Panic Attack (robot)

The robot Panic Attack was a contestant on Robot Wars for six years from Series 2-7. It was best known for winning Series 2, and continuing to be a strong competitor in later competitions. It was a short, box-shaped robot painted yellow (gold in Series 6) with a large black spider on the top of the machine. Its main weapons were lifting spikes located on the front of the robot, capable of overturning another robot. However, these weapons were not used extensively until Series 3.

The team captain of the robot was Kim Davies. Also on the team was his son Michael Davies and for a brief period of time Christian Bridge (who won a competition in Robot Wars Magazine). Kevin Pritchard, a team member from their Series 2 victory went on to create a similar robot named Evil Weevil who experienced limited success in Series 3, but failed rather miserably to make any progress in Series 4. In Series 7, Davies quit the team to work as a technical assistant on the show, so the team was entirely changed, now with Pritchard returning and taking over the controls with teammates Paul Wier and then-webmaster of the official Panic Attack website, Jamie McGarry.

As champion of Series 2 and a good contestant in later wars, Panic Attack was one of the competitor robots immortalized in plastic when the Robot Wars toys were released. A 'Minibot' toy plus a working pullback with flipping spikes and a 'Pitstop' toy were released.

eries 2

Heats

Panic Attack was airborne in the gauntlet after Sir Killalot held down the end of the see-saw and Panic Attack drove off onto Dead Metal. Good control and driving meant it outmanoeuvred Shunt in the trial. It managed to flip Whirling Dervish with its spikes in the semi final, before winning the show by pushing Disruptor into the pit.

emi-Final - Gauntlet

In comparison to the other five robots, who took the centre route, Panic Attack went for a different route - it took on the ram rig, but got stuck. Amazingly, it managed to travel exactly the same distance as Mace.There was then a race-off between Mace and Panic Attack - both robots contested the gauntlet at the same time. Panic Attack whizzed forward onto the spikes. Both robots went up their ramp - Panic Attack went off into Shunt, but Mace was trapped by the Sentinel, which eventually pushed it into the pit, meaning Panic Attack got through.

emi-Final - Pinball

Panic Attack drove through the bricks and barrels. In went over the ramp for 15 points, and got more bricks (worth 5 points) after fighting Dead Metal and Matilda.

emi-Final - vs. Mortis

Both robots drove straight at each other, and there was a lot of dodging, with Panic Attack avoiding the deadly tanto blade of Mortis. In a shock result, Panic Attack pushed Mortis into the pit (with some help from Matilda).

Grand Final Eliminator - vs. Killertron

Panic Attack came straight in and pushed Killertron back. Something inside Killertron dislodged, immobilising Killertron, and Sir Killalot flipped it and dangled it over the flame pit. During this, Panic Attack celebrated by attacking the house robots and pushing Sgt. Bash into the pit, despite going in itself.

Grand Final vs. Cassius

Both robots drove at and hit each other. Cassius got under Panic Attack but could not flip it. On their second attempt at driving at each other, Panic Attack mounted Cassius' ramp but flew straight over the top onto its wheels. The robots drove around and hit each other for a bit, but in a surprise result, Panic Attack pushed Cassius into the pit.

eries 3

Round 1 vs. Axios

This match had a very fast start, with both robots driving in to each other. Panic Attack pushed Axios into Dead Metal, but it managed to escape. Axios then trapped Panic Attack twice with its long lance. The robots drove around each other until Panic Attack lifted Axios and flipped it over. Panic Attack then proceeded to attack Matilda, and managed to flip it!

Round 2 vs. Toe Cutter

This battle had a slow start, until Panic Attack got under Toe Cutter. It could not, however, flip it, but it managed to avoid the blade. Toe Cutter used its blade but was lifted again by Panic Attack, who lost the light on its top. Panic Attack drove around in circles until Toe Cutter fell off its side and was immobilised. Panic Attack then attacked Sergeant Bash.

Round 3 vs. X-Terminator

This was a good battle. X-Terminator started quickly, but Panic Attack managed to avoid its spike by whizzing around the arena. X-Terminator trapped it and pushed it around the arena and into Sergeant Bash. It then attacked Panic Attack with its spike. Panic Attack then pushed X-Terminator into the arena wall, bursting X-Terminator's carbon dioxide canister and rendering its weapons useless. Panic Attack flipped X-Terminator, but it rolled back onto its wheels. Panic Attack tried again, and this time X-Terminator was immobilised.

