- "It’s the one we’ve been waiting for: the second Robot Wars semi-final. And the war has been a tremendous success: some say it’s the nation’s greatest triumph since Bucks Fizz made their mind up in 1981. Others have said it does for robots what plastic surgery’s done for Michael Jackson: made them cut up and battered. And others have simply said it’s better than the series on arts and crafts on the other side. After some serious heavy metal combat, only the most fearsome of robots have made it this far."
- — Craig Charles' introduction
Semi-Final 2 of Robot Wars: The Second Wars was the second of two Semi-Finals to determine which two of six heat winners would proceed to the Grand Final of Robot Wars: The Second Wars. As usual, a Gauntlet would eliminate one robot, while the Trial (Pinball) would eliminate another. The remaining robots would pair off and fight to determine which two robots moved on to the Grand Final.
The episode featuring Semi-Final 2 was originally broadcast on 26 February 1999 on BBC Two. The broadcast set a new Robot Wars ratings record, attracting 6.21 million viewers, an increase of 80,000 viewers when compared with the previous record holder. According to BARB this meant it ranked second in the top thirty highest rated BBC 2 broadcasts during 22-28 February, behind only Red Dwarf.
Competing robots[]
Newcomers[]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| King Buxton (winner of Heat I) | ||
| 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 | ||
| Team Members: Simon Harrison, Steve Monk & Phil Brett | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Haardvark (winner of Heat L) | ||
| Weight | 79.8kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.5 x 0.85 x 0.4m | |
| Speed | 12mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 10mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Lifting forks and circular saw on arm (removed to meet weight restrictions) | |
| Notes | Chassis strengthened with strip steel and aluminium beams | |
| From: Cannock in Staffordshire | ||
| Team Members: Owen Barwick, Liz Harrison & Mike Evans | ||
Veterans[]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Roadblock (seeded 1st, winner of Heat G) | ||
| Weight | 80.9kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.6 x 1.1 x 0.45m | |
| Speed | 5mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 5mm | |
| Power | 4 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | 12' tungsten tipped circular saw | |
| Notes | Reigning Robot Wars Champion, seeded number one | |
| From: Bodmin Community College | ||
| Team Members: Hender Blewett, Chris Kinsey & Peter Kinsey | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cassius (seeded 5th, winner of Heat H) | ||
| 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 | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| G.B.H. (winner of Heat J) | ||
| Weight | 79.3kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.31 x 0.7 x 0.45m | |
| Speed | 5mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 25mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Lifting ramp and rear 7" circular saws | |
| Notes | Fought in the First Wars with Scrapper | |
| From: London | ||
| Team Members: Mike Rickard, Mike Smith & Charles Lavery | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Plunderbird 2 (winner of Heat K) | ||
| Weight | 81.3kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.9 x 1.1 x 0.37m | |
| Speed | 10mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 20mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Pneumatic steel screw ram | |
| Notes | Fought in the First Wars with Plunderbird 1 | |
| From: Bordon in Hampshire | ||
| Team Members: Mike Onslow, Bryan Kilburn & Ken Burt | ||
Gauntlet[]
Competitor runs[]
| Left Route | Centre Route | Right Route |
|---|---|---|
| The Sentinel, Matilda and one Pit | See-saw or The Sentinel and static ramp, Pit, spikes and Shunt | Ramrig, Sphere, Flame Pit, and Dead Metal |
Roadblock[]
Roadblock hits The Sentinel with its saw
- "The only option we can actually fit down is the [The] Sentinel route. Every other route has got some sort of width restriction. The Sentinel is under instruction that he can do whatever he wants in there today."
- — Hender Blewett and Chris Kinsey highlight the restriction of options their wide robot has to deal with.
Roadblock blared its horns as they headed straight down the Right Route where, as predicted, The Sentinel was blocking the way through. Roadblock spun on the spot to attack The Sentinel with its cutting saw, sending sparks flying. The Sentinel kept its arm low, stopping Roadblock moving forwards despite a few different attempts until time was called, but Roadblock had carved a small cut into The Sentinel's arm at the end.
Cassius[]
Cassius held back by Shunt
Cassius slammed into the Brick Wall, pushing through after the second attempt and heading towards the sphere. The sphere was pushed away, but Shunt was lurking behind and pushed Cassius back behind the brick wall. Shunt punctured Cassius' top armour with its axe, but Cassius reversed away and tried to get past Shunt. A final thrust ahead over the spikes saw Cassius slide under Dead Metal and try to flip the House Robot over, but time was called as Cassius had at least managed to gain a few metres in the dying seconds.
King Buxton[]
King Buxton makes it to the end zone
King Buxton instantly headed for the Brick Wall, punching through it and stopping before the sphere. King Buxton turned around as Shunt rolled the sphere towards it. However, Shunt drove straight on into the Pit right next to the sphere, leaving a clear space for King Buxton to drive through and push the sphere back. King Buxton slammed into the front of Matilda, bending a tusk on the House Robot and soon got past, diagonally driving across the arena to avoid Dead Metal and make it into the End Zone.
