Originally built as a heavyweight, it would compete at the 1999 BattleBotsLong Beach event in this form. Following this, S.L.A.M. would be upgraded to a superheavyweight for the subsequent Las Vegas event, and the first two seasons of the televised Comedy Central run.
In all incarnations, S.L.A.M. was a cylindrically-shaped robot armed with a gas-powered full-body spinner. The weapon itself generally comprised of a tall shell with large wedge or blade-like extensions, made out of 28-inch sewer pipe. Over the course of its appearances, its design would undergo multiple changes besides the increase in weight afforded by the superheavyweight category. Externally, these included the switch from an orange, silver and black paint scheme to purple, white and silver, and the addition of a domed cover for Season 1.0 only. In BattleBots, S.L.A.M. endured limited success, its best performances being Round of 16 finishes in Seasons 1.0 and 2.0 respectively. Throughout its career, it accumulated only two victories by forfeit - against Agrippa and Cyclone respectively - and was also defeated in the various Rumbles it took part in.
S.L.A.M.'s name was an acronym, standing for Steve and Lowell's Attack Machine.
Steven and Lowell Nelson with S.L.A.M. at Season 1.0.
S.L.A.M. was originally built after the Robot Wars 1997 event which inspired the father-and-son team to build a robot. Following the cancelation of the proposed 1998 Robot Wars event in San Francisco, the duo had to wait until a highway underpass street fight to first use their machine in combat, where it fought Ginsu.Citation?
Robot History[]
Long Beach 1999[]
S.L.A.M. vs. Rhino
S.L.A.M.'s first match was against Rhino. Rhino won on a judges' decision and S.L.A.M. was now in the loser's bracket.
S.L.A.M. vs. Agrippa (Forfeit)
After it won against Agrippa by forfeit, it went up against Rhino again.
S.L.A.M. vs. Rhino
Rhino won the fight by KO and S.L.A.M. was eliminated from the tournament.
Gigabot Rumble
S.L.A.M. also participated in the end-of-event Gigabot Rumble, losing overall to UK Robot Wars stalwart Razer.
Las Vegas 1999[]
S.L.A.M. vs. Minion
Minion gets S.L.A.M. on the killsaws.
S.L.A.M.'s first and only match was against Minion. In the match, Minion drove bumper-first at S.L.A.M. while it was still spinning up to speed but missed, allowing S.L.A.M. to reach full speed. Minion then turned around and began to push S.L.A.M. while damaging it with its twin saw blades. Minion pushed S.L.A.M. into the killsaws, which got it high-centered on its own chain flail. After some more damaging hits from the saws and a hit from the killsaws, S.L.A.M became incapacitated. Minion won by KO and S.L.A.M. was eliminated from the tournament.
Superheavyweight Royal Rumble
S.L.A.M. immobilized during the rumble.
Similarly to its Long Beach heavyweight incarnation, S.L.A.M. would also participate in the Superheavyweight Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament. S.L.A.M. started spinning its shell and hit Minion's saw blades, ripping off the drivetrain for the saw blades in the process. S.L.A.M was bumped by Ginsu and S.L.A.M. started spinning again. S.L.A.M. hit Ricon from the side and was bumped by Ginsu again. S.L.A.M. hit Ricon's front and Ginsu charges straight at S.L.A.M. S.L.A.M. was pushed against the spikestrip and started spinning again. S.L.A.M. hit the side of Ginsu and almost flips it onto its side. Suddenly, S.L.A.M. stopped moving and Ginsu charges straight at S.L.A.M. again. Ginsu stopped moving right next to the immobilized S.L.A.M. and after World Peace and Ricon were the only ones that were fighting, the time ran out and World Peace was declared the winner of the rumble.
Season 1.0[]
S.L.A.M. vs. DooAll
DooAll stops S.L.A.M.'s spinning shell with its wedge.
S.L.A.M. gets pushed by DooAll.
S.L.A.M.'s first and only match in Season 1.0 was against DooAll. As S.L.A.M. started spinning its shell, DooAll was moving slowly out of its starting square. DooAll lowers its rear wedge and collides into S.L.A.M. S.L.A.M. stopped spinning and both robots were almost caught on the killsaws. S.L.A.M. moves to the corner of the arena and DooAll starts pushing it against the spikestrip. DooAll backs up and S.L.A.M. escapes right on the killsaws. DooAll pushes S.L.A.M. against the spikestrip and S.L.A.M.'s spinning shell stopped moving. DooAll backs up and S.L.A.M was having control problems. DooAll took a small lift from the hellraisers and starts pushing S.L.A.M. with its pneumatic ram. DooAll backs up again and kept pushing S.L.A.M. against the spikestrip. As S.L.A.M. was still having control problems, DooAll backs up once more and raised its rear wedge and pneumatic ram. Suddenly, DooAll was also having control problems and drives itself hard against the arena wall twice. DooAll was barely moving and S.L.A.M. was being counted out. DooAll won by KO at 2:51 and S.L.A.M. was eliminated from the tournament again.
Superheavyweight Royal Rumble
S.L.A.M. during the Superheavyweight Royal Rumble.
S.L.A.M. once again took part in the end-of-season Superheavyweight Royal Rumble. In the opening moments, it nudged Rhino from the rear and S.L.A.M. hits one of Ronin's static spikes. S.L.A.M. kept on spinning and slams into the rear of Rhino again. S.L.A.M. hits Ronin's static spikes again and S.L.A.M. stopped spinning. S.L.A.M. tried spinning its shell, but it was being bumped by a big pile up of superheavyweights. S.L.A.M. was barely moving and was hit by Rhino's pneumatic spike. S.L.A.M. was moving around the arena and tried spinning its shell again. Eventually, S.L.A.M. broke down by the entrance ramp and the time ran out soon after. Minion was declared the winner of the Superheavyweight Royal Rumble and S.L.A.M. lost overall.
Season 2.0[]
S.L.A.M. vs. Cyclone (Forfeit)
S.L.A.M. was scheduled to fight Cyclone first, but Cyclone had technical issues and was forced to forfeit.
S.L.A.M. vs. Ronin (Forfeit)
S.L.A.M. won by default and was scheduled to fight Ronin next. However, S.L.A.M. itself had issues and had to pull out. Ronin won the fight by default and S.L.A.M. was subsequently eliminated.
"From Quincy, California, weighing in at 239 pounds. With a Number 5 ranking and from the creative father and son team of Lowell and Steve Nelson. Introducing, Steven and Lowell's Attack Machine. Also known as, S.L.A.M.!"
"It's the round mound of pound. It's 304 pounds of brute force. Lets hear it for S.L.A.M.!"
