Raging Knightmare

Raging Knightmare
Participation Information
UK Series	7
Robot Wars Live Circuit	2013
Team Information
Team	Team Knightmare
Team Members	Nigel Paget Malcolm Summers Lee Summers
From	Coalville, Leicestershire
Robot Statistics
Weight	98kg
Dimensions	0.25m x 0.96m x 0.83m
Top Speed	12.5mph
Drive	2x 750W electric motors
Weapons	Low-pressure flipper
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"It does have high powered weaponry and is built for aggression."

— Jonathan Pearce

Raging Knightmare was the last and most successful of a series of robots built by Team Knightmare. It reached the Semi-Finals of The Seventh Wars, losing to the reigning champion Tornado. Along the way, it defeated Spawn Again, flipping it out of the arena as an act of revenge for Knightmare's loss in Series 4 to Spawn of Scutter. It also entered the Annihilator at the end of The Seventh Wars where it finished in third place after having fought some tough battles against the likes of Kan-Opener and Ripper.

Design

Raging Knightmare in the first round

Raging Knightmare was a low box-shaped robot built using the same shell as Raging Reality, the team having repurposed and remodeled it. The chassis was made from 20mm box section steel and it was driven by two Bosch 750 Watt electric motors powered by two 4QD NCC70 batteries. Its main weapon was a low-pressure flipper mechanism in line with its predecessor, powered by a 63mm bore ram controlled by two high pressure valves, and this proved capable of throwing robots out of the arena. Although it could self-right using its flipper, Raging Knightmare was fully invertible as well, with its two-wheel drive exposed atop the robot. With a full CO₂ supply, the machine could flip up to 30 times. In comparison to Raging Reality, the flipper of Raging Knightmare travelled a great distance when fired, standing almost upright after a flip. This offered the robot superior self-righting ability at the expense of a slower retract time, but unfortunately also meant that Raging Knightmare frequently flipped itself over if it did not land a flip on an opponent due to its wide opening distance and shorter body, a common occurence in its battles. The robot was coated in aluminium checker plate armour, which was listed as the robot's weakness due to the metal being somewhat thin. The back end of Raging Knightmare also featured triangular ridges, to prevent the robot from becoming stuck on its back. The flipper of the robot featured a gold trim around the edge and on the front plate while the knight mascot, a staple of all Team Knightmare machines, was present on top of the flipper. The robot's initials 'R K' were featured on the top armour on either side of the flipper in the same gold colour.

Etymology

The name Raging Knightmare combines the two names of its direct predecessors; Raging Reality and Spirit of Knightmare.

The Team

Main article: Team Knightmare

Team Knightmare in Series 7

Raging Knightmare was entered into Robot Wars by Team Knightmare, veterans of the wars who had previously entered Series 4 and Extreme with Knightmare and Spirit of Knightmare, also entering The Sixth Wars with Raging Reality. The team were based in Coalville, Leicestershire and consisted of Nigel Paget, Malcolm Summers and Lee Summers. As was the case with the two previous machines, Lee Summers was the driver and Nigel Paget was the weapons operator.

Qualification

Raging Knightmare at the Series 7 qualifiers

Despite the team being veterans of two previous wars, Raging Knightmare was still required to go through the qualifiers. It is unknown who Raging Knightmare fought against or if it won its qualifier battle, but nevertheless Raging Knightmare was still successful in qualifying for The Seventh Wars.

Robot History

Series 7

"We go out in that arena and whatever is in front of us, we go for it and we flip it!"

— Malcolm Summers

In Heat N of The Seventh Wars, Raging Knightmare was drawn up against three fellow veterans, Team Monad's new robot Topbot, R.O.C.S. and a new version of The Executioner in Round 1.

Raging Knightmare pushes R.O.C.S.

Raging Knightmare props The Executioner up to attack R.O.C.S.

