Havoc

Havoc
Havoc with its flipper
Participation Information
UK Series	2
Team Information
Team Members	Kevin Shirtcliffe John Robinson Philip Robinson
From	Burnley
Other Entries	Undertaker (Series 3)
Robot Statistics
Weight	77.3kg
Dimensions	1.30m x 0.72m x 0.40m
Clearance	50mm
Top Speed	6mph
Power	2x 12 V batteries
Drive	2x 12 V ATCO lawnmower motors
Weapons	Interchangeable zinc mace, steel spikes & flipper
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"And the teenage team mean to wreak just that..."

— Jonathan Pearce introduces Havoc

Havoc was a heavyweight robot which solely competed in Series 2 of Robot Wars. After making steady progress in its Heat, it eventually lost to Haardvark in the Heat Final stage after being turned onto its side by Shunt.

Design

Havoc, with its mace weapon

Havoc was a black, white and red, box wedge-shaped robot with two-wheel drive, a coated steel/polyurethane chassis and three interchangeable weapons. These were a swinging spiked zinc-steel mace, a small flipping/lifting arm and a battering ram, all powered by a windscreen wiper motor sourced from a Lancia. Havoc also featured a set of steel spikes at the rear for extra armament, while its front panels were made out of T6-grade aircraft aluminium. Driven by two 1960s lawnmower motors, it proved reasonably powerful by Series 2 standards, although it featured a high ground clearance of 50mm and lacked a self-righting mechanism.

"the main things of interest are the 2*12V ATCO lawnmower motors which go through a 20:1 gear ratio before driving the pneumatic tyres. The speed controllers were FET based but driven off microswitches."

— Oliver Steeples on Havoc

The Team

Havoc was entered into the Second Wars by a Burnley-based team captained by Kevin Shirtcliffe. He was joined by John Robinson and Philip Robinson throughout Havoc's heat.

"We first saw the US robot wars on a kid's technology program called 'It'll Never Work'. It then said that a new UK show would be aired later that year. We made a note in our diaries and nothing was said....until the first show. After watching the very first program we were inspired. We immediately rushed to each other's houses. We met along the way and said together "We've got to build a robot!""

— The Havoc team on deciding to enter Robot Wars

The team also entered Series 3 with Undertaker, without as much success. They later attempted to enter Series 4 with their new robot Cannibal, but failed to qualify for the main competition.

Qualification

Havoc attended the Series 2 rehearsals fully complete with its lifter attached. It was successful in qualifying for the series.

Robot History

Series 2

"So, it's go for youngsters Kevin Shirtcliffe and John Robinson... ooh no. It's – no! No go! What's gone wrong here?"

— Jonathan Pearce as Havoc fails to start its initial Gauntlet run

Havoc is blocked towards the end of its Gauntlet run

Havoc competed in Heat L, and was the fourth robot in that heat to attempt The Gauntlet. However, it immediately encountered problems, failing to start its initial run after 'activate' was called, and was taken back to the Pits for the team to investigate its issues and make repairs. With the cause of its non-start being identified as a dislodged wire, Havoc was repaired in time to make a second Gauntlet run, which it began by driving slowly towards and through the left-hand route. It stopped short of The Sentinel, and backed away before attempting to make a run past the latter. As it did so, it was intercepted and bumped away by Dead Metal, and forced to retreat.

"Ooh, let's play Dodgems, boys! Knocked straight back!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Dead Metal intercepts Havoc

Havoc attempted to pass The Sentinel again, driving into its spiked club, and was eventually pinned between the club and Dead Metal as it attempted to drive past the House Robot. It moved no further as Sir Killalot closed in and time ran out, having covered a distance of 8.2m by the end of its run. This was enough for Havoc to finish third in the results table, and to qualify for the Trial stage.

Havoc is pushed off the Sumo ring

In the Sumo trial, the ram-equipped Havoc was the fourth competitor to face Dead Metal in the ring, and began by dodging the latter's initial charge. However, in doing so, it left itself partially suspended over the edge of the ring, and sustained damage from Dead Metal's saw before finally being pushed off. Havoc lasted 14.15 seconds as a result – putting it third on the leaderboard for the second time and guaranteeing its place in the Arena stage.

In its Semi-Final, Havoc faced Flirty Skirty, now equipped with the flipping arm. In the opening seconds, it charged straight towards and into the sluggish Flirty Skirty, before backing away and pushing the latter. In doing so, its arm poked through Flirty Skirty's side, allowing Havoc to drag and push it into the PPZ. It retreated to the middle of the arena as Sir Killalot attacked, lifted and 'disrobed' Flirty Skirty, with both competitors surviving to a Judges' decision in spite of this. The decision went in favour of Havoc, allowing it to progress to the Heat Final.

Havoc after being overturned in the PPZ

There, it fought Haardvark, by then having exchanged its flipping arm in favour of the mace. Havoc began by dodging Haardvark's initial charge, before being bumped and attempting to swing its mace against the latter's side. It was then pushed back across the arena by Haardvark, eventually ending up near the Flame Pit. Havoc escaped, ramming into Haardvark's side in response and allowing Matilda to attack it from inside the PPZ. However, it was then steered towards the other side of the PPZ and pushed into Shunt by Haardvark. Shunt proceeded to axe, lift, push and turn Havoc over against the railings, leaving it stranded on its side and unable to self-right. 'Cease' was called, and Havoc was eliminated from the Second Wars.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 1
• Losses: 1

NOTE: Havoc's successful Gauntlet and Trial runs are not included

Series Record

The internals of Havoc

Series	Havoc Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Heat Final
The Third Wars	Entered with Undertaker
The Fourth Wars	Failed to qualify with Cannibal
The Fifth Wars	Did not enter
The Sixth Wars	Did not enter
The Seventh Wars	Did not enter
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter

External Links

• Havoc website (archived)