- "Something of a rarity these days, a tracked robot."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Trax was a one-time competitor that fought in Series 7 of Robot Wars. It performed well in its opening melee, advancing over Shredder Evolution and Sub-Version 1.1 before it lost in the second round to the eventual runner-up Storm 2.
Design[]
Trax in the pits with flipper open
The tracks of Trax
Trax was a box-wedge shaped robot, with a front wedge. It was tracked, as the name suggests, for superior grip and pushing power, and its weapon was a front-hinged flipping arm with a unique rack and pinion system. The statistics board claimed that it was interchangeable with an axe, but this was likely untrue. The flipper was powerful enough to flip robots over, though without the strength required for an out of the arena flip, and the weapon's position on the machine required Trax to be far underneath an opponent to use its weapon, though it would likely prove an effective srimech. Trax boasted a high top speed with its powerful Magmotors, but in return lacked grip on its tracks, and skidded along the arena floor on drives and turns.
The Team[]
- Main article: Team S.Tek
The team with Trax
Trax was entered by Team S-tec, nowadays spelled as Team S.Tek, who had previously competed the second series of Extreme with Hell's Teeth. The team was captained by Shane Swan, who drove the machine in both of its battles, and continued to captain the team for the remainder of their televised appearances. He was joined by Paul Morton, who was also part of the team in Series 9, and the roster was completed by Andrew Shepard. The team would later compete with Dantomkia and Push to Exit.
Robot History[]
Series 7[]
Trax made its debut in Heat I of the Seventh Wars where it was placed up against Steel Avenger, Sub-Version 1.1 and Shredder Evolution (who had all appeared in previous episodes) in the first round.
Trax slams Sub-Version 1.1 into the wall
Trax's first drive was towards Sub-Version 1.1, which flew over the top of Trax. Trax then tussled with Steel Avenger, and threw it up and onto its side while withstanding an axe swing in the process, but Steel Avenger self-righted. Next, Trax slid underneath Sub-Version 1.1 and drove it across the arena and into the side wall, and pressing the pit release tyre with a strong drive, but was unable to cause Sub-Version 1.1 any further problems with its thrusting arm, which narrowly missed its opponent when it was activated.
- "Trax could thrust the sub out here! Didn't work, that mechanism."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Trax fails to throw Sub-Version 1.1 with its flipping arm
Trax throws Steel Avenger onto its side
With seconds to go, Trax submerges Sub-Version 1.1
Trax then tentatively pushed the side of Steel Avenger as it held Shredder Evolution over the flame pit, before skirting over the flame pit itself and driving into the arena wall twice. After moving away, Trax engaged in another scuffle with Steel Avenger, first dodging an axe blow, before it took a clean hit the second time. Trax managed to throw Steel Avenger onto its side again, with it self-righting again. With seconds remaining, Trax came in with a side-on attack on Sub-Version 1.1, and its long drive ended up with Sub-Version 1.1 in the pit of oblivion, eliminating it from the competition and taking the other three remaining robots to a judges' decision, who sent Trax and Steel Avenger through to the second round.
- "Controversy reigns again on Robot Wars, what are you thinking?"
- — Craig Charles, to the judges, upon hearing the decision
In the next round, Trax was drawn against the number sixteen seed and New Blood champion Storm 2, which slammed its way past Supernova and Mayhem in its first round battle.
Trax is lifted by Storm 2
Storm 2 immediately caught Trax side-on and slammed it into the arena wall before slipping underneath its opponent and lifting it slightly. Storm 2 continued its early dominance as it drove Trax head-on into the side wall again before lifting Trax up after another drive. Trax was rammed into the barrier again, before Storm 2 activated and dislodged the pit release tyre.
- "Trax doing splendidly simply to survive here."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Trax tries to stand up to Storm 2's relentless pressure
Storm 2 sends Trax flying
Trax narrowly avoids a hammer blow from Mr. Psycho
Trax then skidded off into Mr. Psycho's CPZ, where it came under pressure from the House Robot's hammer, but managed to escape soon after. As the battle edged towards a judges' decision, Storm 2 attempted to force Trax down into the pit, but Trax held on as it skittered in and around the lip of the arena hazard. After Trax drove back into the centre of the arena, cease was called, and although Trax had managed to survive the whole battle, it was not enough to see it through to the Heat Final, and Trax was eliminated from the competition.
Results[]
| TRAX - RESULTS | ||
| Series 7 | ||
| The Seventh Wars - UK Championship Heat, Round 2 | ||
| Heat I, Round 1 | vs. Shredder Evolution, Steel Avenger, Sub-Version 1.1 | Qualified |
| Heat I, Round 2 | vs. Storm 2 (16) | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 1
Series Record[]
| Main Series | Trax Series Record |
|---|---|
| The First Wars | Did not enter |
| The Second Wars | Did not enter |
| The Third Wars | Did not enter |
| The Fourth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Fifth Wars | Failed to qualify with Hell's Teeth |
| The Sixth Wars | Failed to qualify with Hell's Teeth |
| The Seventh Wars | Heat, Round 2 |
| Series 8 | Entered with Dantomkia |
| Series 9 | Entered with Push to Exit |
| Series 10 | Entered with Push to Exit |
| Robot Wars Extreme | Appearances |
| Series 1 | Did not enter |
| Series 2 | Entered with Hell's Teeth |
NOTE: Shane Swan also competed in Battle of the Stars as mentor for Episode 1 third-place finisher Interstellar: MML.
Gallery[]
Outside Robot Wars[]
Trax at a live event after Series 7 as an early Envy
Envy, Trax's successor
During and after Robot Wars, Trax fought in live events, until it was scrapped, and in its place, Envy was made, which had been very successful over the years, notably finishing second in the 2011 UK Championships. Trax was converted into an early version of Envy before the completed machine was built.
For more information on Envy, and other robots built by the team, see Team S.Tek.
Trivia[]
Official Series 7 photo
- Trax was one of only two competitor robots in Series 7 to run on tracks, with the other being Tomahawk.
- Trax was the first robot built by Team S.Tek to use a front-hinged flipper. The team would later become the only competitors in Series 9 and 10 to use this type of weapon, with Push to Exit.
- Shunt was the only House Robot not to appear in the same episode as Trax or its predecessor Hell's Teeth.
- Both of Trax's battles ended with a judges' decision. It shares this feat with The Grim Reaper and Mantis.