Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat H

	Rampage
Weight	82.7kg
Dimensions	0.8 x 1.2 x 0.63m
Speed	8mph
Turning Circle	0m
Ground Clearance	20mm
Power	2 x 12V batteries
Weapons	Scoop and rear 7' cutting disc
Notes	Took 3 months to build and cost over £300
	From: Derby
	Team Members: Robert Whittle & Peter Wearing

	Loco
Weight	73.0kg
Dimensions	1.0 x 0.7 x 0.7m
Speed	10mph
Turning Circle	1.5m
Ground Clearance	40mm
Power	4 x 12V, 2 x 6V batteries
Weapons	Spring powered ram
Notes	Wheelchair motors and stainless steel shell
	From: Bristol
	Team Members: Richard Memion, David Iles & Eric Manion

	Groundhog
Weight	79.3kg
Dimensions	1.15 x 0.86 x 0.4m
Speed	8mph
Turning Circle	0m
Ground Clearance	350mm
Power	3 x 12V batteries
Weapons	Horizontal 12' cutting disc
Notes	Groundhog took 6 weeks to build at a cost of £450
	From: Durham
	Team Members: Graham Bone & Alex Mordue

"Now, I don’t live in a neighbourhood watch area. In fact, I’ve got the neighbours from hell. The only people invited to their barbecues are the fire brigade. And their garden pond has cut us off from the Mainland. But quiet neighbours can be equally as dangerous. I mean, they might keep themselves to themselves, locked away in their garages. But the chances are, they’re not brewing elderberry wine, they're building robots! And tonight, six seemingly friendly mechanics are about to show their true selves, as they fight like psychopaths for a place in our Robot Wars series semi-finals."

— Craig Charles' introduction

Heat H of Robot Wars: The Second Wars was the eighth of twelve heats which determined the Semi-Finalists of Robot Wars: The Second Wars. The episode featuring Heat H was originally broadcast on January 8, 1999 on BBC Two. The broadcast managed to attract 5.94 million viewers, an increase of 350,000 viewers when compared with the previous episode. According to BARB, this meant it ranked second in the top thirty highest rated BBC 2 broadcasts for the first time, during 4-10 January. It also became the first episode to beat The Simpsons in the ratings, finishing only behind Gimme Gimme Gimme.

Competing Robots

Newcomers


	Sting
	Weight	79.3kg
	Dimensions	1.6 x 0.7 x 0.4m
	Speed	12mph
	Turning Circle	0m
	Ground Clearance	100mm (max)
	Power	2 x 12V batteries
	Weapons	Spikes and scorpion tail
	Notes	Go-kart wheels, 2 wheel drive and 0.7mm steel shell
From: Swadlincote in Derbyshire
Team Members: David Barker, Matthew Barker & Ian Pritchard


	Wizard
	Weight	79.4kg
	Dimensions	0.75 x 0.75 x 1.1m
	Speed	15mph
	Turning Circle	0m
	Ground Clearance	4mm
	Power	2 x 12V batteries
	Weapons	Chain whips and 10mm drill bit
	Notes	Composite wood, metal and plastic chassis
From: Kettering
Team Members: Ozzie Boulter, Richard Johnson & Susan Darby

Veterans


	Cassius (seeded 5th)
	Weight	79.3kg
	Dimensions	1.45 x 0.84 x 0.35m
	Speed	25mph
	Turning Circle	0m
	Ground Clearance	0-110mm (Variable)
	Power	2 x 12V batteries
	Weapons	1.5 tonne gas powered ram
	Notes	Controlled with 2 microprocessors, weapon powered with CO2
From: Stowmarket
Team Members: Rex Garrod, Simon West & Edward Bull