Round 4 vs. Thing 2

Thing II drove in quickly and rammed Panic Attack twice, before pushing it into Dead Metal and the arena wall. Thing II was flipped after Panic Attack (lifting it at the time) was bounced by the arena spike.

Round 5 vs. Firestorm

During the start of this well liked battle, the robots circled around each other, and Firestorm pushed Panic Attack into Sergeant Bash. The robots both took turns at getting under each other, but neither could use their flippers. Panic Attack was bounced by the arena spike, and Firestorm zoomed in to flip Panic Attack onto the arena wall. Panic Attack self-righted itself, before being pushed into Sir Killalot by Firestorm. Panic Attack then returned the favour by pushing Firestorm into the house robot, but it attacked Panic Attack. Panic Attack got under Firestorm and lifted it, but could not flip it over. The match went to a judge's decision, which was unanimous in favour of Firestorm.

eries 4

It can be noted that Panic Attack were the winners of the Sumo Basho competition in Series 4, being the only robot to stay longer than Shunt on the Sumo platform.

Round 1 vs. Overkill GTi vs. SMIDSY

Panic Attack drove into Overkill. SMIDSY then got under Overkill, and Overkill flipped it later. Panic Attack wedged Overkill into the arena spike, and lifted it, before it was rammed by SMIDSY. Panic Attack lifted Overkill again onto the arena wall. Both Panic Attack and SMIDSY then pushed Overkill into the CPZ, and lifted it. It went to a judges decision and Overkill GTI was out.

Round 2 vs. Saw Point

Panic Attack tried to lift Saw Point, but lifted itself instead. It then tipped Saw Point onto its side, and lifted it. It tried to flip Saw Point out of the arena but couldn't, so instead it pushed it around the arena.It was later considered immobilized and was dropped in the pit.

Round 3 vs. SMIDSY

SMIDSY rammed into Panic Attack's sides, and drove over the robot many times. Panic Attack then pushed SMIDSY into Shunt, but was caught itself by Dead Metal. Panic Attack then lifted SMIDSY and held it over the flame pit. Its fork had got stuck in SMIDSY's wheel opening, but Panic Attack managed to drag it around, eventually lowering SMIDSY in the pit.

Round 4 vs. Spawn Of Scutter

Spawn drove over Panic Attack, which lifted it and pushed it into the arena wall and Shunt's CPZ. Spawn tried to use its spike, but Panic Attack lifted it and wedged it on the arena wall

Round 5 vs. Stinger

Panic Attack drove into Stinger, but found it hard to attack. Stinger used its axe on Panic Attack's sides and lifting mechanism. Stinger spun around and hit Panic Attack many times. Panic Attack pushed Stinger into Matilda, but went into the CPZ. Panic Attack then pushed Stinger into the arena wall, but the poor judges decision meant that Stinger was the winner.

The team were booed, as many thought that Panic Attack should have went through.

eries 5

Round 1 vs. Barberous

Panic Attack were always going to have problems here. Barberous is a very good robot. It has a powerful vertical spinning body, so nothing to grab onto. The lights on top of PA flew, but Barberous broke down on one side, and was pitted.

Round 2 vs. Tiberius 2

Panic Attack on the early attack, but Tiberius 2 got its claw into PA's weapon. PA worked free and the pushing continued. PA then lifted Tiberius 2 up again and pinned it to the wall. The House Robots came in, and PA tried to flip Shunt over. PA then did its normal trick and dropped Tiberius 2 down the pit, almost falling in itself.

Round 3 vs. Kat 3

PA got an early lift on Kat III, but then couldn't get loose again. Ramming at the wall didn't help either. So PA opened the pit - You know what happened next. Well, PA still couldn't get Kat free and somehow knocked it down the pit.

Round 4 vs. Pussycat

Panic Attack wasn't able to put up a good fight in this one. It was suffering from radio interfence problems and couldn't control well. It got stuck in with the House Robots, but did get free. Pussycat attacked and broke Panic's weapon and that was the end of it. Later, the Panic Attack team found that a loose screw had grounded on the shell, causing the interference.