G.B.H.[]
G.B.H. drives into the Pit
G.B.H. pushed through the Brick Wall, lifting its flipping scoop up to carry a brick with it. G.B.H. turned to avoid the sphere and Shunt and instead drove straight into the Pit, falling down and ending the run. This would prove to have been an intentional and canny plan to guarantee a greater distance than the currently last-placed Cassius.
- Craig Charles: "This is all rot, you drove into that Pit intentionally!"
- Mike Rickard: "Why not?"
- Craig Charles: "Well, you've got far enough to go through to the next round."
- — Craig Charles interviews the team, not believing any of their "excuses" for the Pit dive tactic
Plunderbird 2[]
Plunderbird 2 is stopped by Shunt
Before the Gauntlet run, the International Wreck Crew treated the Audience to a rendition of their song "Robot's Revenge", complete with their own brand of dance routine and disco lights.
Plunderbird 2 drove towards the Brick Wall, but went down the middle and had to endure the Floor Spikes. These spikes disrupted Plunderbird 2's momentum, meaning it couldn't break through the wall, which had unhelpfully been knocked the other way by the sphere. Plunderbird 2 managed to push through, but the drain pipes by the Pit and bricks they'd carried through stopped the robot going forwards. Shunt blocked the only route available, and after failing to push the House Robot back, Plunderbird 2 reversed to try again. Shunt then teamed up with Matilda to shove Plunderbird 2 back to the start wall, and Plunderbird 2 was left stuck at the start.
Haardvark[]
Haardvark is lifted by Matilda
Haardvark pushed through the Brick Wall, but found its route blocked by the sphere and Shunt. Haardvark reversed away and out of the middle route to try the Left. It drove forwards, but The Sentinel held firm, resisting any attempt Haardvark made to go past. Matilda appeared, blocking Haardvark in and lifting with the tusks. Matilda dragged Haardvark back towards the start as time ticked down, but Cease was called and Haardvark was just far enough ahead of Plunderbird 2 to stay in.
Results[]
| Rank | Robot | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| King Buxton | Completed | |
| G.B.H. | 6.6m | |
| Roadblock | 5.45m | |
| Cassius | 5.15m | |
| Haardvark | 2.4m | |
| Plunderbird 2 | 0.9m |
Trial (Pinball)[]
Roadblock[]
The sphere falls into the Pit
Roadblock drove left, taking out a set of breezeblocks and barrels. It reverse back, swatting the sphere away and using it to take out more breezeblocks. Roadblock tried to get more barrels, but the fallen breezeblocks stopped it. As Roadblock headed back, the sphere had ricocheted off other obstacles and fell into the top left Pit. Roadblock squeezes past Matilda to edge past the 50 point tyre, and Matilda reversed back into the Pit! Roadblock clipped the tyre and knocked down the next set of breezeblocks and barrels. Roadblock reversed into the centre of the arena where it was lifted by Dead Metal and Sir Killalot. Roadblock escaped with a few second left and drove into the last set of breezeblocks, pushed by Shunt and taking out some barrels just before Cease. A strong score to start the trials.
Cassius[]
Cassius flips itself back onto its wheels
Cassius drove forwards, turned and slammed into the top right breezeblock and barrel pair, knocking plenty down. It spent a few seconds in there trying to knock more down, but got beached on a breezeblock. This allowed Sir Killalot to come in and lift Cassius up with the lance. Cassius was carried about before being dropped upside-down in the centre of the arena. Cassius fired its flipping arm, throwing the robot over 180° and landing on its wheels, becoming the first robot to successfully self-right! Having got itself back on its wheels, Cassius wasted no time in breaking through another wall of breezeblocks and barrels. Cassius was lifted up by Matilda, but Cassius has lost a drive chain by this point and ran out of time.
- Craig Charles: "That was one of the most spectacular bits of Roboteering we have ever seen on Robot Wars, what was that about?"
- Rex Garrod: "It's a Self-Righting Mechanism"
- — Craig revels in Cassius's revolutionary design being used for the first time on the show
King Buxton[]
King Buxton carries a breezeblock over the ramp
King Buxton drove through the first set of breezeblocks and barrels, knocking some over and continuing with a breezeblock stuck atop the robot. King Buxton drove over the ramp next, bumping into the floor and dislodging the breezeblock. It turned around and drove back along the ramp, falling off the end after Sir Killalot disrupted the ramp. King Buxton took down the next set of breezeblocks and barrels, but were pinned in the corner by the fallen bricks and Sir Killalot. King Buxton escaped at the end, but was pinched by Matilda and unable to score on the 50 point tyre.
