Robot Wars: The First Wars/Heat E

The First Wars - Heat E was one of six heats which determined the Grand Finalists of Robot Wars: The First Wars. The episode featuring Heat E was originally broadcast on March 20, 1998 on BBC2.

Competing Robots
Psychosprout Bodyhammer Torque of the Devil Reali-t (Reverse Engineered Alien Technology) Wharthog Full Metal Anorak

Gauntlet
Reali-t - Completed - The first robot in this heat to take on the ramp, which it managed with little difficulty. They also managed the second ramp and waited for the pengelum to pass before speeding into the end zone with Dead Metal coming in too late to stop them.

Full Metal Anorak - Completed - Full Metal Anorak went for the maze route, their turning circle was slightly too wide for the railings making the maze more difficult for them but they managed to navigate it and broke away but drove into a landmine. A burst of pace took them over the arena spikes and into the end zone with no house robots to be seen.

Bodyhammer - Completed - Bodyhammer (A favourite to win the series with its odd shape, fearsome weapon and team of nuclear engineers) began by taking on the maze. It made slow and steady progress down the course until it came to the spikes, which they avoided with a quick turn. For a moment it seemed to be stuck on a grill but turned away and dashed into the end zone. Bodyhammer's run even impressed host Jeremy Clarkson, a rare achievement.

Psychosprout - 9.00 - Its odd design helped it in the Gauntlet. After having difficulty with Sgt. Bash and two of the Pyramids, Sgt. Bash actually nudged them further down the course.

Torque of the Devil - 4.92m - Because the the direction of the turntable Torque of the Devil reversed out of it but were halted by Sgt. Bash. It struggled to get away due to its low speed and poor manoeverability and were pushed onto the grill.

Wharthog - 3.92 - Wharthog dashed out of the gate and straight into one of the railings for the maze. Its wedge shape prevented it from escaping.

Trials (Labyrinth)
1st Full Metal Anorak 2nd Bodyhammer 3rd Reali-t 4th Torque of the Devil 5th Psychosprout

This trial was a large scale version of the maze in The Gauntlet. To make the game interesting there were only three entrances for the five robots to use to enter the maze and Sgt. Bash, Shunt and Matilda patrolling the maze. Full Metal Anorak took the lead whilst Reali-t were followed into their entrance gate by Bodyhammer and when they got to the centre of the maze and were in space Bodyhammer shoved Reali-t into one of the railings. Full Metal Anorak and Torque of the Devil were being held up by Sgt. Bash. Full Metal Anorak managed to slip past but Torque of the Devil being much larger and rather more cumbersome couldn't follow. At this point it became apparant that Psychosprout had failed to enter the maze at all and had actually resulted in going backwards. Bodyhammer was being held up by the House Robots and Full Metal Anorak regained the lead and completed the labyrinth. Matilda were preventing Reali-t from turning down the final corner to finish and Full Metal Anorak rammed into Matilda from behind in an attempt to help Reali-t. Reali-t just missed the end zone by the end. Despite the fact Reali-t and Torque of the Devil had travelled further than Bodyhammer they were listed below Bodyhammer in the results.

Semi-Finals
Bodyhammer's hammer wasn't working when it came to the arena so they were forced to change their weapon to a spike which they called a 'destructor'. Bodyhammer circled around Torque of the Devil and then pushed them into Sgt. Bash's CPZ and almost over the railings. Dead Metal moved in and repeatedly rammed Torque of the Devil with its claws causing torque of the Devil major punishment. Shunt dragged Torque of the Devil off the railings and back into the arena where they had another stab at attacking Bodyhammer but were pushed straight bac onto the railings. Bodyhammer then tried to push Dead Metal onto the railings.
 * Bodyhammer vs. Torque of the Devil

Winner: Bodyhammer

The two robots circled each other before Sgt. Bash came out of its CPZ and attacked Full Metal Anorak who were having difficulty getting into a position where they could use their weapon effectively. Reali-t started pushing Full Metal Anorak who very nearly ended up on a grill but just managed to steer away in time. Reali-ts spikes were causing minor damage but it was their weight advantage that was dominating the battle. Full Metal Anorak drove onto a grill immobilising them.
 * Full Metal Anorak vs. Reali-t

Winner: Reali-t

Final
Bodyhammer vs. Reali-t The two robots sized each other up, Matilda tried to attack Bodyhammer but couldn't get hold of it. Bodyhammer caught Reali-t and thrust them against the pyramid in Matilda's CPZ showing fantastic control and aggression. Bodyhammer darted nimbly away as Matilda return to the CPZ and attacked Reali-t but then tried to get back after Bodyhammer. Bodyhammer drove into Sgt. Bash who moved away and Bodyhammer ended up on the edge of a grill as a result of attacking Sgt. Bash and bad driving. Reali-t were quick to press the advantage and push Bodyhammer completely onto the grill. In a premature celebration they attacked Shunt who ended up on the grill and inadvertantly released Bodyhammer. reali-t had wedged itself on the side railings where Bodyhammer pushed them over and out. After the fight it became apparant that in pushing Bodyhammer onto the grill one of Reali-ts wheels had broken off costing it manoeverability.

Winner: Bodyhammer