Six Pac

Six Pac
Participation Information
UK Series	3
Team Information
Team	Team SixPac
Team Members	Andrew Thorpe Robert Thorpe Peter Thorpe
From	Hertfordshire
Robot Statistics
Weight	78kg
Top Speed	8mph
Weapons	Front lifting shovel
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"I built Six-Pac with my brother and dad. It was built with the main competition in mind but we only got to the pinball event, which to be honest was perfect for us."

— Robert Thorpe on the Six Pac website

Six Pac (known on the team's website as SixPac or occasionally Six-Pac) was a robot which solely competed in the Pinball Competition held during Series 3 of Robot Wars. It finished third overall in this side competition with a score of one hundred and thirty-five points, but was not selected to compete in the main series, and did not enter any subsequent series thereafter.

Design

"SixPac was designed as an aggressive, highly mobile robot that would be effective in both the trial and combat sections of Robot Wars TV programme."

— Robert Thorpe on the Six Pac website

Six Pac prior to its TV appearance

Six Pac was a six-wheeled plough-shaped robot equipped with a lifting shovel and featuring a top speed of 8mph. It was very quick and agile due to its six-wheel drive system, but had minimal armour and suffered from numerous radio interference problems which caused it to stop and start several times. These issues adversely affected Six Pac in both its Pinball run and its attempt to qualify for Series 3.

"We also had issues with Six-Pac cutting out at certain points throughout our heat, and especially when we were in front of the 75 points tyre!!!"

— Robert Thorpe on the Six Pac website

The robot cost £1050.75 to build, and all the money came from the team. Six Pac utilised Kart wheels, two twenty-four volt wheelchair motors to drive them, Vantec speed controllers and a twelve volt motorcycle starter motor to power the lifter. . An aluminium monocoque meant its armour was built into its chassis for additional rigidity..

The Team

The team controlling Six Pac

Six Pac was entered by a family team from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, Team SixPac. The team captain was Andrew Thorpe, who entered with his father Peter, who was responsible for the design, construction and engineering of the robot, and his brother Robert.

Qualification

Six Pac attended the Series 3 auditions on Sunday 30 May 1999, the robot having only been completed the day before. Upon weighing the robot, it was found to be overweight, and the producers also described the robot as "boring" to look at.

"SixPac weighed in at 75.2Kg...without the front scoop! This was higher than we had estimated and means we will have start a rapid dieting program. It also means that Tail Weapon is out. … SixPac was described as a bit boring and needs to be livened up for the TV...at least they were impressed by the engineering."

— Robert Thorpe on the Six Pac website

Six Pac did reasonably well in the driving test, but received damage to its front.

"We had to score a goal with the RW football, push some concrete blocks about, slalom around some obstacles, drive over the ramp, then perform a spin turn. It was great drive SixPac on and around pieces of the famous RW set. Managed to put a small dent in the front by ramming the concrete blocks at full speed...I was trying to make a good impression (on the judges rather than the robot)."

— Robert Thorpe on the Six Pac website

Ultimately, the producers decided to select Six Pac for the Pinball tournament instead of the main competition.

Robot History

Series 3

"The fourth contestant, then."

— Jonathan Pearce

Six Pac goes over the ramp

Shunt pushes Six Pac

Although Six Pac was not selected for the main competition of the Third Wars, it did take part in the Pinball side competition which was filmed and broadcast alongside the main series and its run was shown in Heat G. It immediately knocked down one set of barrels, before escaping Sir Killalot and stopping just before the multi-ball release. After a few seconds, Six Pac hit the multi-ball release, before being boxed in by Sir Killalot and Matilda and driving past Sergeant Bash's 50-point target onto the arena spikes. It raised its scoop to knock down the remaining barrels, before suddenly stopping again as it spun, and kicking back into life for a clear run up the ramp. Matilda pushed Six Pac away as it went for the 75-point target, then Six Pac stopped again just within sight of the target, allowing Matilda to come in and flip it out of the arena with her tusks. Six Pac recovered from Matilda's attack to press Shunt's 50-point target instead, before finishing its run by going through the car doors and getting pushed by Sir Killalot. Six Pac scored a respectable one hundred and thirty-five points, ultimately finishing third behind Razer (210pts) and Dominator (160pts).

"135 points! And that's a great score...well done, for the Six Pac team!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Series Record

Series	Six Pac Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Pinball Competition
The Fourth Wars	Did not enter
The Fifth Wars	Did not enter
The Sixth Wars	Did not enter
The Seventh Wars	Did not enter
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter

Trivia

• Along with Eye of Newt, Six Pac's Series 3 Pinball run marked its only ever appearance on the televised show.
• Eye of Newt appeared in the episode that aired directly before Six Pac's.
• Six Pac was the first Series 3 Pinball competitor to navigate the see-saw ramp in the aforementioned competition.

  

  Six Pac (far left) in the background during The First World Championship

• If Six Pac had hit the 75 point target, it would have equalled Razer's winning score.
• Dead Metal was the only House Robot not to appear in Six Pac's Pinball run.
• Six Pac had a brief cameo during The First World Championship, where it was visible in the background of the Behemoth team's introduction.

External Links

• Six Pac website (archived)