Gauntlet

Left route: The Sentinel, two pits and Dead Metal. Centre route: Spikes, static ramp, barrels, Sphere and Sir Killalot. Right route: Ramrig, flame pit, pendulum and Sergeant Bash Competing order: 1. Cassius 2. Loco 3. Groundhog 4. Sting 5. Rampage 6. Wizard
Ranking	Competing Robot		Report	Distance
1		Cassius	Cassius' speed took it beyond The Sentinel and the lack of House Robots defending the course gave it a clear route to the finish.	Completed
2		Loco	Loco sped past the Sentinel into Dead Metal's pincers and were pitted soon after.	10.6m
3		Sting	Its steady approach got Sting beyond The Sentinel but Dead Metal was blocking the route and used its saw to cause damage to Sting's outer shell before pitting it.	10.5m
4		Wizard	Wizard chose the Sentinel route and after driving past the floor spikes got itself stuck on the edge of the first pit. Dead Metal pushed Wizard into the pit and sliced through its hat with his saw.	5.4m
5		Groundhog	Groundhog had innovative patented wheels (later used by Razer) that had castors built into them meaning it had traction against the castors when driving forwards but could slip sideways easily. This didn't help it when they approached the ramp and its legs made it easy for Killalot to pick it up but then as it drove forward, Sir Killalot overbalanced and was dragged to the ground by Groundhog's weight, much to the enjoyment of the audience, the pits and the team (who admitted afterwards that it had been accidental).	4.4m
6		Rampage	Rampage started to approach the Sentinel but before it could reach it a spike came up from the floor, damaging one of Rampage's wheels and immobilising it on one side. Dead Metal cut into its scoop, destroying the support for it.	3.0m
Eliminated: Rampage

Trial (Football)

Footballburn — The football burns, whilst Matilda lifts Wizard in the background

1. Loco - 1st Goal - Cassius, Loco and Sting all went for the ball, with Cassius winning first possession. Groundhog's huge ground clearance, Wizard's round shape and Cassius' wedge shape (with added scoop) made it difficult for these robots to get hold of the ball. Loco's flat front, however, enabled it to get hold of the ball and drive past the opposition to take the first goal.

2. Cassius - 2nd Goal - Wizard got an early touch before Cassius quickly got to the ball, and spent a long time getting the ball from one side of the arena towards the goal with Matilda blocking it. With Sting already immobilised and Wizard and Groundhog staying out of the action, Cassius eventually scored the second goal, taking a slight deflection off Sergeant Bash.

3. Groundhog - Still Active - After trying to score in the third round while the ball was set alight by Sergeant Bash, Matilda flipped Groundhog over against the railings, causing the Trial to be stopped early. As it had been active enough in the early stages, Groundhog qualified for the Arena stage.

4. Wizard - Still Active - After being attacked by the House Robots throughout the Trial, sustaining damage to its hat and becoming immobilised in the third round, Wizard was still deemed to be more active than Sting at the end, so advanced to the Arena stage.

5. Sting - By the third round, Sting was still immobile at the side of the arena, as Wizard was attacked by the House Robots, Sergeant Bash set the ball alight and Matilda flipped Groundhog against the railings as it tried to score. Since Groundhog was still active up to the moment it was flipped, and Wizard was also mobile for longer, Sting was eliminated.

Eliminated: Sting

Arena

Semi-Finals

Loco vs. Groundhog

Loco got to the side of Groundhog and pushed it into Shunt and the PPZ (Groundhog's wheels ironically working against them in this instance). Groundhog could only drive further into the PPZ and was soon stuck between Shunt and Sir Killalot. Whilst Groundhog was trying to attack Sir Killalot, Dead Metal came in and attacked it with its saw. Matilda then lifted Groundhog up and dropped it in the Pit of Oblivion.

Winner: Loco

Cassius killalot — Cassius attempts to flip Sir Killalot

Wizard vs. Cassius (5)

Cassius started by driving straight under Dead Metal, before shoving Wizard into the PPZ between Dead Metal and Sergeant Bash. While they attacked Wizard, Sir Killalot mounted Cassius, but it was not able to flip the House Robot. By now Wizard had become immobilised, and Cassius continued to attack Sir Killalot. Cease was then called.

Winner: Cassius

Final

Loco vs. Cassius (5)

Loco's large ground clearance put it at a disadvantage right from the start. It nevertheless launched an attack on Cassius but was pushed away. As it came in for another attack Cassius slipped under it and flipped it on its side. Cassius proceeded to flip Matilda and attempt an (unsuccessful) assault on Dead Metal before being pushed into the pit by Sergeant Bash.

Heat Winner: Cassius

"Godzilla devoured 40 floors, but we cut him down to size, on Robot Wars!"

— Craig Charles' sign-off

Trivia

This heat marked the debut of the front-hinged flipping arm, wielded by Cassius.
Three robots in this heat were exactly the same weight. Groundhog, Sting and Cassius all weighed in at 79.3 kg. In addition, Wizard weighed 79.4 kg.

This is the first episode to feature Matilda's spark gun.