Raging Knightmare held back at the start of the battle while the other three robots enagaged in combat. Eventually, Raging Knightmare entered the fray, lightly bumping R.O.C.S. and Topbot, which had just lost its flywheel thanks to an attack from The Executioner. Raging Knightmare briefly tussled with The Executioner before heading away from its opponents to press the pit release button.

Raging Knightmare hits the pit release button

Raging Knightmare got its flipper underneath The Executioner, but didn't flip it because the flipper wasn't working, but was able to pin The Executioner for a few seconds. Without a working weapon, Raging Knightmare put pressure on Topbot, which almost fell down the pit, and then steered around R.O.C.S., which was attempting to crush The Executioner with its beak. Raging Knightmare wedged under R.O.C.S., setting The Executioner free in the process. Raging Knightmare lingered around for a bit and then pushed Topbot into Mr. Psycho's CPZ and the House Robot fired his hammer and lost his head in the process. Raging Knightmare continued to bump into its opponents and drove around the arena, trying to stay out of trouble while R.O.C.S. and The Executioner fought. Mr. Psycho then hit The Executioner with its hammer, immobilising it, before Refbot counted it out. With The Executioner gone, Raging Knightmare was left fighting R.O.C.S. and Topbot. In the last few seconds of the battle, Raging Knightmare wedged underneath Topbot and pushed it into the CPZ as Mr. Psycho dropped The Executioner into the pit. The battle went to the Judges, who voted that Raging Knightmare, due to its aggression throughout the fight, would advance to the next round along with R.O.C.S..

In the second round of the heat, Raging Knightmare faced Revenge of Trouble & Strife, a robot Team Knightmare fought in the Extreme 2 Annihilator, this slightly being a rematch from the episode.

Raging Knightmare attempts to chuck Revenge of Trouble & Strife over

Raging Knightmare is flicked over by Revenge of Trouble & Strife

Raging Knightmare charged at Revenge of Trouble & Strife and bounced off the spinning disc. They circled each other and then Revenge of Trouble & Strife left its back open, leaving Raging Knightmare to flip its opponent. Revenge of Trouble & Strife self righted immediately and then flipped Raging Knightmare on its back. Raging Knightmare self righted and then flipped Revenge of Trouble & Strife into the air but not onto its back. Revenge of Trouble & Strife drove away and near the closed pit. Raging Knightmare came towards it. Revenge of Trouble & Strife flipped Raging Knightmare before it could flip it. Once again, Raging Knightmare self righted and got underneath Revenge of Trouble & Strife but mistimed its flip and flipped thin air. It then bashed off Revenge of Trouble & Strife's spinning body. Raging Knightmare again failed a flip on its opponent. It tried again but only very slightly flipping Revenge of Trouble & Strife.

Raging Knightmare gets a decisive flip in

Raging Knightmare flips Revenge of Trouble & Strife into the pit

It mistimed another flip, leaving itself open but luckily was not flipped. It then tried again but only succeeded in teetering Revenge of Trouble & Strife. Revenge of Trouble & Strife drove away and Raging Knightmare pursued it, bouncing off the 25 kg disc on Revenge of Trouble & Strife. It then got underneath Revenge of Trouble & Strife but flipped too late as the disc pushed Raging Knightmare away. Sir Killalot chased Revenge of Trouble & Strife out the CPZ and near an arena wall. Raging Knightmare flipped again, once again slightly teetering Revenge of Trouble & Strife. After another failed flip attempt, Raging Knightmare pressed the pit release button. It then manage to flip Revenge of Trouble & Strife on its back but then, Revenge of Trouble & Strife began smoking and broke down. Raging Knightmare gave a few pushes against its opponent but didn't dare re-righting it. CO₂ began venting away from Revenge of Trouble & Strife as it was lying on its back due to rupture in the system. Raging Knightmare pushed it near the pit and flipped the rather tricky opponent down the pit to advance to the Heat Final.

In the Heat Final, Raging Knightmare fought the sixth seed Spawn Again. As Team Scutterbots and Team Knightmare had fought each other in Series 4, this marked a grudge match between the two.

