Gutrip

Gutrip
Participation Information
US 1994-1997 Events	1996-1997
Other Names	Gut Rip
Team Information
Team	Snowhite
Team Members	Bob Schneeveis
From	Palo Alto, California
Other Entries	Up & Over (1996) Big Shot (1996) Lorena (1996) Yo Mama! (1996) Rex (1996) Razor Back (1997)
Robot Statistics
Drive	4x gearmotors
Weapons	Twin milling cutters
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Gutrip (also spelt as Gut Rip) was a heavyweight robot entered by Bob Schneeveis into the 1996 and 1997 US Robot Wars competitions.

Armed with a set of twin milling cutters, it inflicted major damage to Frank and Killbborg on its debut in the 1996 Heavyweight Face-Off. However, it would end up being eliminated by the latter in the second round, upon getting trapped under a flipper hazard partway through the match. Gutrip redeemed itself later on by reaching the final of the Heavyweight Melee, though mobility issues ultimately resulted in it losing the title to La Machine. Footage from each of Gutrip's 1996 battles would be featured in the American Robot Wars 1996 VHS.

As "Gut Rip", the robot returned for the 1997 competition, but lost its first Face-Off battle to Punjar. Upon being displaced into the Loser's Bracket, it was immobilized by TallyWhacker in its very next battle, completely eliminating Gut Rip from the Face-Off. A recurring appearance in the Heavyweight Melee also resulted in Gut Rip being eliminated in the first round.

Design

Gutrip in the arena

Gutrip was a four-wheeled robot driven by a set of gearmotors, with a box-shaped aluminum chassis and transparent Lexan armor throughout. At the front, it was fitted with a large spinning weapon assembly, featuring two vertically-mounted milling cutters. Through the torque generated by the 'huge' onboard motor (a car starter motor in 1997), the cutters were capable of snagging and lifting opponents upwards. In certain circumstances, this gave Gutrip the ability to inflict extra damage to its opponents' vulnerable undersides, though not without the cutters occasionally catching and stalling mid-attack. The robot's low chassis profile and angled Lexan sides conversely made it 'difficult to damage' in return.

While boasting powerful weaponry for this era, Gutrip suffered from relatively low speed, torque and maneuverability from its drivetrain. The 1997 iteration is known to have used gearboxes from an electric 'kiddie car' - one for each wheel - a setup considered by Andrew Lindsey as being 'very underpowered' for its weight class. Yellow stickers with the spelling "Gut Rip" were attached to either side of the Lexan panelling.

Robot History

1996 US Championship

Making its debut in the 1996 Heavyweight Face-Off championship, Gutrip initially faced Frank in the first round.

Gutrip tears into Frank's tire treads

A tentative start by both competitors saw it charge into Frank, but without its milling cutters active. Gutrip's sluggish movements allowed Frank to drive up one of its sides. In response, it tried to pin Kua Patten's axlebot between the upper wall, flipper and mousetrap, as the two robots exchanged their first weapon attacks. Having churned into Frank with its cutters, Gutrip followed it across the arena, before inflicting a second direct blow. A follow-up attack allowed it to churn at Frank's wheel treads while also pinning it against the upper-left flipper. Gutrip, however, would also get caught by the flipper paddle, allowing Frank to escape. After flicking, grinding and flexing the paddle, it would break free and pursue Frank once more.

Gutrip continued to buffet and damage Frank from that point onwards, targeting and tearing up its tire treads even further. A shove from a nearby wall bumper caused Frank to stop moving momentarily. Meanwhile, Gutrip also struck the same bumper, its blades jostling and cutting into its plywood surface. Sawdust flew up and covered the top of Gutrip as it shuffled back and forth in place. Eventually, once Frank started moving again and attempted to land a hammer attack, Gutrip reversed from the wall and pushed it backwards using its Lexan sides. This exchange was enough to immobilize Frank at last, allowing Gutrip to flick it upwards from the side in a final series of attacks. After attacking the bumper for the third time, Gutrip finished the battle by nudging and pinning Frank in the corner.

"Frank and his hammer did well last year, but met his match against Gutrip. And so did the arena wall!"