G.B.H.[]
G.B.H. is carried by Sir Killalot
G.B.H. slowly edged towards a breezeblock wall, only knocking a few down. Sir Killalot chased after G.B.H., knocking the sphere which rolled over the ramp and into the Pit. G.B.H. ran way to the next breezeblock wall, but with Sir Killalot behind, the House Robot slid under the ground clearance and lifted G.B.H. up with his lance. G.B.H. was beached on breezeblocks, allowing Killalot to pick G.B.H. up and carry it anywhere, dragging G.B.H. over the ramp and seeing Sir Killot almost fall over as the ramp dropped. G.B.H. was eventually dropped in an open Pit and time ran out.
Haardvark[]
Haardvark drives past the ramrigs to the breezeblocks.
Haardvark drove around the breezeblocks, taking a set of barrels out. It crossed the arena and took out more breezeblocks and barrels, but was pushed strongly into the corner by Sir Killalot. Killalot lifted Haardvark up and dropped it on its side, where time ran out.
Results[]
| Rank | Robot | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Roadblock | 355 points | |
| Cassius | 200 points | |
| King Buxton | 165 points | |
| Haardvark | 160 points | |
| G.B.H. | 145 points |
Arena[]
Cassius (5) vs Haardvark[]
Cassius flips over Haardvark
- "Cassius has taken over the mantle of Robot Wars favourite after the demise of Mortis"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Cassius drove straight at Haardvark, sliding under the high ground clearance and flipping Haardvark over onto its side. Cassius drove in again, flipping Haardvark again where it landed on its wheels. Cassius drove under Haardvark and pushed it across the arena, flipping the white robot, which pirouetted, but landed on top of Cassius in the PPZ. Cassius reversed and stopped, holding Haardvark in place as Shunt axed the top of Haardvark, denting the top armour. Cassius escaped, but came back in to push Haardvark about. Cassius was pushed back by Haardvark though, coming dangerously close to Sir Killalot in the PPZ. Sir Killalot lifted Cassius up, dropping it on Haardvark as images showed a drive chain having fallen off Cassius again. Haardvark kep the pressure on Cassius, but Cassius dropped down and still had drive enough to escape and leave Haardvark at the mercy of Sir Kilallot. Killalot lifted Haardvark up, dangled it over the Flame Pit until it fell off upside-down.
Cassius was barely mobile still, but Sir Killalot managed to drive up Cassius' wedge, allowing Rex Garrod to have a go at flipping the new House Robot. Sir Killalot was flipped up, but did not fall over. Meanwhile, Shunt came in to hit the flame grilled Haardvark, before driving at Cassius and flipping the robot over. Cassius was left pinned on its side by the side wall, but Cease was called and Cassius were victorious.
Winner: Cassius
Roadblock (1) vs King Buxton[]
King Buxton pushes Roadblock back
Roadblock cuts into King Buxton
Roadblock drove into the centre of the Arena, as King Buxton tried what it could to get around the side of Roadblock to avoid the wedge. However, King Buxton was pushed back by Roadblock as it dodged, and both ended up near the PPZ. King Buxton managed to nibble at the front corner of roadblock, damaging the front wedge after getting one of King Buxton's forks wedged under the scoop.
Roadblock kept the scoop pointing at King Buxton, letting the smaller robot turn and try to move around, but instead King Buxton drove straight into the pincers of Dead Metal. The House Robot held King Buxton up enough for Roadblock to turn around and hit a tyre of King Buxton with its cutting saw. Both robots drove away, but a chunk of rubber from the tyre was left on the floor. King Buxton reversed into Roadblock, stopping the cutting saw and managing to assert dominance as it drove Roadblock into a PPZ, where it left the defending champions to the mercy of Shunt. Shunt held Roadblock by the wall as Dead Metal slammed into the side of Roadblock, damaging the side but crucially allowing Roadblock to escape the PPZ.
King Buxton was back on the attack jabbing the front of Roadblock again. Roadblock managed to avoid this next time, as King Buxton rode over the top of the large wedge, dropping over the back. Roadblock aimed at King Buxton with the saw, sending more sparks up as smoke started to seep out of the top of King Buxton. Another collision with the circular saw saw smoke start to billow out of a hole which was soon followed by a flicker of flame. Roadblock started to pile on the pressure with the saw, causing plenty of damage to the front of King Buxton as time ran out and Roadblock were declared victors.
- "You seriously bashed King Buxton! Scratches, you sawed the wheels in half!"
- — Craig Charles
Winner: Roadblock
- "The winners of our last war, are through to our final, the only thing I can say is, cue the applause, you've been watching, Robot Wars!"
- — Craig Charles' sign-off
Trivia[]
- This was the only Semi-Final where the two seeds in the line-up went through to the Grand Final.
- This was the last time The Gauntlet was run, and the last time the Trial was a part of the progression of the main tournament.
- Out of all the teams in this episode, only one team (Bodmin Community College) would reach another Semi-final in any of their other appearances - the least of any Semi-Final.
- King Buxton was incorrectly announced as being from Hornchurch in Essex, whereas Hornchurch has been part of the county of Greater London since the 1960s.
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