- "Just a weapon with some wheels bolted on, really!"
- — Jonathan Pearce sums up Spam
Spam was a low cylinder shaped invertible robot that competed in Series 6 of Robot Wars. It had a high speed spinning disc on its top and underside. Instead of causing damage, however, the flywheels transferred kinetic energy into the robot's real weapon: a rotating tin-opener shaped prong. Although the weapon itself was ineffective and the robot was only armoured in plastic, Spam showed a high level of aggression. However, this proved to be its undoing after it drove straight into the pit in its second round fight against a malfunctioning Spawn Again.
The team previously entered Series 2 with Pain, but never actually got to compete due to various technical problems. They also failed to qualify for Series 3 and with their second robot Judge Mech. This means that Spam was the only robot from this team that was actually seen fighting or participating in the main competition.
According to team captain Jon Witte, Spam was originally going to have a name based upon its weapon, but decided against it when it was discovered that "Can Opener" had been more-or-less taken.
Robot History
Series 6
Spam is pitted by Ming.
Spam was drawn up against Ming 3, The Hassocks Hog and Hot Pants in its Round 1 battle for the Sixth Wars. Ming 3 largely dominated this fight, immobilising Hot Pants after using its crusher before pushing it into the arena side wall beside the flame pit where it was counted out by Refbot. Spam then came under attack from Ming 3 who tried to crush its spinning disc. Sergeant Bash pushed Hot Pants into the pit of oblivion sideways immediately before Spam was also pushed down by Ming 3. The Hassocks Hog was set to qualify with Ming 3, however the former was judged to have been immobilised since it had lost drive on one side and was spinning around in circles. Spam therefore went through to the next round along with Ming 3 instead, eliminating The Hassocks Hog.
- "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 immobilized, and that was before Spam was thrown into the pits. Now, Hot Pants was in that leftover heat and were thrown out of the kitchen, but our judges in their infinite wisdom reckon that Ming 3 and Spam go through!"
- — Craig Charles explains the judge’s decision
Spam drives into the pit.
In the second round, Spam was drawn up against a Spawn Again machine that was seeded number 10 but was beset by mechanical problems. Spam was the much more aggressive competitor in this battle, with Spawn Again seemingly without full mobility. Spam constantly tried to push Spawn Again around the arena, but due to its high ground clearance, Spam could only drive up the side or up the flipper of Spawn Again, however each time it could get away unaffected as Spawn Again's flipper wasn't firing. Spam activated the pit release button, just as Spawn Again's flipper suddenly started working. However, luckily for the seeded machine, Spam suddenly recklessly drove straight into the pit of oblivion, eliminating itself from the competition.
- "Why are you laughing?! You nutter! You're a nutter! You drove straight into the pit!"
- — Jonathan Pearce on Spam's driving
Results
| SPAM - RESULTS | ||
| Series 6 | ||
| The Sixth Wars - UK Championship Heat, Round 2 | ||
| Heat H, Round 1 | vs. Ming 3, The Hassocks Hog, Hot Pants | Qualified |
| Heat H, Round 2 | vs. Spawn Again (10) | Lost |
Wins/Losses
Spam in the pits
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 1
Series Record
- Series 1: Did not enter
- Series 2: Entered with Pain
- Series 3-4: Failed to qualify with Judge Mech
- Series 5: Did not enter
- Series 6: Heat, Round 2
- Series 7: Did not enter