| Full Metal Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Cathy Rogers Henry Rollins |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | Richborough Power Station |
| Running time | 1 hour 60mins (inc. comms) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Channel 4 |
Full Metal Challenge was a television series made by RDF Media for Channel 4 in the UK and the Learning Channel in the USA. Hosted by series creator Cathy Rogers and Henry Rollins, the show was very similar to Rogers' last show, Scrapheap Challenge. It was filmed in the United Kingdom with a budget of approx £6.5 million on location at the disused Richborough Power Station just outside Ramsgate in Kent.
Contents |
Twenty-seven teams from around the world compete in the challenge. Each team consists of 3 people. The teams were all given 1 month and $3000 USD (exchanged to their country's respective currency) to build a vehicle that "could withstand anything." Teams did not know ahead of time exactly what the events would be and how they would work. Periodically during the build, a technical advisor would visit the teams to make sure the vehicles would pass safety regulations and to make sure they stayed legal for the tournament. They were also required to be no heavier than 3 tons and/or wider than 8 feet (for the hall of mirrors). Cars ended up to be loud, noisy, big, and destructive. (qualities relished by the show's co-host, Henry Rollins)
The vehicles competed in a series of events, with each episode showing the competition between 3 vehicles. After the events, the teams each received points based on their performance. After all the events were complete, the team with the lowest score had to watch their car blow up, though it was feigned for effect. The two winning teams faced off in a sumo wrestling match. The winner of Sumo advanced to the next round of the tournament.
Each episode featured three of the following events. Teams were awarded 3 points for first place, 2 for second, 1 for third and none for failing to finish an event. In the event of a tie, the points for the two places are averaged and divided equally (i.e. a tie for second results in 1.5 points per team).
Cars start at the end of a soap slicked path with 10 pins at the other end, each weighing 150 lbs. Each team is given 2 trials to knock down as many pins as possible. Pins knocked over in the first trial are removed from play for the second trial. Each match of the first round features this game first.
In this game, all three teams start in the center of a crater-like dirt pit. Positioned facing away from the center, a giant wireframe soccer ball with flaming core is rolled into the center of the pit and before coming to rest, a signal sounding the beginning of the game sounds. The first team to push the ball out of the pit wins the game. Afterwards, the game is reset for the remaining two teams to settle second and third. If a car goes over the lip of the pit in the process of scoring a goal, a foul is called and the cars are put back into starting position. For the final, posts were added marking a goal and in order for the goal to count, teams had to push the ball in any one of the 3 goals.
Teams begin on the outside of a giant hexagon maze with reflective walls and attempt to drive to the center marked by the FMC logo. Once green flagged, they must find the quickest route out of the maze entirely. First team to clear the maze wins. Finding a clear path can prove difficult as some walls are allowed to rotate, changing the layout of the maze. Teams are allowed to watch a monitor with an overhead look at the maze and can communicate directions to the driving teammate.
All three teams begin in a soapslicked area and proceed to run into beacons scattered around the play area. Teams score points depending on the beacon hit and after contact, render the beacon out of play for 35 seconds. This information was kept hidden from teams but they were aware that only lit beacons counted for points. After 5 minutes, teams scores were tallied and event points awarded accordingly.
One at a time, teams drive their vehicle around a course that includes two 50 foot high teeters, a tricky 3-way teeter, a 30 degree inverted bank and multiple bumps along the way. Teams try to complete the course in as little time as possible. For each time a car falls off the edge of the track, a 20 second penalty is assessed.
Teams start at the edge of a field flooded with 3 feet of water. Teams maneuver to red hydrants scattered around the course and in order to continue, the car must complete a 360 degree turn in reverse around it. After all the hydrants had been circled, the team drives back to the start in order to stop the clock. Ten seconds are assessed in penalties for failing to complete a circle or for knocking signs or people over, fastest time wins the event.
