Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars/Heat I

Heat I
The Robot Wars logo from the introduction titles
Series	The Fourth Wars
Winner(s)	Splinter
Special Event	Pinball
First Broadcast	November 24th 2000
Original channel	BBC Two
TV Ratings	3.48 million
Preceded by	Heat H
Succeeded by	Heat J

"Well, here we are folks: half way through Robot Wars 4. And since the wars began, each of the House Robots has become something of a celebrity: Sgt Bash has been a guest on ‘Ready, Steady Cremate’, Matilda has done some topless modelling (she’s got a lovely set of servos), and Sir Killalot has even been asked to open a supermarket. Well, the manager had lost his keys and they needed someone to cut open the doors. But for the six competing robots tonight, fame still awaits. And here until they pay us, in sparks."

— Craig Charles' introduction

Heat I of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars was the ninth of sixteen heats which determined the semi-finalists of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars. The episode featuring Heat I was originally broadcast on November 24, 2000 on BBC Two.

• This heat saw relatively poor performances by both of the seeds with neither making it to the heat final (the only other occasions when this happened in The Fourth Wars were in Heat G and Heat K).
• For some reason, Centurion swapped places with Suicidal Tendencies for this heat when it should have been in the previous heat.
• Destruct-A-Bubble was the only newcomer in this heat, although Splinter and Small Torque were new robots from Team Ivanhoe and Team Torque respectively.
• This was the final Main Competition appearance of Killerhurtz before being replaced by Terrorhurtz from the next Series onwards.

Competing Robots

Newcomers

	Destruct-A-Bubble
	Weight	77.3kg
	Dimensions	0.80 x 1.00 x 1.00m
	Clearance	0.02m
	Power	2 x Wheelchair motors
	Weapons	Pneumatic lance
	Notes	Shell is carbon fibre
From: Chelmsford in Essex
Team Members: Bill Cozens, Lawrence Cozens & Malcolm Burrells

Veterans

	Centurion (seeded 31st)
	Weight	78.2kg
	Dimensions	0.50 x 1.10 x 0.80m
	Clearance	0.01m
	Power	2 x Industrial motors
	Weapons	Pneumatic axe and front lifter
	Notes	2 x Wet go-kart wheels
From: Dagenham in Essex
Team Members: Ray Tait, Matthew Tait & Jeff Bradford

	Eric
	Weight	80.0kg
	Dimensions	0.55 x 1.35 x 0.75m
	Clearance	0.01m
	Power	2 x Wheelchair motors
	Weapons	Hydraulic lifting jaw
	Notes	Stainless steel shell
From: Framfield in East Sussex
Team Members: Mike Hammerton, Ian Nicholson & Bruce Nicholson

	Killerhurtz (seeded 16th)
	Weight	80.0kg
	Dimensions	0.30 x 1.20 x 0.80m
	Clearance	0.04m
	Power	2 x Electric motors
	Weapons	Pneumatic axe and steel blade
	Notes	Car style steering
From: Oxford
Team Members: John Reid, Dominic Parkinson & Rebecca Reaston-Brown

	Small Torque
	Weight	78.3kg
	Dimensions	0.30 x 0.70 x 0.70m
	Clearance	0.02m
	Power	2 x Electric motors
	Weapons	Spinning disc and sharp teeth
	Notes	Shell is bullet proof plastic
From: Edinburgh in Scotland
Team Members: Richie McBride, Alex McBride & Martyn Sloss

	Splinter
	Weight	80.0kg
	Dimensions	0.60 x 1.00 x 0.75m
	Clearance	0.03m
	Power	2 x 750W motors
	Weapons	Motor powered claws
	Notes	Made from plastic oil drum
From: Norwich
Team Members: Stuart Weightman & Craig Weightman

Eliminators

Killerhurtz gets an axe blow on Eric

Killerhurtz (16) vs Eric vs Destruct-A-Bubble

The fight started slowly, until Killerhurtz drove over the top of Eric. The two veterans then ganged up on Destruct-A-Bubble: Eric managed to push it into the CPZ, but it got away. Killerhurtz then pushed Destruct-A-Bubble into the arena wall; Eric came in from behind and nearly flipped Killerhurtz over. Killerhurtz responded by piercing Eric with its axe, before doing the same to Destruct-A-Bubble. Killerhurtz axed Destruct-A-Bubble again as time ran out. The judges unanimously voted Destruct-A-Bubble out, putting Eric and Killerhurtz through.

Qualified: Eric & Killerhurtz

Sir Killalot disposes of Centurion

Centurion (31) vs Splinter vs Small Torque

Centurion immediately tried unsuccessfully flip Splinter; Small Torque pushed Splinter into Sergeant Bash, but it got away. Centurion seemed to stop, but then drove into the arena wall. Splinter then grabbed Small Torque by pushing it into Shunt, who axed through Small Torque's so called 'bullet proof' top. Centurion was still on the arena wall. Dead Metal came in and sliced into the side, before Sir Killalot pitted the seeded machine.

Qualified: Splinter & Small Torque

Semi-Finals

Sir Killalot grabs hold of Killerhurtz

Killerhurtz (16) vs Splinter

Splinter immediately grabbed Killerhurtz with the arms and pushed it around the arena repeatedly. Killerhurtz escaped and slammed at Splinter, damaging the front slightly, but then drove into Shunt and got axed. It escaped, but then got stuck in forward drive, slamming into the arena wall and driving up against it, causing it to vent smoke from its tyres wearing down. Sir Killalot picked Killerhurtz up by the axe and span it around in circles. After it landed, Killerhurtz then escaped, and proceeded to attack Sergeant Bash's flamethrower. However, it had technically been immobile too long, so Splinter was given the win.

Winner: Splinter

Eric vs Small Torque

Eric turns Small Torque over

Small Torque tried to use its disc on Eric, but it was ineffective. Eric flipped Small Torque over, but it was invertible. However, Small Torque then stopped and caught fire internally. The special cooling system evidently hadn't worked. Eric then was attacked by Sir Killalot, but managed to get away. Sergeant Bash pushed Small Torque onto an angle grinder, which caused fantastic sparks.

Winner: Eric

Final

Splinter vs Eric

Splinter forces Eric into the wall

The fight started slowly until Splinter pushed Eric into Shunt, who axed it. Eric escaped, but Splinter pushed it into the arena wall (twice), also once getting their arm caught on the wall. Eric got a flip on Splinter, but it rolled back down onto its wheels. Splinter pushed Eric into the arena wall again as time ran out. The judges put Splinter through to the series semi-finals.

Heat Winner: Splinter

"Your Dad might hit the ceiling when he hears the football scores, he'll do himself a mischief, watching Robot Wars!"

— Craig Charles' sign-off

Trials

King B beats Matilda to the target

During the Fourth Wars, alongside the main competition, a Pinball Warrior and Sumo Basho Competition were also held. Unlike the similar competitions of the Third Wars, these trials featured successful qualifiers for Series 4. In between the first and second rounds of each heat, a Pinball run took place, and two sumo attempts took place in between Round 2 and the Heat Final in each of the first eight heats. For Heat I, the Pinball featured King B3.

Pinball Warrior - King B3

Score: 225 points