Friday 4/26 at 8AM
Content:

LITERAL
(a)  “I, Raul Suarez, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component - Brandon Larrowe (mentor)
(c) Provide a digital spreadsheet (aka log of the 30 hours) -https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmpmpmuN9b9PdC15QWc2MkdzNHdXTTF1SFgxWndPOUE&usp=sharing
(d) Explanation of what you completed. See Spread sheet.

INTERPRETIVE
Defend your work and explain how the significant parts of your component and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work. Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8VYecLjEw4 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17c8p6tgIIw  - pracrice 4-25-13 at my work

APPLIED
How did the component help you answer your EQ or support one or more of your answers. Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.

This indepentdent component helped me apply all of the information I learned from both my mentor and countless articles from LiveRC.com. Most of the articles about RC sponsorship are written by Mike Garrison, and every tip he gave on how to write race resumes, how to race, how to prep your car, were all true. I tried them out when I race on the weekends. While I was racing during this period, I picked up another sponsor (DE Racing). I was talking to people at the track and they reffered me to their team manager, and he set up a 50% sponsorship deal with me. That was my Third answer in action.

Blog 19 Senior Project and ESLRs

Effective user of technology: Application. Incorporating media to create an effective presentation.

Link to video of me driving after doing a few minor setup changes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJpSJudwoYU

Blog 18: 2 Hour Meeting Answer

1.  What is your essential question? How best to earn multiple sponsorships in R/C racing
2.  What is your third answer to your essential question (write your third answer in a complete sentence)? You have to know other racers and make friends with as many people as you can.
3.  What are three details to support or justify your third answer (details are examples or facts)?The exposure from knowing people will get you sponsorships alone. When you maintain a good reputation with other racers, people will respect you and companies will want you to represent their product. The big name companies want people who are known at the track to sport their gear and run their equipment.
4.  What source helped you prove this answer is justified for your essential question? My mentor provided me with this answer and it helped him get at least 5 sponsors.
5.  What do you plan to study next and why? I plan to put this in action and attend a series race this weekend. 

Blog 17: 20 Questions

1. What is the best way to earn multiple sponsorships in rc car racing?
2. How often do you work on your car to change the setup?
3. During a practice day, do you spend more time on the track or more time in the pits, and why?
4. Why do you think it would be more beneficial to spend more time driving?
5. Why do you think it would be more beneficial to spend more time in the pits?
6. What is your regular routine when you go to the racetrack?
7. What types of preparation do you do beforehand?
8. After t he day is over do you find yourself still working on your car?
9. Do you practice aggresively when preparing for a race and why?
10. Can you walk me through an average race for you?
11. How long does it take someone to get a full factory sponsorship?
12. If it was your very first time racing what steps would you go through to prepare for it?
13. What advice would you give someone who is going to join their first year-long series race?
14. How would you yourself prepare for such a big race with big payouts?
15. What type of preparation do you think is necessary for a big race such as the IFMAR Worlds race?
16. What do you need to do in order to receive an invite to the worlds?
17. How about for a prestigious race such as the Reedy Race of Champions?
18. Do you think it is more important to be a good driver, or someone who can articulate well, when looking for sponsors?
19. Is it possible to earn a sponsorship at a race even thought you did not make the podium?
20. What is more important to work on, your setup or your driving and why

Blog 13: Rough Draft

I did not do it and received no credit.

Blog 16: 2 Hour Meeting Answer 2

Content:

1. What is your essential question? What is the best way to earn multiple sponsorships in R/C car Racing?
2. What is your second answer to your essential question (write your second answer in a complete sentence)? My second answer is to attend different events and races.
3. What are three details to support or justify your second answer (details are examples or facts)? There are several events thougout the year where the first prize is a on year sponsorship from either Team Losi, or Team Associated. If you go to bigger venues, the team managers are typically there scouting and testing new products. The more races you win at these bigger tracks, the faster you will movce up to the expert level, and everyone at that level is sponsored one way or another.
4. What source helped you prove this answer is justified for your essential question? Just my mentor Brendon really. He pushed me to go to big tracks so I can get some exposure.
5. What do you plan to study next with your second answer and why? (You would say "I plan to continue my study of answer 2 by doing _the Dash for Cash Race @ Tony's Hobbies and the Spring Indoor Stock Nationals @ OCRC.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