Teams start amongst 7 mounds, each with a sign at the top. Three of the mounds are assigned solely to one team, three more are assigned as shared between two teams and the last mound shared by all three teams. After the start, teams must knock over two of the three signs set up around the center mound with their cars. Signs shared by teams can be knocked over by either of the two teams assigned to it. Once a team has two of the signs on the outer ring knocked over, they then attempt the center mound. Because of the fact that signs are shared, it is entirely possible for a team to be eliminated if both of their shared signs are claimed by the other teams. Once a team has finished, the other two are allowed to start from where they left off to attempt to complete the center mound. If teams cannot finish and it results in a tie, whomever climbed up the hill closest to the center sign wins. This event was always played as the first event of the semifinal round.
Teams are lined up at the start and must complete two laps of the course, covered in multiple jumps, ponds, and hay bale walls. First to finish wins. This event was only played as the first event of the final round.
After the last place team was eliminated, the remaining 2 teams would compete in Sumo. The sumo ring was oversized for the cars and was sectioned off so that various sections contained hazards. Water, sand, barbed wire, tire spikes and other devices were included to make the possibility of breakdown more likely. As with sumo wrestling, the first team to push the opponent out of the ring wins. Victory was also declared in the event of a vehicle surrendering or being rendered incapacitated.
The Aquaholics
Team Members: Adam Russell Kyte, Martyn Pitman and Tony Stankus
Vehicle: Octopush
The Dodgy Oppos
Team Members: Anthony Edwards, Kevin Noble and David Davies
Vehicle: Wolverine
The Pole Cats
Team Members: David Ganiford, Rodney Arnold and Chris Thompson
Vehicle: White Noise
The Have A Go Likelies
Team Members: Barry Babister, Stuart White and Neil Challice
Vehicle: Devil's Mule
The Battle Bodgers
Team Members: Steve Atkin, Phil Hopwood and Martin Mitchell
Vehicle: Pure Adrenalin
The Body Snatchers
Team Members: Tim Miles, Debbie Bilton and Gerry Lea
Vehicle: Stomp
Three Shades of Grey
Team Members: Peter Anderson, James Anderson and John Brian Anderson
Vehicle: Wild Thing
The Mud Hatters
Team Members: Jeremy Greenwood, Michael Williams and Stephen Nicholls
Vehicle: Mega Hurtz
The Tartan Tinkerers
Team Members: Arie Rodenburg, George Gray and Tarik Rodenburg-Abro
Vehicle: Spartacus
Tribal Force
Team Members: Paul Shipman, Edward Hara and Leslie Hara
Vehicle: Rez Ride
The Snowdiggers
Team Members: Jonathan Gendron, Benoit Ranger and Christian Poirier
Vehicle: Steel Survivor
The Death Guild
Team Members: Sam Nordemann, Matthew Noble and David Howe
Vehicle: Monkey
Country Boys
Team Members: Keith Hartzog, Corkey Perkins and Billy Stafford
Vehicle: Southern Crusher!
The Hot Rods
Team Members: John Streets, John Buddenbaum and Jay Streets
Vehicle: Double Dub
The Law Dawgs
Team Members: Tom Rhea, Dave Corder and Michael Hicks
Vehicle: Impact Weapon
The Ball & Chain Gang
Team Members: Tim Wiggans, James "Jamie" Collins and Robert Cochran
Vehicle: Idiodyssy
The Washburn Family
Team Members: Ray Washburn, Shane Washburn and Jon Washburn
Vehicle: Aggravator
Chicago Fire
Team Members: Mike Kappel, Joseph Mrozek and Edward Brennan aka Proby
Vehicle: 911
The Kalahari Cats
Team Members: Mike Rideout, Guy Fielding and Gavin Coetcee
Vehicle: Leopard
The Desert Pumas
Team Members: Attilio Gattavara, Pedro Boeri and Nestor Aguilera
Vehicle: Marabunta
Kiwi Thunder
Team Members: Trevor McCoid, Kent McCoid and Steve McCoid
Vehicle: Black Thunder
The Flamin' Aussies
Team Members: Melissa Thompson, Jane Casos and Rebecca Anderson
Vehicle: Deflector
The Flying Horses
Team Members: Zhong-qi Sun, Tian Sun and Guo-Feng Chiang
Vehicle: Flying Horse
Indian Hope Trick
Team Members: Raj Kapoor, Vijay Parmar and Jayesh Desai
vehicle: Delhi Belly
The Russian Bears
Team Members: Maxim Nagaytsev, Evgueni Novitski and Alexey Novitski
Vehicle: Siberian Monster
The Autobahn Boys
Team Members: Heinz Udo Fink, Ulrich Weinberg and Christian Diekmann
Vehicle: Humungus
The Ice Vikings
Team Members: Rafn Hardarson, Sverrir Ingjaldsson and Haldor Bjornsson
Vehicle: Thor
| Team | 10 Pin | Bumper Cars | Rollercoaster | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Pumas | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | W |
| Chicago Fire | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | L |
| Have A Go Likelies | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | X |
| Team | 10 Pin | Pitball | Rollercoaster | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Dawgs | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | W |
| Pole Cats | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | L |
| Indian Hope Trick | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | X |
