Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars/Heat E

Heat E
The Robot Wars logo from the introduction titles
Series	The Seventh Wars
Winner(s)	Tornado
Special Event	Featherweight Championship
First Broadcast	30 November 2003
Original channel	Five
Preceded by	Heat D
Succeeded by	Heat F

"Tornado... reigning champions... they're back. But here to usurp their crown, seven pretenders to the throne, come ariding on the wings of Heat E, doom and destruction! Tornado's twist and turn, but will the storm be blown out? Unique, powerful, intensely driven - Tornado, the title defence starts here!"

— Jonathan Pearce's introduction

Heat E of Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars was the fifth of sixteen heats which determined the Semi-Finalists of Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars. The episode featuring Heat E was originally broadcast on 30 November 2003 on Five.

Competing robots

Newcomers

	Devastator
	Weight	97kg
	Dimensions	0.28 x 1.22 x 0.74m
	Power	Electric motor
	Weapons	Large spinning disc
	Strengths	Powerful offensive weapon
	Weaknesses	Classified
From: Mirfield, West Yorkshire
Team Members: Stuart Bunting, Bill Hoare & Stuart Hoare

	Leveller 2
	Weight	93kg
	Dimensions	0.39 x 0.96 x 0.73m
	Power	1 x 800W motor
	Weapons	Flipper
	Strengths	Strong & fast
	Weaknesses	Inexperienced driver
From: Buxton, Derbyshire
Team Members: David McClachlan, David McClachlan & Lee Hattersley

Veterans

	Tornado (seeded 1st)
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.25 x 0.85 x 0.75m
	Power	2 x 750W electric motors
	Weapons	Interchangeable weapons
	Strengths	Durable chassis
	Weaknesses	Vulnerable to flippers
From: Sawtry, Cambridgeshire
Team Members: Andrew Marchant, David Gamble & Bryan Moss

	Sawpoint 2
	Weight	95kg
	Dimensions	0.34 x 1.28 x 1.06m
	Power	4 x 36V motors
	Weapons	2 x Pincers & spinning discs
	Strengths	Reliable electrical system
	Weaknesses	We built it
From: Chesham, Buckinghamshire
Team Members: Gordon Johncock, Chris Delph & Ryan Delph

	Ewe 2
	Weight	98kg
	Dimensions	0.42 x 0.91 x 0.66m
	Power	24V motors
	Weapons	Flipper
	Strengths	Very strong steel frame
	Weaknesses	No armour underneath
From: Stanwick, Northamptonshire
Team Members: Ian Lockhart, Scott Lockhart & Tony Tobbell

	Tetanus Booster
	Weight	95kg
	Dimensions	0.26 x 1.34 x 0.86m
	Power	3 x 30AMP motors
	Weapons	Spinning disc
	Strengths	Strong & simple
	Weaknesses	Inexpensive
From: Ludlow, Shropshire
Team Members: Paul Snook, Conrad Snook & Luke Angell

	Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit
	Weight	99kg
	Dimensions	0.51 x 0.75 x 1.15m
	Power	250W bicycle HUB motors
	Weapons	Spinning drum
	Strengths	It's made of plastic
	Weaknesses	It's made of plastic
From: Horsham, West Sussex
Team Members: Simon Rafferty, Christopher Watts & Guy Radford

	Thunderpants
	Statistics not displayed
	From: Burgess Hill, West Sussex
	Team Members: Pete Collier & Steve Bracewell

Round 1

Tornado (1) vs Sawpoint 2 vs Ewe 2 vs Devastator

Sawpoint 2 disables Ewe 2's flipper

Ewe 2 pushes Sawpoint 2 into the pit

Tornado started quickly and pushed Devastator across the arena, slamming it into the arena wall. Meanwhile, Ewe 2 tried to flip Sawpoint 2 but struggled to get underneath. Having escaped from Mr. Psycho in one CPZ, Devastator was then pushed by Tornado into Matilda in another CPZ.

"And that tail blade of Matilda: pink, lurid, awful. Devastator saw it, and ran away."