"Go at them hard, never let up, never leave them alone, flip them, on them, flip them again, flip them again until they're out"

— Tactics from Malcolm Summers before Raging Knightmare's fight for a place in the Semi-Finals

Raised weapons, after the first flip of the fight

Spawn Again's pneumatics explode and Raging Knightmare self-rights

Both robots charged straight at each other but Raging Knightmare got the first flip in, completely throwing Spawn Again on its back, almost toppling itself had it not been for the spikes on the back of the robot. Spawn Again self-righted straight away and forced Raging Knightmare into the arena wall. Raging Knightmare tried to flip Spawn Again but flipped itself on its back. Spawn Again followed up with another flip but then its flipping pneumatics exploded, disabling the flipper and rendering it useless as the lifter blew out. Raging Knightmare, knowing that the odds were now against Spawn Again, quickly self-righted and chased the seeded machine down the arena. Hastily, Spawn Again attempted to press the pit release button, but missed and impaled its broken flipper mechanism in between the arena wall and floor, trapping itself and leaving itself vulnerable. Raging Knightmare nudged it a few times, positioning its flip. The first flip attempt only slightly lifted Spawn Again as it was still pinned on the wall.

Raging Knightmare topples Spawn Again over

Spawn Again about to be flipped out of the arena

The second flip attempt freed Spawn Again and toppled it over, which now had no way to self-right due to its broken flipper. Raging Knightmare nudged the virtually beaten adversary nearer the side wall and flipped Spawn Again up, but Spawn Again instead balanced on the arena wall. Raging Knightmare flipped again, knocking Spawn Again off the wall and down out of the arena. With this victory, Team Knightmare avenged their previous loss to Team Scutterbots in Series 4 and advanced to the Semi-Finals for the first time.

"What a turn up for the books. Something went wrong with Spawn Again. Raging Knightmare through to the series semi-finals!"

— Craig Charles

Raging Knightmare was then drawn up against the number one seed and reigning champion Tornado in the first round of the Semi-Finals. Despite the tough draw, Team Knightmare were confident going into the battle.

"They've got the pushing power, but if we can just get one or two shots underneath, they may be out"

— Nigel Paget

Tornado rams Raging Knightmare into the arena wall

Raging Knightmare attempts to self-right off the wall

Raging Knightmare rushed towards Tornado, but Tornado was too fast and quickly got to Raging Knightmare's exposed side, slipped underneath and lined up a drive into the CPZ where Tornado slammed Raging Knightmare into the wall. The impact flipped Raging Knightmare onto its side resting against the wall and Raging Knightmare tried to self-right by flipping itself off the wall, but failed. Tornado left the CPZ as Shunt came in and this allowed Raging Knightmare to self-right. Tornado bumped Raging Knightmare and was axed by Shunt before leaving the CPZ once again. Raging Knightmare then flipped Shunt onto its side and took advantage to finally escape the CPZ.

Raging Knightmare flips Shunt over

"Oh, what's happened to Shunt? Well, we were looking through the eye of the Shunt camera and over went Shunt, tossed over by Raging Knightmare!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Raging Knightmare is rammed into submission

As Dead Metal tried to re-right Shunt, Raging Knightmare tussled with Tornado and attempted to flip it over, but missed and flipped itself onto its back. Tornado got behind the vulnerable Raging Knightmare and rammed it into another CPZ and into the wall. Tornado followed up with four consecutive wall slams, the impact bending Raging Knightmare's flipper. Now, Raging Knightmare could no longer self-right due to its flipper being bent out of position. To make matters worse, the damaged flipper also beached Raging Knightmare's wheels above the floor, giving it no traction to move despite its wheels still turning. Tornado then pressed the pit release button and slid Raging Knightmare down into the pit, eliminating it from The Seventh Wars. This ended Team Knightmare's only Semi-Final appearance and best performance in any main competition.

Raging Knightmare is pitted, ending its Seventh Wars campaign

Craig Charles: "It's the first time you've made the Semi-Finals, your robot's improving all the time, isn't it?"

