Robot Wars: The Second Wars/Heat I

Heat I
The Robot Wars Logo from the introduction titles
Series	The Second Wars
Winner(s)	King Buxton
Trial	Joust
First Broadcast	January 15th 1999
Original channel	BBC Two
TV Ratings	5.58 million
Preceded by	Heat H
Succeeded by	Heat J

"Life is full of little aggravations: tourists who ask the way to Lei-cester square, open toed sandals with white socks, David Hasselhoff! And over the course of the week, these aggravations grow and grow until you're saying to yourself, “the next person that pokes me in the eye with an umbrella will get it shoved....” All right, I’ll calm down! Some people turn to therapy, some people turn to jelly, some people turn to mechanical killing machines and fight it out on Robot Wars. But they don’t just vent anger, they vent fumes. Let's get cathartic!"

— Craig Charles' introduction

Heat I of Robot Wars: The Second Wars was the ninth of twelve heats which determined the Semi-Finalists of Robot Wars: The Second Wars. The episode featuring Heat I was originally broadcast on January 15, 1999 on BBC Two. The broadcast managed to attract 5.58 million viewers, a decrease of 360,000 viewers when compared with the previous episode. According to BARB, this meant it ranked second in the top thirty highest rated BBC 2 broadcasts during 11-17 January, behind only Gimme Gimme Gimme.

A behind-the-scenes spin-off episode was also broadcast on Robot Wars Revealed on BBC Choice.

Competing robots

Newcomers

	All Torque
	Weight	77.8kg
	Dimensions	1.4 x 0.92 x 0.4m
	Speed	20mph
	Turning Circle	0m
	Ground Clearance	505mm
	Power	2 x 12V batteries
	Weapons	2 grinding wheels and spikes
	Notes	Body made from galvanised steel, mesh and aluminium
From: Edinburgh
Team Members: Martyn Sloss, Richie McBride & Robin Iddon

	King Buxton
	Weight	78.0kg
	Dimensions	0.9 x 0.85 x 0.27m
	Speed	18mph
	Turning Circle	0m
	Ground Clearance	50mm
	Power	2 x 12V batteries
	Weapons	Moveable titanium spikes
	Notes	3mm aluminium shell and four wheel drive
From: Hornchurch in Essex
Team Members: Simon Harrison, Steve Monk & Phil Brett

	Prometheus
	Weight	73.6kg
	Dimensions	1.2 x 0.7 x 0.36m
	Speed	15mph
	Turning Circle	0.5m
	Ground Clearance	5-25mm
	Power	2 x 12V batteries
	Weapons	Angle grinder and forklift
	Notes	Motors salvaged from 4 different cars in a scrapyard
From: Beverley in Yorkshire
Team Members: Nigel Sealey & Sarah Burton

	Robo Doc
	Weight	79.9kg
	Dimensions	1.0 x 0.78 x 0.54m
	Speed	15mph
	Turning Circle	0m
	Ground Clearance	50mm
	Power	2 x 12V batteries
	Weapons	70kg lifting arm
	Notes	Robo Doc took 4 months to build at a cost of £1000
From: Rushden in Northamptonshire
Team Members: Mike Franklin, Jason Smith & Paul Johnson

	Rottweiler
	Weight	79.8kg
	Dimensions	1.24 x 1.65 x 0.68m
	Speed	10mph
	Turning Circle	0m
	Ground Clearance	50mm
	Power	1 x 12V battery
	Weapons	Hardened steel spikes
	Notes	Driven by 2 x 24V wheelchair motors running at 5000rpm
From: Torquay
Team Members: Dominic Rott, Werner Rott & Bill Blakey

Veterans

	Cruella
	Weight	78.9kg
	Dimensions	1.1 x 0.7 x 0.3m
	Speed	15mph
	Turning Circle	0m
	Ground Clearance	12mm
	Power	1 x 12V battery
	Weapons	6" circular saw
	Notes	Sinclair C5 motors. Weapon powered by Ford Granada wiper motor
From: University of East London
Team Members: Philip Martin & Michelle Wheeley

Gauntlet

Left Route	Centre Route	Right Route
The Sentinel, Sir Killalot and two pits..	Spikes, static ramp, barrels, Sphere and Matilda.	Ramrig, flame pit, pendulum and Sergeant Bash

King Buxton

King Buxton's final resting place after being held back by the House Robots

King Buxton turned towards the ram rig route, shaking erratically, seeming to have control problems as it momentarily went back to the start. It reversed towards the spikes, narrowly avoiding them. King Buxton went up the ramp, but fell off halfway. Ramming one of the tank traps, it reversed away and charged at the sphere, only to be blocked by Matilda. The sphere rolled away, as King Buxton reversed for another charge. It got past Matilda, but Sir Killalot caught it and lifted it up. Dropping down, Sergeant Bash torched it, then Killalot pinned it down with his lance. Matilda rammed it from behind, while Sergeant Bash continued to burn it. King Buxton made no further progress, battered by Killalot and Matilda until cease was called.

