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| Backlash competed at the November 2001 BattleBots! |
Backlash was once again almost totally rebuilt for Season 4.0!
Changes this time around:
- Titanium Disc
- New 'Ripper' teeth
- 7075 Armor
- New, wider shape and a streamlined, shorter body
- Completely new electronics featuring IFI Control system
- Wider tires with better traction
Here is the full scoop on how Backlash did for each fight at San Francisco November 2001 BattleBots:
Fight 1: vs. Junkyard Dog 2.0
Backlash's first fight was against Junkyard Dog 2.0.
Junkyard Dog came to this event totally rebuilt with a new spinning sawblade (interchangable for a flat bar or flails). Junkyard Dog had already defeated Rolling Blackout.
This was actually a pretty quick fight. The bots moved out to the center of the arena, both weapons spinning, and Backlash zipped around to Junkyard Dog's side and caught the side frame support, flinging Junkyard Dog into the air. After the impact, neither bot seemed able to move.
It seemed that the impact had done something inside Backlash as well, I flipped my controller over and hit the 'robot reset' button on the IFI, and after the longest 4 seconds of my life, Backlash came back to life! Just in time too, the referee was saying "I need to see some movement...". Backlash did a quick victory spin and took the KO.
Total time: 59 seconds
Damage closeup (click for large view)
courtesy Ken Demshki
Fight 2: vs. Hexy Jr.
Backlash's next fight was against Team Whoopass' lightweight pneumatic flipping bot, Hexy Jr.
This powerful little bot featured a very powerful flipper and some very tough titanium armor. Just what Backlash didn't want...
This fight was even shorter than the first.
The bots zipped into the center of the arena, clashing together. I'm still not sure what exactly tossed Backlash upside down, but either Hexy activated his flipper, or the momentum of the bots coming together did Backlash in.
Because the speed of Backlash's disc had been slowed down by the impact, there wasn't enough momentum for the disc to hit the floor and kick Backlash back upright, so Hexy Jr. took the KO.
Total time: 50 seconds
Fight 3: Lightweight Rumble
This was all a blur to me. I basically remember Backlash being able to hit a couple bots, and then meeting Hexy Jr. again in the mayhem. Backlash got flipped upside down, but this time the disc was spinning full speed, resulting in a tremendous impact with the floor. As I had designed this version of Backlash to do, he kicked all the way up in the air and back over again.... too far. He did a full 360° spin and landed back on his back. In the process, Backlash sheared the bolts holding on the tooth that hit the floor, and I had to go find the tooth after the rumble was over.
That was cool!
Dr. Inferno Jr. went on to win the rumble ...using Backlash's old radio/receover that I had loaned to Jason earlier, I might add : )
That's it for Backlash in Season 4.0!