CONTENT:
(1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.
I Plan on racing the Indoor Stock Nationals at OCRC Raceway.
(2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.
I will have to practice on the track prior to the race if I want to be competetive against the locals. The race will take place on a sunday with qualifying rounds on saturday. I need one day of practice and one day for perfecting my setup. This will leave me with enough hours to meet and exceed the requirement.
(3) How does your independent study component relate to your working EQ?
Team managers from several different companies will be in attendance, so there is a chance of landing a sponsor at the race. In addition, this race will go on my race resume if I place well.I willl be practicing with m mentor that weekend. He can give me some good advice and tips on what I should do to win.

Blog 14 Independent Component

LITERAL
(a) “I, Raul Suarez, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) My mentor Brendon really helped me out during these past few months. We have been attending a lot of races and spend most of the time perfecting our setup.

(c) Provide a digital spreadsheet (aka log of the 30 hours)

(d) During my independent component. Brendon and I attended the Top Notchracing series for just one round. The race was held in Hunington Beach at OCRC Raceway. It was a weekend race. We started practice Thursday, did a club race on Friday to prepare for the big race, and finised the race on Sunday at 1:00. Each day we stayed until they closed. thursday and friday we arrived at 3 , but in Sunday, we arrived at 5am.           

INTERPRETIVE
Defend your work and explain how the significant parts of your component and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work. Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.

The photos and race report aren't up on the website, but they should be put put up next week. This is the only photo of me thats up right now. This is the car I won in a rafffle at OCRC.

APPLIED
How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.

This experience was more helpful than building a few tracks. I learned so much more abuot racing after racing that weekend. With all of the new info and experience I am a better driver and have learned to drive for consistency rather than speed. For instance now I can run a full 5 minute race with no mistakes. And my lap times are still getting faster.

Blog 10: Senior Project Update

(1) What are you currently doing in your independent component? For my Independent component I am continuing my mentorship. I have finished building the new track there and I am going to attend big races this month.

(2) What is a recent piece of research (article, interview, or audio-visual) that have you reviewed you would say was significant in helping you understand where to go next in your senior project?  The piece of research should be something you reviewed in November.  Please explain what you learned and where are you going next because of this piece of research. 
In one of my articles it explains in detail everything you need to know about competitive racing. The video itself is dated but the same rules still apply to modern racing. It provides all you need to know about racing and setting up your car. This is really significant and I am using some of the principles stated in the video.


(3) Provide evidence from your independent component or the piece of research as something you recently did.  For example, a photo of something you working on for your independent component or your notes from the video you watched. 

Blog 11 Mentorship 10 Hours Check

1. For my mentorship I built the new layout for the off road track at Tony's Hobbies. I helped shape the jumped and I tilled all of the chunks of dirt down to powder. In addition to this, I raced with my mentor Brendon at a bunch of club races at OCRC raceway in Hunington beach.

2. My contact is Brendon Larrowe

3. I have done close to 35 hours in 3 weeks.

4. The majority of my time was just on building the new layout. We had a couple days to put in the new layout. We worked from Monday to Thursday. Obviously I could not start at nine, so I came in after school at 2:00.

Blog 12: 10 Questions

1. What do you believe is the best way to earn multiple sponsorships on the competitive racing scene?

2. What can you do in preparation before big events?

3. How often should a person practice in order to keep their skills sharp?

4. Besides attending big venues, how else can someone recieve a sponsorship?

5. How long did it take you before you first received a sponsorship deal?

6. How many races have you attended last season?

7. How many races would be ideal for someone starting out?

8. How about for someone who is advanced?

9. What are two events that are the hardest to place in and why?

10. Without sponsors, do you think that racing would be as competitive?