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"Invertible, with a very different stored kinetic energy weapon in the form of a weird tin opener. Just a weapon with some wheels bolted on, really."
Jonathan Pearce describes Spam

Spam was a competitor robot that fought in Series 6 of Robot Wars. It reached the second round in its only appearance, but lost to the seeded Spawn Again after accidentally driving itself into the Pit.

Design[]

"We're very different... Our weaponry is not discs hitting people, we store the energy in the discs, and it comes out the front through the prongs. Discs go round very fast, and you don't want to get your arm in that when it's up to speed, 'cause there's an awful lot of torque behind it."
— Jon Witte explains the weaponry to Philippa Forrester before Round 2
Spam Arena

Spam in the arena

Spam was an invertible, two-wheeled robot with a cylindrical body, transparent plastic armour, and a unique rotating prong shaped like a tin-opener. The prong was powered by a pair of horizontal flywheels mounted to the robot's top and bottom, which transferred kinetic energy into the prong when they spun, enabling the prong to rotate slowly and function like a drill.[1]

"We've had some good ideas over a few beers (and some very bad ideas over a few more beers) and distilled it down to this. 2 Wheels, not tracks. Runs both ways up. 24V electric drive. IC powered stored kinetic damage weapon. Alloy chassis. Usual crop of microcontrollers to do funky stuff"
— Spam website on the original design concepts for Spam

While the prong proved ineffective, and the kinetic flywheels vulnerable to damage, Spam had a high top speed of 15mph, and showed excellent durability and a high level of aggression during both of its battles.

Etymology[]

Due to Spam being armed with a weapon somewhat resembling a household can opener, the team originally intended to call the robot Can Opener. However, when the similarly named Kan-Opener entered Series 5, the team could no longer use their intended name. Instead, the name Spam was chosen in reference to the tinned processed meat product, which is typically opened using a can opener.

The Team[]

Team Spam S6

The team in Series 6

Spam was entered into Robot Wars by a Norwich-based team consisting of three team members, Jon Witte, Pete Birch, and Edward Birch. Jon Witte and Pete Birch were a pair of RAF pilots, and Edward Birch was Pete's son.

The team had previous experience in Robot Wars, having entered The Second Wars with Pain, and had also competed on the live circuit with Judge Mech, which twice attempted to enter Robot Wars.

Qualification[]

SpamPits

Spam in the pits

Spam was built for The Fifth Wars. The robot was completed in time to enter the qualifiers, but a speed controller inside Spam blew while the robot was present at the qualifiers, and ultimately it could not enter the arena for a qualifier battle, withdrawing from the process.[2]

Spam working on

The team work on Spam during The Sixth Wars

"We blew it for RW 5, more specifically we blew one of our 4QDs on the day of our slot down at the studios. No way on earth we could get it up and running in time so that was it for 2001."
— The Spam website[3]

Nevertheless, Spam was repaired in time for The Sixth Wars, and fought Kronic 2, Mega-Hurts and Present Danger at the qualifiers. Mega-Hurts got caught in the arena wall soon into the battle, and Present Danger became stuck on the Flame Pit. Kronic 2 flipped Spam repeatedly, causing the steel bars on the back to bend, and the prongs to bend. Eventually, Kronic 2 flipped Spam up against the arena side wall, leaving Spam trapped on its side, and flipped it out of the arena. Despite this, Spam still received a discretionary place in Series 6.

"That should have been it for us, but our charm and agression won us a discressionary place. The weekend would be spent in the workshop."
— Spam website on qualifying for Series 6[4]

After the battle, the rear bars were reinforced and the prongs were shortened and stiffened.

Robot History[]

Series 6[]

"Mmm... fritters, anyone?"
— Jonathan Pearce introduces Spam

Spam fought in Heat H of the Sixth Wars, and was drawn up against International Tag Team champion Ming 3, newcomer The Hassocks Hog and Team Panda's new robot Hot Pants in its first round battle.

