The Spikestrips, alternatively Spike Strips or simply Spikes, are a retired BattleBots hazard which consisted of rows of spikes embedded into each of the yellow walls across the outside of the arena. They were introduced in the original BattleBox for the 1999 Long Beach and Las Vegas events, and were present throughout the entirety of the show's run on Comedy Central.
The spikes themselves, which extended several inches from each wall, were often utilized by robots with superior pushing power to impale opponents and puncture tires. At the 1999 Las Vegas event, Peter Lambertson explained that each individual spike had carbide tips to retain their sharpness.[1]
The damaged spikes following Minion vs. Codebreaker.
Each spike was noticeably longer ahead of Season 1.0, though the exact measurements are not known. Once straight, the spikes were known to deform and bend over time from repeated slams during fights, or even come away completely.
Peter Lambertson demonstrating the hazard during Las Vegas 1999.
Following the cancellation of BattleBots on Comedy Central, several of the televised BattleBox hazards were retired. The spikestrips remained for early BattleBots IQ events, but were replaced with bumper-like panels from the 2005 event onward.
The spikestrips were not reintroduced ahead of the show's ABC revival in 2015, with larger panels similar to those seen in later BattleBots IQ competitors seen surrounding the circumference of the modern BattleBox instead.
Appearances in Merchandise[]
- BattleBox/BattleBots: Beyond the BattleBox
- BattleBox/BattleBots Video Game
- BattleBots BattleBox (Toy)
Trivia[]
- Strangely, the spikestrips were not included in the KickBot Arena Game replica of the BattleBox.
References[]
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