— Paul Vallis

Gutrip progressed to the second round, where it fought Killbborg.

Gutrip smashes into the side of Killbborg, lifting it into the air

Both robots charged out from their starting positions. Moments passed before Gutrip was subject to a jabbing attack from Killbborg's right spear, though this had the effect of pushing the Colorado entry back into the mousetrap. Taking advantage of Killbborg's predicament, it jostled the former up and down through attacking the fully-extended spear, while simultaneously pushing it sideways. Gutrip next attacked the front of Killbborg, before chasing it into the bottom-left corner. A violent flick allowed it to drive directly underneath Killbborg; this was followed by a more severe attack, damaging the rear bodywork and tearing the left-center track of Ken Atkinson's machine.

Killbborg traps Gutrip against a mousetrap

Gutrip, however, was not without problems, as its aggressive drive left it trapped between the lower wall and the lower-left flipper. Churning into the paddle with its right-hand saw, it was unable to avoid an attempted pin by Killbborg, which took the opportunity to jab at its side. Gutrip was eventually pushed and pinned against the side of the nearby mousetrap; a moment inferred in American Robot Wars 1996 to have given Killbborg the victory. However, the full match would actually continue beyond this point.

"Although Gutrip inflicted some serious damage on Killbborg - and the arena - he got pinned by Killbborg and lost."

— Paul Vallis pre-emptively calls Gutrip's downfall

With Killbborg lodged into its side, Gutrip drove around in circles and eventually broke free. In response, it dug its milling cutters into the front of Ken Atkinson's machine once more. Killbborg responded by spearing and pushing Gutrip back; both heavyweights were swatted by the mousetrap. Gutrip then shoved Killbborg backwards into the upper-left flipper, where both robots appeared to be pinned together for a few seconds.

Again, Gutrip seized the upper hand, clipping Killbborg's remaining tracks with the saws before shunting it into the mousetrap. Several seconds passed before Killbborg slipped off the top, though Gutrip was quick to turn around and inflict further damage to its treads, then driving underneath it into the flipper. With the flipper paddle caught between its cutters, Gutrip activated its weapon. This proved to be a costly mistake for Bob Schneeveis' machine; after churning, flexing and lifting the paddle upwards, it moved forwards and pinned itself directly underneath it. As Killbborg slipped off the top once again Gutrip tried to lift itself free, but without success.

Neither robot moved from their positions for some time, until Killbborg gingerly shuttled back and forth on its remaining tracks. Gutrip, however, still remained stuck under the flipper. In a controversial ruling, it was announced that Gutrip had been officially deemed immobile, prompting loud booing from the audience. Needless to say, it was eliminated from the Heavyweight Face-Off at this stage.

Gutrip later returned for the Heavyweight Melee event. In the first round, it would face Frank for the second time, alongside Marvin, Robot Redford Jr, TerMinal frenZy and SWAK.

Gutrip drives under the side of Robot Redford Jr

For the majority of this battle, it would duel with Robot Redford Jr, which attempted to cut Gutrip’s armor, as well as snare it cutters early on with its own entanglement devices. Both robots pushed each other back and forth, until Gutrip buffeted and dragged Robot Redford Jr off the arena floor. After Robot Redford Jr was distracted by an immobilized Frank, Gutrip teamed up with Marvin to attack it further. It would proceed to attack the sides of both opponents, then snag the left side of Robot Redford Jr with another damaging charge.

Gutrip gingerly pushed and dragged Robot Redford Jr in the center, only to accidentally drive under one of the mousetraps during the final minute. Investigating the long-immobile Frank, it would engage in a further duel with Marvin. As time ran out, Gutrip was rammed by Marvin, with both automatically being selected to qualify for the Heavyweight Melee Final.

The Final itself would involve a total of twelve machines. For overall championship honors, Gutrip and Marvin would both compete against DooMore, Killbborg, La Machine, Merrimac, Nemesis, Punjar, Red Scorpion, South Bay Mauler, Tazz and The Master.