Nigel Paget: "Every time it does get that little bit further"

— Closing comments from Team Knightmare's first Semi-Final appearance

Raging Knightmare later returned for the Annihilator at the end of the series, thus marking Team Knightmare's third consecutive Annihilator appearance. For the Annihilator, it was placed up against Robochicken, Team Coyote's new robot Ewe 2, reigning Annihilator champion Kan-Opener (who Team Knightmare had also faced in the previous Annihilator), USA entry Flippa and Ripper in Round 1.

Raging Knightmare in the Annihilator

Raging Knightmare flips Kan-Opener onto the arena wall

As the fight began, Raging Knightmare held back as Ripper flipped Robochicken over almost straight away. Ripper then turned its attention to Flippa and Ewe 2, Ripper ran up behind Ewe 2 and almost flipped it out of the arena. Raging Knightmare then ran behind Ripper and flipped it, but could not turn it over, instead turning itself over before quickly self-righting. Raging Knightmare then bumped into Robochicken and missed a flip and was then attacked by Kan-Opener, who chased Raging Knightmare into a CPZ. Raging Knightmare shook off Kan-Opener with a flip and followed up with another flip that left Kan-Opener caught on the arena wall. Raging Knightmare was then attacked from the side by Ripper and thrown through the air where it landed on the arena wall itself. Due to the small space, Raging Knightmare did not have enough room to self-right, and this was made worse when Dead Metal pushed Ripper into the CPZ and trapping Raging Knightmare in the process. As Kan-Opener and Ripper escaped the CPZ, Raging Knightmare was still stuck and was now being targeted by Dead Metal. Eventually, Dead Metal left the CPZ and this allowed Raging Knightmare to finally self-right and get back into the battle.

"Certainly still moving is Raging Knightmare!"

— Jonathan Pearce, as Raging Knightmare self-rights, whilst commenting on the inactivity of the others

Raging Knightmare and Ripper trade flips

Ripper flipped Raging Knightmare over, forcing it to self-right again before Kan-Opener reversed it into the pit release button. Raging Knightmare tussled with Ripper and Kan-Opener as Refbot counted Robochicken out, thereby clarifying its elimination and Raging Knightmare's progression to the second round of the Annihilator.

As the robots entered the arena to start the second round, Ewe 2 accidentally broke off Flippa's aerial as it entered, effectively immobilising it at the entry gate. Flippa could not enter the arena, so the third round began straight away with the remaining four robots who had just entered.

Raging Knightmare is tossed through the air by Ripper

Raging Knightmare, turned over by Ripper

With the now impromptu third round underway, Raging Knightmare was immediately flipped over by Ewe 2, but self-righted only to be thrown over again, this time by Ripper, and self-righting again. In the CPZ, Raging Knightmare was attacked from both sides by Ripper and Shunt, and Ripper flipped Raging Knightmare onto Shunt, with it crashing down from on top of the House Robot onto the arena floor. Kan-Opener grabbed hold of Raging Knightmare, preventing it from self-righting, but Kan-Opener quickly let go and Raging Knightmare was able to self-right. Ripper tossed Ewe 2 away and then clamped Raging Knightmare under it flipper, before pushing it away. Raging Knightmare escaped but missed a flip attempt on Ripper. A chain reaction then occurred as Ripper flipped Raging Knightmare over onto Kan-Opener, Raging Knightmare self-righted off Kan-Opener but was immediately flipped again by Ewe 2. As Raging Knightmare rested on its side, Ripper came in with another flip that sent Raging Knightmare through the air onto its back. Kan-Opener tried to stop Raging Knightmare from self-righting, but let go and allowed Raging Knightmare to do so while Ripper flipped Ewe 2 onto its side.