— Jonathan Pearce

Devastator finds itself trapped in the CPZ

Ewe 2 and Tornado push Devastator towards the pit

Having still not managed to get underneath Sawpoint 2, Ewe 2 activated the pit release button. Meanwhile, Tornado had pushed Devastator and Sawpoint 2 into the CPZ where they were attacked by both house robots. Both robots escaped, but then Sawpoint 2 appeared to stop moving near the pit and Ewe 2 slowly pushed it in.

"Can it get enough traction to just move away, Sawpoint 2? It's agonising, it's... over."

— Jonathan Pearce as Sawpoint 2 eventually drops into the pit

Then Ewe 2 and Tornado teamed up to push Devastator into the pit as well.

Qualified: Tornado & Ewe 2

Leveller 2 vs Tetanus Booster vs Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit vs Thunderpants

Thunderpants remains at the entry gate

Prior to the battle, both of Thunderpants's drive belts came off as it attempted to drive into the arena, leaving it immobile inside the entry gate. Despite attempts by Team Panda to repair their robot (not shown in the televised episode), Thunderpants was given a red card from Refbot, immediately eliminating it from the battle.

"To be honest, this has been utter pants in previous wars, and looks as if it is again! Come on, you've got to get out of those doors to compete! Refbot? Red card! Thunderpants has gone already!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Barber-Ous sends Leveller 2 flying, but breaks down

Tetanus Booster throws Leveller 2 over

In the actual battle itself, Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit launched an attack on Leveller 2, and then a second attack which turned Leveller 2 upside-down. Leveller 2 self-righted but Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit continued to attack and the force of its spinning drum flipped Leveller 2 over once again. However, after this attack Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit stopped moving and was counted out by Refbot, just as Tetanus Booster launched an attack on Leveller 2 which sent a panel flying off its opponent.

Mr Psycho holds Barber-Ous over the pit

"Tetanus Booster, very, very impressive so far"

— Jonathan Pearce as Tetatnus Booster shreds the back panel off of Leveller 2

Another attack by Tetanus Booster flipped Leveller 2 over once again and caused further damage, but Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit had now been counted out so the other two machines were through to the next round. Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit was sent flying by the arena flipper and pitted by Mr. Psycho before cease was called.

Qualified: Leveller 2 & Tetanus Booster

Special Event

Main article: Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars/Featherweight Championship

Between Round 1 and Round 2 of each heat (except Heat I), a 'Special Event' was shown. For Heat E, it was a featherweight battle featuring robots weighing no more than 12 kg. In the second of three qualifiers, seven robots entered the arena, with two qualifying for the final later in the series.

Bernard vs DTK vs Staglet vs Typhoon Cadet vs Alienator vs Cutlet vs Mammoth

Qualified: Bernard & DTK

Round 2

Leveller 2 vs Tornado (1)

Leveller 2 flips Tornado

Tornado, now upright, retaliates

The two robots squared up and Leveller 2 was able to flip Tornado over and render its scoop usless as it was now the wrong way up. However, Tornado was able to push Leveller 2 into the arena wall in the CPZ, and Sir Killalot and Shunt came in on the attack. Leveller 2 escaped the CPZ and flipped Tornado back over as the defending champion came in on the attack. Tornado then pushed Leveller 2 back into the CPZ and then into the wall on the other side of the arena. Tornado continued to push Leveller 2 around, pushing it into an angle grinder and then into another CPZ, before activating the pit release button.

"The pit is descending, and their hopes now, are just beginning to drain away. They've been mercilessly, mercilessly pursued by Tornado."

— Jonathan Pearce on Leveller 2

Leveller 2 falls down the pit

Tornado pushed Leveller 2 into the clutches of Sir Killalot, who lifted it off the ground and dropped it onto the flame pit. Leveller 2 was then attacked by both house robots in the CPZ as Tornado watched on, before deciding to slam its opponent into the arena wall.

"I think Tornado, once again, will prove, the machine to beat in Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars."

— Jonathan Pearce

Leveller 2 escaped, but Tornado chased it and tried to push it into the open pit, until Leveller 2 eventually drove into the pit itself as it tried to escape.