Problems would affect Gutrip almost immediately, as it struggled to move from its starting position next to the lower mousetrap. As a result, it would not be involved in most of the early action, appearing to be immobilized on one side. Gutrip would still threaten Tazz while the latter was pressured by Marvin, and eventually ventured into the center while being pressured by Merrimac. After being spared of further attacks by Killbborg, it would cause problems for DooMore, which became snagged and pinned on its milling cutters at a later point in the match. A forceful ram by La Machine was enough to separate the pair. Gutrip continued to shuffle back and forth on its right-side drive, but would ultimately lose the match and the overall 1996 Heavyweight Melee championship to La Machine.

1997 US Championship

Gut Rip returned for the 1997 competition, again competing in the Heavyweight Face-Off and Melee tournaments. In the Face-Off, it was drawn to battle Punjar in the first round.

Both robots cautiously approached each other in the opening seconds. Gut Rip, driving past Punjar in the arena center, was repeatedly shoved by Ramiro Mallari's machine, which proceeded to deliver it into the side wall. Perched on Punjar's front scoop blade, it was rammed a few more times before being released. Gut Rip's own sloping sides caused Punjar to drive over the top of it, though this would not stop Punjar from ramming it twice more. The low torque in Gut Rip's drive caused both robots to get stuck to each other once Punjar drove up its right-hand side again. The match was paused to allow for a separation, after which Gut Rip was rammed several more times and pushed under the lower spike.

By this point, Gut Rip's already-sluggish movements began to appear more limited. As the spike began descending on it, it was again rammed from the side by Punjar, which got high-centered on its Lexan armor for the second time. Gut Rip took further hits from the spike until another stoppage and separation were called. On this restart, both competitors fought on from the center. Gut Rip avoided Punjar's high-speed charge, but would again be pushed into the wall. It struggled to drive away from this position, while being repeatedly rammed by its opponent. With just over ten seconds remaining, a final charge from Punjar caused it to launch up the left-hand side of Gut Rip and onto the nearby flipper paddle. Both machines survived to a Judges' decision regardless, with Punjar deemed to have scored higher on damage and aggression. As such, Gut Rip lost the fight and was relegated to the Loser's Bracket.

Gut Rip would next face TallyWhacker, for a possible chance to stay in the competition.

Gut Rip is immobilized by TallyWhacker

In the opening moments, it noisily approached and brushed past the Distraction Laboratories machine, as the latter drove into and spun its arm around in the center. This proved to be a critical mistake, however, as a series of swipes from TallyWhacker allowed its flails to strike through a gap within Gut Rip's Lexan armor. In doing so, the flails hooked and destroyed the wires connecting Gut Rip's internals to its batteries, immobilizing Gut Rip at once. Gut Rip sustained more blows from TallyWhacker's weaponry before the knockout was officially declared, eliminating it from the Heavyweight Face-Off.

Gut Rip would meet TallyWhacker again in the Heavyweight Melee tournament. Their first-round battle would also involve Badger, The Mauler and defending two-time heavyweight champion La Machine.

Gut Rip (left) is flipped over by La Machine

From the outset, it initiated a duel with Badger, both competitors avoiding attacks from TallyWhacker as the latter got scooped up by La Machine. This pact would not last, however, as Badger pushed Gut Rip blade-first into TallyWhacker, following the latter's immobilization by The Mauler. Gut Rip eventually broke free to push and attempt to damage The Mauler's shell. Moments later, the pair were violently rammed by La Machine. The force of the impact was enough to flip Gut Rip completely over. Without a srimech, Gut Rip was rendered helpless as La Machine pushed it into the upper-left flipper and left wall bumper. It would play no further part in the fight, and was eliminated from the Heavyweight Melee tournament at that point.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 5

Series Record

Events	Gutrip (Gut Rip) Event Record
1994	Did not enter
1995	Did not enter
1996	Heavyweight Face-Off, Round 2 Heavyweight Melee, Final Entered with Rex Entered with Up & Over Entered with Big Shot Entered with Lorena Entered with Yo Mama!
1997	Heavyweight Face-Off, Round 1 Heavyweight Melee, Round 1 Entered with Razor Back

Outside Robot Wars

Bob Schneeveis also entered BattleBots with two robots, for more information see here.

External Links

• Gutrip ("Gut Rip") on the official US Robot Wars website (archived May 2 1997)