Robo Doc

Robo Doc is lifted by Sir Killalot, who has caught fire

Robo Doc started its run by darting towards the ramp route, lifted by Matilda momentarily, but quickly got on the ramp. It battered the barrels down, then ended its run on the ramp early to avoid Sir Killalot. Unfortunately, Sergeant Bash was one step ahead as he blocked the tank-like robot. It turned away, only to be blocked by Sir Killalot, and then torched by Sergeant Bash. Matilda closed in also, attempting to use her chainsaw. Pinned by the three, Robo Doc was repeatedly flamed by Sergeant Bash. Sir Killalot grappled Robo Doc and lifted it up, then Sergeant Bash shockingly torched Robo Doc and Sir Killalot, causing the latter to catch fire. As cease was called, Robo Doc had made a reasonable run.

Prometheus

The Sentinel blocks Prometheus

Prometheus started well, moving towards the ramp and going up it. It appeared to be stuck for a few seconds, but reversed away. It reversed off the ramp altogether afterwards, then went to The Sentinel's route. It made a good burst of speed and covered a large area of the gauntlet, but was blocked by The Sentinel. The spike on it pierced through Prometheus' armour, then Sir Killalot closed in. It was shunted backwards, but managed to push back against Sir Killalot. It was forced back quickly though, then lifted. In the dying seconds Prometheus was almost pitted, but just avoided that fate until the end.

Craig Charles: "Why did you change your mind? You went up the see-saw and then [went a different way]."

Nigel Sealey: "I was attempting to distract [the House Robots], I was hoping they'd go that way and I'd go the other, but they're faster than you think."

— Prometheus explain their sudden change of routes.

Rottweiler

Sir Killalot cuts a spike off Rottweiler

Rottweiler started quickly, but appeared to have some control problems as it spun around on the spot whilst trying to go over the ramp. The house robots then came in and Sergeant Bash cut into Rottweiler's armour. Matilda then tried to flip Rottweiler, but it fell off the ramp and became stuck, sparing Rottweiler from damage until Sir Killalot cut one of Rottweiler's spikes off.

Cruella

Sir Killalot pins Cruella into the ramrig

Cruella decided to go for the ram rig route, hitting it on its way there, but reversed to take a run at it. However, it became stuck on the ram rig once, then turned, but got stuck again. Sergeant Bash rammed and flamed it, freeing Cruella. Because Sergeant Bash was now blocking that route, it reversed away and slammed into a wall backwards. It turned to the ramp route, but turned away as Matilda sliced into Cruella with her chainsaw. It spun madly, as Sir Killalot closed in. Killalot pushed it against the saws in the ram rig route and trampled its wedge. Cruella was pinned for the rest of the run, putting it last on the leaderboard.

"Grinding, punishing, penetrating, piercing, puditive... pathetic."

— Jonathan Pearce as Cruella is trampled.

All Torque

All Torque is held back by the House Robots

All Torque's initial target was the ramp route, as it smoothly got on to the ramp. It made a powerful charge as it burst through the barrels, but became beached on one as it stopped next to Matilda. She pinned All Torque down until Sir Killalot and Sergeant Bash closed in, as Bash fired a lick of flame on it. Buffeted by Matilda, she then used her spark gun on All Torque. Sir Killalot lifted it into the air, as Sergeant Bash charred the underbelly of it. All Torque started smoking, however it reversed and made another charge, but was blocked by Sir Killalot. Matilda lifted it up in the last seconds, as it was revealed that All Torque was on fire. Nonetheless, All Torque came top of the leaderboard.

Results

Rank	Robot	Distance
1	All Torque	11.2m
2	Robo Doc	10.9m
3	King Buxton	10.6m
4	Prometheus	6.8m
5	Rottweiler	3.5m
6	Cruella	1.9m

Trial (Joust)

King Buxton

King Buxton rides up Matilda's tusks

King Buxton drove up the ramp, awkwardly getting two wheels caught on the side, but made it to the middle. King Buxton slammed into Matilda in the centre of the arena and lifted up on the tusks. Matilda turned and drove forwards, depositing King Buxton off the platform where cease was called.