| Team | 10 Pin | Pitball | Wetropolis | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Boys | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | L |
| Flamin' Aussies | 1.5 | 3 | 1 | 5.5 | W |
| Dodgy Oppos | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | 4.5 | X |
| Team | 10 Pin | Hall of Mirrors | Rollercoaster | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball and Chain Gang | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | L |
| Flying Horses | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | W |
| Three Shades of Grey | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | X |
| Team | 10 Pin | Pitball | Wetropolis | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Family | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | L |
| Body Snatchers | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | W |
| Kalahari Cats | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | X |
| Team | 10 Pin | Bumper Cars | Wetropolis | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Diggers | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3 | 7 | W |
| Autobahn Boys | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 6 | L |
| Battling Bodgers | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | X |
| Team | 10 Pin | Hall of Mirrors | Rollercoaster | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Vikings | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | W |
| Death Guild | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | L |
| Mud Hatters | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | X |
| Team | 10 Pin | Bumper Cars | Rollercoaster | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaholics | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | W |
| Russian Bears | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | L |
| Hot Rods | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | X |
| Team | 10 Pin | Hall of Mirrors | Wetropolis | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiwi Thunder | 2.5 | 3 | 3 | 8.5 | W |
| Tartan Tinkerers | 2.5 | 2 | 0 | 4.5 | L |
| Tribal Force | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | X |
| Team | King of the Hill | Bumper Cars | Wetropolis | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaholics | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | W |
| Flamin' Aussies | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | L |
| Flying Horses | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | X |
| Team | King of the Hill | Pitball | Rollercoaster | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Diggers | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | W |
| Body Snatchers | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | L |
| Kiwi Thunder | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | X |
| Team | King of the Hill | Bumper Cars | Wetropolis | Total | Sumo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Vikings | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | L |
| Desert Pumas | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | W |
| Law Dawgs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | X |
| Team | Grand International | Pitball | Rollercoaster | Total | Sumo | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaholics | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | W | |
| Snow Diggers | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | L | |
| Desert Pumas | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | X |
In the graphic that showed what countries the teams were from, Italy was highlighted but no team from Italy competed.
The configuration of the pins in 10 pin matched that of conventional bowling for the first two matches then, they were more spread out with three across the front to prevent a strike. Also, in Bumper Cars, all of the targets were fixed to the floor but because nearly all of them were broken during the game, in other matches they were refitted to be mobile targets as to prevent further damage. The pole targets, nonetheless, were still being knocked over and so they were redesigned a second time to make them less top heavy. Because all the targets became mobile, they ended up getting pushed to the edge of the playing area, leading the referees to divide the game into two halves so that they could reset the game and continue the 5 minutes. Certain games also saw the Referees step in and warn of rough driving, most notably in Pitball.
At the time some of the vehicles involved in the series were on display at the Beaulieu Motor Museum. Only the top three finishers and the Southern Crusher were displayed , the Southern Crusher was stolen from the warehouse at the end of the year long display before it could be returned to the owners in North Carolina. The other vehicles were destroyed to prevent the production company from being liable for any damages or injuries after the show was filmed.
The series originally aired on Channel 4, and is now repeated on Dave.