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| Backlash competed at the October 5-7, 2001 BotBash! |
Here is the full scoop on how Backlash did for each fight at BotBash 2001:
Fight 1: vs. Sublime 4
Jerome Miles' newest revision of Sublime. This one had a steel frame, powerful drive, and fast lifting arm.
Backlash defeated Sublime by knocking him upside down and bending the frame significantly enough that Sublime 4 could not drive anymore.
Fight 2: vs. Blue Vixen
Backlash's next fight was against Blue Vixen, who wielded a deadly circular saw weapon.
Backlash went in and immediately took out Blue Vixen's weapon motor, shattering it open, then proceeded to tear up the support structure of Blue Vixen's Lexan armor.
Fight 3 vs. Gamma Raptor
A rematch from long ago (BattleBots Season 1.0 Backlash vs Alpha Raptor in the Finals). Backlash got to fight Gamma Raptor.
This match ended before it began. I'm not sure, but I think this was the quickest fight of the weekend.
Gamma Raptor had secretly replaced his lifter with a large steel wedge/scoop for this fight. He charged Backlash immediately, and Backlash caught the scoop just right and flipped over onto his back.
Quick Knockout by Gamma Raptor, so Backlash goes into the loser's bracket fights.
Fight 4 : vs. Wedge of Doom
Deja Vu all over again... Backlash was up against Wedge of Doom (just like at BattleBots earlier in the year).
Wedge of Doom had removed his lifter arm for this match, and added a reinforced large wedge plate.
Backlash managed to smash Wedge of Doom from the side and flip him upside-down. Wedge of doom was unable to right himself or drive upside down.
Fight 4 : vs. Ziggo
Lots of rematches! This one I was really looking forward to.. the fight of Ziggo vs. Backlash in the finals of BattleBots season 2.0 was pretty pitiful. Both robots were pretty beat up at the time, and not running to full efficiency, so I was always wondering what would happen if these two powerful bots met at full capacity.
Backlash charged Ziggo and the two spinners smashed into each other. Ziggo rebounded and hit the wall, Backlash got thrown back witha bent front 'leg', but kept on Ziggo, not letting him spin up to speed.
Ziggo got a couple more hits in on Backlash, but Backlash was relentless, smacking Ziggo over and over, opening up several gashes in Ziggo's steel shell, and shattering Ziggo's 1/4" tool steel blades!
Halfway through the match, Backlash's right wheel got stuck against his frame, I think it was from Ziggo bending the main shaft. Backlash was only able to move in a large circle, and Ziggo finally had his chance to spin up, but there were definite problems, presumably because of the indentations left in Ziggo's shell interfereing with the internals. Ziggo managed to push Backlash around briefly, but then, Backlash manoevered around, and managed to hit Ziggo another couple times, and suddenly, the stuck drive wheel somehow freed itself, and Backlash was driving again!
Backlash shoved Ziggo up against the wall and proceeded to pummel Ziggo full of holes until time ran out.
Jonathan signed Ziggo's broken blade and gave it to me! Another cool souvenir!
Fight 5 : vs. Gamma Raptor
Backlash proceeded into the finals match against undefeated Gamma Raptor (again).
This fight was a little more entertaining than our previous one. Both bots slammed into each other a bit, and then Gamma Raptor managed to get under Backlash and lift him off the ground. Gamma Raptor got his 'fin' hooked right up into Backlash's underside, and proceeded to carry Backlash around, slamming him into one wall, then another and another. This was a blast to watch, Gamma Raptor has a TON of power for this kind of stuff!
It seemed that Gamme Raptor was stuck under Backlash, and Backlash couldn't get out, so Gamma Raptor started a spin, and ended up tossing Backlash several feet into the middle of the arena. Awesome move.
Backlash spun up his weapon again and slammed into the wedge scoop on the front of Gamma Raptor, this one was enough to toss Gamma Raptor upside down, but he could still drive on his back wheels, despite the bent-up steel scoop.
The robots clashed a few more times before the time ran out.
Gamma Raptor took the judge decision and won 1st place. Backlash took 2nd, and got to keep Gamma Raptor's bent and beaten scoop, complete with Chuck Pitzer's signature! Cool!
That's it for Backlash at the 2001 BotBash tournament! See you next time!