Robo Doc

Robo Doc is flipped up

Robo Doc eased its way up the ramp and whizzed into Matilda, who slid under Robo Doc's ground clearance and flipped. Robo Doc rode up the tusks and was turned over as Matilda threw a shower of sparks everywhere. Robo Doc was then pinned between the lip of the ramp and Matilda, with the invertible machine spinning its tracks to keep it in place.

All Torque

Matilda is shoved back to the edge

All Torque sped up the ramp and passed the middle platform before Matilda could get there. All Torque slammed into the House Robot at the point the ramp changed angle, pinning them both in place temporarily. All Torque extricated itself, reversed and then drove forwards, getting under Matilda. All Torque managed to turn Matilda sideways at the base of the ramp, and after a few slams, got past Matilda and to the end zone.

Prometheus

Prometheus is pushed by Matilda

Matilda was the quicker robot to the top of the ramp, as Prometheus struggled to climb in a straight line. Matilda waited for a few seconds, but eventually drove down the ramp and shoved Prometheus back into the start zone.

Nigel Sealey: "We sort of expected that."

Craig Charles: "Why did you expect that?"

Nigel Sealey: "We just haven't have the power in the motors to get up the incline."

— Prometheus on why this event was not suited to them

Rottweiler

Matilda lifts Prometheus into the fence

Rottweiler struggled at the start, getting twisted and unable to climb the ramp. Matilda simply drove down and shoved Rottweiler all the way to the back wall, further back than Prometheus was, eliminating Rottweiler.

Results

Rank	Robot	Distance
1	All Torque	13.6m
2	King Buxton	6.95m
3	Robo Doc	6.10m
4	Prometheus	-2.10m
5	Rottweiler	-2.80m

Arena

Semi Finals

Robo Doc vs. King Buxton

King Buxton rams Robo Doc from the side

Robo Doc is forced towards the Pit

The first battle of the infamous rivalry, Robo Doc was hit side-on by King Buxton, who shoved it with little trouble, into the PPZ, where it was buffeted by the pendulum, Matilda and Dead Metal. Robo Doc then rammed King Buxton, but was easily overpowered and pushed into Shunt before its own lifter could get put into play. After having some close shaves with the pit, almost reversing in and then almost pushed in by the combined efforts of Matilda and King Buxton, the match went to the judges, with Robo Doc ending the fight upside down. King Buxton were awarded the victory.

Winner: King Buxton

All Torque vs. Prometheus

Prometheus' saw spins off into the distance

Prometheus gets caught on the pit

All Torque immediately rammed Prometheus' side and caused it to skid onto the flame pit, Prometheus caught fire briefly and then All Torque slotted behind it and attempted to push it into the pit, but backed off halfway then rammed Prometheus again, but still failing to get it down. Prometheus darted to the other side of the arena, but All Torque was quick to catch up to it and swung around, slamming into Prometheus. Prometheus turned away from All Torque, but the circular saw at the front of it was knocked off by the pendulum. Prometheus turned towards the pit and got stuck on the edge, so All Torque rammed it in.

Winner: All Torque

Final

King Buxton vs. All Torque

The two competing machines lock horns

King Buxton pushes All Torque onto the pit

Both robots shot out of their starting areas almost instantly, but King Buxton turned to the side so All Torque battered into it. The two ran past each other, then King Buxton turned around and attempted to get behind All Torque, but couldn't. Instead it rammed All Torque head on, All Torque began by pushing King Buxton back first but was shoved back itself soon enough. King Buxton pushed it all the way onto the edge of the pit, then repeatedly hammered into the beached machine. Sir Killalot soon put it out of its misery and nudged it in.

Heat Winner: King Buxton

"Warning all countries, defend your shores, you're being invaded, by Robot Wars!"

— Craig Charles' sign-off

Trivia

• This heat marked the beginning of King Buxton and Team 101's famous rivalry.
• This heat contained the only occurrence of a robot completing the Joust trial, when All Torque pushed past Matilda.
• This heat was one of two episodes containing the gauntlet that would see no competitor complete it, the other being Heat L of the Second Wars.
• Competitors in this heat were strongly discouraged against taking the sentinel route, under threat of extra-aggressive House Robots and hazards. . No robots in this heat took the Sentinel route, compared to 5 in Heat H.