"Raging Knightmare hops about!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Raging Knightmare is constantly flipped around

Raging Knightmare barely survives the third round

Kan-Opener grabbed hold of Raging Knightmare again and moved it towards the pit release button to press it and open up the pit. Refbot began to count out Ewe 2 just as Kan-Opener attempted to pit Raging Knightmare. Kan-Opener struggled to release its grip as Raging Knightmare hovered dangerously over the pit. Fortunately, Raging Knightmare held on long enough for Refbot to count Ewe 2 out before Kan-Opener pulled it away from the pit. As Ewe 2 was counted out first, Raging Knightmare barely scraped through to the fourth round.

"Ewe 2 is about to go out... OR WILL THEY?! Will they beat the count here as Raging Knightmare topples, has to go down quickly to save Ewe 2! It's a matter of seconds! Ewe 2 or Raging Knightmare? It's Ewe 2! Bang! Gone! Raging Knightmare survives by the skin of their teeth! ... Ewe 2 may well bleat about it, but they're out!"

— Jonathan Pearce in the last few seconds of the battle

Raging Knightmare was left with Kan-Opener and Ripper, the two robots that had given it a hard time. This eventually caught up to Raging Knightmare. As the fourth round began, Raging Knightmare darted in between its two foes but was chased down and caught by Ripper and thrown onto its back. Kan-Opener grabbed Raging Knightmare to stop it self-righting.

Raging Knightmare is tossed by Ripper

"Ripper attacking Raging Knightmare, Kan-Opener attacking Raging Knightmare, I had an inkling this might happen!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Raging Knightmare is ganged up on

Raging Knightmare eventually did so, but had no breathing room as Ripper wasted no time in flipping it onto its back again. Another self-right attempt from Raging Knightmare was again thwarted by Ripper, and Sergeant Bash soon came into the CPZ and briefly rested on top of Raging Knightmare's flipper. Raging Knightmare eventually self-righted but was then grabbed by Kan-Opener and flipped by Ripper. Another flip by Ripper on Raging Knightmare rumbled it across the floor.

Raging Knightmare is ganged up on by Ripper and Kan-Opener

Raging Knightmare is pitted by Kan-Opener

Raging Knightmare attempted to fight off its two opponents, but was becoming overwhelmed. Ripper flipped Raging Knightmare over and then once again to stop its self-righting attempt and Kan-Opener grabbed hold of it again and held it over the flame pit. Kan-Opener's claws cut through Raging Knightmare's thin armour, but Raging Knightmare escaped and self-righted, only for the same turn of events to happen again, being flipped over by Ripper and grabbed by Kan-Opener. One of Kan-Opener's claws lodged deep inside Raging Knightmare's internals, effectively holding a tight grip, while Ripper pressed the pit release button to open up the pit. Kan-Opener tried to pit Raging Knightmare, but was struggling to release its grip as its claw was lodged in deep. Eventually, Ripper assisted Kan-Opener by bumping into it and dislodging its claw from Raging Knightmare, which finally fell down the pit. Raging Knightmare was eliminated and finished third in the Annihilator.

Craig Charles: "They ganged up on you! They bullied you!"

Nigel Paget: "They sure did, yes, two to one, no chance!"

— Post-battle interview

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 5
• Losses: 2

The second round of the Annihilator, where Flippa forfeited, is omitted from the Wins tally.

Series Record

Main Series	Raging Knightmare Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Did not enter
The Fourth Wars	Entered with Knightmare
The Fifth Wars	Failed to qualify with Spirit of Knightmare
The Sixth Wars	Entered with Raging Reality
The Seventh Wars	Semi-Finals, Round 1
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Entered with Spirit of Knightmare
Series 2	Entered with Raging Reality

Gallery

Official Series 7 photo

Raging Knightmare in the series semi-finals

Raging Knightmare in the Annihilator

The internals of Raging Knightmare

Outside Robot Wars

Raging Knightmare (far-right) preparing for a rumble at the Roaming Robots Red Nose Day 2003 event