Jon Witte: "There's a lot of plastic. Plastic's not renowned for being good at being hit hard!"
Philippa Forrester: "Sometimes I do worry about you lot!"
— Concerns about Spam's armour
Spam pitted

Spam is pitted by Ming 3

It drove into Ming 3 but avoided its crusher, before circling round Hot Pants and bumping into The Hassocks Hog, who appeared to have lost drive on one side. Spam nudged the immobilised Hot Pants a few times before slamming into the side of Ming 3, backing away and slamming Hot Pants with its rotating prong. The Hassocks Hog lifted Spam before it was grabbed by the wheel by Ming 3, who pushed Spam near the Flame Pit before both robots separated. Spam pressed the Pit release button as Refbot counted Hot Pants out, before being chased and pinned against the wall by Ming 3, who again grabbed hold of Spam and tried to crush its top flywheel. The three surviving robots briefly converged close to Sir Killalot's CPZ, before Spam drove away and was pushed onto the edge of the Pit by Ming 3 shortly after Sgt. Bash put Hot Pants in. 'Cease' was called, and the Judges ruled that The Hassocks Hog had lost mobility on one side for a sustained portion of the battle, allowing Spam through to the second round alongside Ming 3.

"A slight touch of controversy, which we always have on Robot Wars. Our Judges, who are infinitely wise, have decided that The Hassocks Hog was going round in circles, so basically it was immobilised, and that was before Spam was thrown into the Pit. Now, Hot Pants doesn't matter, that felt the heat and was thrown out of the kitchen, but our Judges in their infinite wisdom, reckon that Ming 3 and Spam go through!"
— Craig Charles explains the Judges' decision to the audience

In the second round, Spam was drawn up against the tenth seed Spawn Again, with only its bottom flywheel working as the top one had been damaged by Ming 3.

Spam vs Spawn Again

Spam runs up Spawn Again's flipper

Spam Again

Spam drives into the Pit

Even so, it started much more aggressively, darting round the arena and riding up Spawn Again's wedge a few times as the latter appeared to be having problems firing its flipper. Both robots circled round each other before Spam again drove up Spawn Again's flipper a few more times, only to drive into an angle grinder following a nudge from Spawn Again. Spam backed away and drove into Dead Metal, before again riding up Spawn Again's flipper and ramming it twice more. It aimed for the Pit release button, successfully hitting it on its second attempt, before trying to get its prong under Spawn Again's partially-opened flipper, with Spawn Again now barely moving across the arena floor. Spam rammed the side of Spawn Again once more, before backing away for another charge as the latter fired its flipper. However, it missed, driving straight into the Pit and eliminating itself from the Sixth Wars despite a dominant performance.

"Using its time - OH NO! Oh no! What on earth was that all about? They can't believe it either - why are you laughing?! You nutter! You're a nutter! They drove into the Pit!"
Jonathan Pearce expresses shock at Spam's fatal driving error

Results[]

SPAM - RESULTS
Series 6
The Sixth Wars - UK Championship
Heat, Round 2
Heat H, Round 1 vs. Hot Pants, Ming 3, The Hassocks Hog Qualified
Heat H, Round 2 vs. Spawn Again (10) Lost

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 1
  • Losses: 1

Series Record[]

Series Spam Series Record
The First Wars Did not enter
The Second Wars Entered with Pain
The Third Wars Not selected with Judge Mech
The Fourth Wars Failed to qualify with Judge Mech
The Fifth Wars Withdrew from qualifiers
The Sixth Wars Heat, Round 2
The Seventh Wars Did not enter
Series 8 Did not enter
Series 9 Did not enter
Series 10 Did not enter

Gallery[]

Outside Robot Wars[]

Spam 2000 live events

Spam in the pits at the 2001 Debenham Robot Rumble

SpamNoSideArmour2001

Spam without its side armour at Oundle Mil 2001

Spam made an appearance at the 2001 Debenham Robot Rumble, though it is unknown who it fought.[5]

Spam later appeared at Oundle Mill 2001, but once again who it fought is unknown. Jon Witte also brought along the chassis of Judge Mech to be trashed by the other competitors.[6]

Trivia[]

  • The Judges deciding to put Spam through to the second round in spite of being pitted before The Hassocks Hog could be counted out is sometimes cited as a matter of inconsistency in Robot Wars, as it conflicts with other examples on the show where the fully immobilised machine would not be reinstated by the Judges (such as when Behemoth progressed over Tridentate later into the same series).
  • Only Jon Witte was present for Spam's Round 2 battle, including the pre-battle interview.

References[]

External Links[]

Navigation[]

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