Winner: Tornado

Tetanus Booster vs Ewe 2

The two robots shove each other

Ewe 2 and Tetanus Booster pursue each other

Both robots started slowly, but they eventually engaged in battle with Tetanus Booster attacking Ewe 2 with its spinning weapon. Ewe 2 kept getting in position to use its flipping weapon, but the attack never came and it continued to take damage from Tetanus Booster. Eventually, Ewe 2 activated the pit release button and tried to push Tetanus Booster, but took damage from it opponent in the process as a piece of bodywork flew across the arena.

"We see metal flying! That's the first moment of decision, in this second round battle."

— Jonathan Pearce as Tetanus Booster inflicts damage on Ewe 2

Ewe 2 takes external damage

Ewe 2 continued to get underneath Tetanus Booster but seemed unable or unwilling to use its flipper and simply tried to push Tetanus Booster around the arena, but the two were evenly matched. Eventually, Tetanus Booster slowed down considerably and its spinning weapon stopped moving, so Ewe 2 was able to push into the arena walls and one of the angle grinders before pushing Tetanus Booster into the CPZ.

Ewe 2 retaliates

"And the clock will tick down, so, the judges will have to decide. Who will be the bot to go through to the heat final? Goodness me, that was close."

— Jonathan Pearce

Cease was called with both robots still technically mobile, and the judges controversially went for Tetanus Booster, despite its lack of mobility at the end.

Craig Charles: "What were the judges thinking, tell me, I don't understand it!"

Team Tetanus: "I'll give them the money now!"

— Justification of a controversial victory

Winner: Tetanus Booster

Final

Tornado (1) vs Tetanus Booster

Tornado exploits the high ground clearance of Tetanus Booster

Tornado quickly got underneath Tetanus Booster with its scoop and slammed it into the arena wall multiple times. Tetanus Booster tried to escape but Tornado was much quicker and caught up with it easily, slamming it into Cassius Chrome and then into an angle grinder.

"There is no hiding place, no respite, for Tetanus Booster. Where will they get a boost from out there in the warzone?"

— Jonathan Pearce as Tornado relentlessly attacks Tetanus Booster

Tornado holds Tetanus Booster in the CPZ

Tornado pushes Tetanus Booster into the pit

Tetanus Booster was then pushed into a CPZ and attacked by Shunt. The pit was opened and Tetanus Booster tried to run away, but Tornado caught up with it and slammed it once again into the arena wall and then into the CPZ. Tetanus Booster kept trying to escape but Tornado continued to attack and pushed it around the arena, eventually pushing it right onto the edge of the pit and finally nudged it down into the pit of oblivion.

"A tremendously brave performance by Tetanus Booster ends right now, and Tornado, the reigning champs, continue the defence of the crown. Unlucky the Tetanus Booster team, they've met just about the best there is in Robot Wars."

— Jonathan Pearce

Heat Winner: Tornado

"Once again, the Tornado has blown down the doors, the reigning Champions are back, on Robot Wars!"

— Craig Charles' sign-off

Trivia

• Though broadcast as the fifth episode of Series 7, Heat E was originally labelled Heat A in the list of airings issued in a late 2003 issue of the Robot Wars Club newsletter. This, coupled with the swap between it and the televised Heat A, marked the first time since Series 3 where the reigning champion did not appear in the first episode of a given series.
  • This was also the third occasion in which two heats had been swapped around from their original line-up (the others being Heats B and D of Series 2 and Heats F and M of Series 4, the latter in the hope ofcontining the Team Chaos/Team Mace rivalry).
  • Interestingly enough, Heat F of the Fourth Wars was also Tornado's debut heat, meaning it was in two heats with swapped filming/airing orders.
• Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit kept up its sequence of being pitted every time it lost.
• Tornado used a lifter in its heat final, ensuring every heat final in the Seventh Wars had at least one robot with a flipper or lifter.
• All veterans bar Tornado returned with completely new robots or older ones under a different name, although Tornado did return with new weaponry since the rule changes of Series 7.
  • This was therefore the first time Tornado used its chain flail and electric lifter.
• Leveller 2's statistics board featured a spelling error, causing it to be known as 'Leveler 2'.