Loser's Melee vs. Firestorm 3 vs. Wheely Big Cheese

One thing was certain with this fight. The winner would be wearing yellow. Panic Attack and Firestorm were straight in on Wheely Big Cheese to try and knock it out. Wheely Big Cheese got a hit on Panic Attack, rolling it into the air. It stayed in, but was knocked for six, and slowed down. Firestorm carried on attacking Wheely Big Cheese, getting it jammed on the wall, and almost out. But then Wheely Big Cheese broke down again, leaving the other two to fight it out. Panic attack still wasn't completely working, and Firestorm were on the attack. The judges give the win to Firestorm, who headed back into the main competition.

eries 6

Round 1 vs. ROCS vs. Corkscrew vs. Kronic 2

Panic Attack lifted Kronic up and ROCS buried his jaw into Kronic, but then Corkscrew came in and slammed into Panic Attack so hard, that one of their side skirts flew off. Corkscrew then slammed into Kronic, bending one of Kronic's flippers. Kronic quickly pressed the Pit Button. Corkscrew flew off of Kronic and fell right down the Pit. Kronic then went after ROCS and flipped the Razer look-a-like over. They couldn't self-right and were leaking hydrualic fluid all over the arena, so they were counted out by Refbot, then flipped through the air on the floor flipper. Kronic then flipped Panic Attack over. Kronic was the only robot mobile as Sir Killalot picked ROCS up and dumped them into the pit. Panic Attack appeared to have some luck in this fight. He and Kronic go through.

Down in the Pits, the Corkscrew team were angry about losing thinking that no one opened the pit. They demanded to see the tape of the battle, so they did. However, it showed that Kronic opened the pit.

Round 2 vs. A-Kill

This fight was considered too boring by many. Panic Attack picked A-Kill up and started pushing them around the arena. A-Kill tried to fight back with their self-righter. When it appeared that wasn't going to work, A-Kill was pushed into the CPZ. Shunt axed A-Kill. Panic Attack then carried A-Kill into the Pit Release and pitted him. Panic Attack was then through to the Heat final.

Round 3 vs. Terrorhurtz

The #8 seeds were eliminated horribly. Terrorhurtz pounded them over and over and over with the axe. PA was pushed into Shunt's CPZ and got stuck. Refbot counted out PA. Shunt axed PA several times and then here comes the beautiful Matilda! WHAM! One hit from the flywheel ripped PA's lid off, sending it flying into the camera. PA was then flipped on the floor flipper and then Shunt pushed them onto the Drop Zone where a washing machine fell on PA. The ex-champions actually came to and tried to escape the washer, but didn't make it! Aw, well. Terrorhurtz celebrated. They're through to the series semi-finals!

eries 7

Round 1 vs. Edge Hog vs. Mega Morg vs. Spin Doctor

Panic Attack slammed into Spin Doctor, nearly flipping them. Edgehog axed Mega Morg. Panic Attack then pushed Spin Doctor into the Pit Button and flipped them over. Spin Doctor couldn't recover. The Welsh boys then ganged up on Edgehog as Refbot counted Spin Doctor out. Edgehog started axing away at the yellow robots. Mr. Psycho then started hammering Spin Doctor and then carried the robot to the floor flipper, but then Panic Attack got in the way. Spin Doctor escaped...sort of. The House Robots surrounded Spin Doctor and Mr. Psycho was finally able to place Spin Doctor onto the floor flipper and launch them through the air. Mega Morg and Panic Attack then shoved Edgehog down the Pit. The Welsh boys, Panic Attack and Mega Morg go through.

Round 2 vs. Tough as Nails

Panic Attack could not get a grip on Tough As Nails. They were too big to lift up. Tough As Nails kept grabbing onto Panic Attack and pushing them around the arena. When they tried to push the UK champion onto the flame pit, Mr. Psycho hammered the robot like a Nail that is Tough. Eventually, all the pushing caused Panic Attack's forklift to break. Tough As Nails pushed Panic Attack into the CPZ where Sgt. Bash grabbed hold of them and shot flames at them. Mr. Psycho then hammered Panic Attack, but they escaped. Panic Attack tried to push Tough As Nails down the Pit, but then time ran out. Tough As Nails won on a judges' decision.

Links

Panic Attack vs. Terrorhurtz [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VLxVp5wZfY]

Spawn of Scutter vs. Panic Attack [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD-mK10i6mY]

Panic Attack vs. FireStorm [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCPOxBndhFw]

X-Terminator 2 vs. Panic Attack [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmZfP2LZK1E]

Panic Attack vs. Stinger [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAczIKmRUt4]

Mortis vs. Panic Attack [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2yBBIMxJHo]

incumbent series
Preceded by:
Roadblock
UK Robot Wars Reigning Champion (Series 2)
Succeeded by:
Chaos 2

incumbent series
Preceded by:
Roadblock
UK Robot Wars Best Newcomer (Series 2)
Succeeded by:
Hypno-Disc