Raging Knightmare in the pits at the Roaming Robots Newark 2003 event

Before its Robot Wars debut, Raging Knightmare appeared at several Roaming Robots events. Its first appearance was at the Roaming Robots event held on Red Nose Day 2003, where it battled several other Robot Wars competitors such as Dominator 2, Big Nipper, Behemoth, Pussycat, Stinger, Bulldog Breed, Thor, Mighty Mouse, M2 and Mute. It notably fought in the last battle of the event, which was a nine-way rumble. In one of its battles, Raging Knightmare's flipper was dented by Thor. Then it competed at the Roaming Robots Daventry event in May 2003. It fought Dantomkia in all three of its battles, with its latter two also containing Thor, 51, Killerhurtz and Kan-Opener respectively, but it lost all of them. Raging Knightmare's next appearance was at the Newark 2003 event. It fought two battles, both three-way melees and losing both of them, the first against Scraptosaur alongside The Alien, and the second against Bigger Brother along with Big Nipper.

Raging Knightmare after Robot Wars

Raging Knightmare on the live circuit (then known as Knightmare)

Knightmare fighting Velocirippa at the 2006 UK Championships

Following the end of the original run of Robot Wars, Team Knightmare chose to retire from robot combat, mainly as the TV show had ended production. In January 2005, the team sold Raging Knightmare to Alan Young of the fellow Leicestershire-based Team MAD, who Team Knightmare had known for several years, having lived locally to them. Team MAD rebuilt the robot internally to compete in the live circuit and reverted it to the name of the team's original robot, Knightmare. Under this name, Knightmare fought in several competitions on the live circuit for Roaming Robots and Robots Live. At the Robot Rumble 2006 event, it fought in several rumbles with other well known robots and notably flipped Tornado out of the arena in one of its melees, gaining revenge for its Series 7 loss. Knightmare also fought Turbulence at an event held in Gloucester. It would later compete in the 2006 UK Championships where it defeated Velocirippa and Hard before losing to Terrorhurtz in the next round, and in the Roaming Robots Winter Tour where Knightmare defeated Tilly Ewe 2 and Storm 2 to advance to the finals, but lost to Merlin there. Knightmare's flipper was later replaced by one with a much wider blade, but still used many of the same basic internal components.

Knightmare in 2011, with its new flipper blade

In 2011, the shell of Knightmare was sold to Adrian Sandercock, who intended to restore and rebuild it, also reverting its name to Raging Reality, the predecessor of Raging Knightmare, as Team MAD wanted to keep the Knightmare name for a future machine. However, this plan never materialised and the basic shell of the robot was sold on again in 2013 to Ceri R Jenkins on eBay for just over £50, with the money raised being donated to a local Animal Rescue Centre. The once again renamed Raging MORG was rebuilt internally to running condition.

Robot Wars Live Events

Raging MORG at Robot Wars Newport 2013

Raging Knightmare, under its new name Raging MORG, made its debut at the new Robot Wars live events at the Robot Wars UK Championship event held at Newport in July 2013. Here it met Thor in the heats and lost as its aluminium armour was no match for its opponents axe, it was battered, damaged and pitted. Raging MORG then dropped into a Losers Melee against Behemoth, Manta, Toon Raider, Iron-Awe 7 and Tanto, but unsuccessful in winning and was eliminated from the competition.

Trivia

• Raging Knightmare's defeat of Spawn Again as vengeance for the Series 4 Heat Final meant that Scutterbots/Knightmare became the second of three rivalries (after Team 101/King Buxton and followed by Pulsar/Ironside3) where both teams reached a semi-final by defeating the other.
  • Unlike 101 and Ironside3, Team Knightmare and Team Scutterbots fought in the heat final on both occasions.
• Raging Knightmare is the third robot from Team Knightmare to compete in an Annihilator, and the second to lose to Kan-Opener.
• Before its Semi-Final battle in Series 7, Andrew Marchant of Team Tornado mistakenly referred to Raging Knightmare as 'Raging Reality', the robot's predecessor.
• Both of Raging Knightmare's losses saw it pitted.