While some people are getting hyped for March Madness this month, the big annual March event I’m getting hyped for is the Midwest Robot Combat Association (MRCA)’s major event, Michigan Mashup, happening tomorrow. This competition will have some of the hardest hitters in the Midwest in the 150g US Fairyweight, 1lb US Antweight, and 3lb Beetleweight classes. With the 1lbers and 3lbers fighting for MRCA ranking points and a potential spot in the MRCA finals, and with a field of high contenders, this event is sure to be an interesting one. Let’s get into the competitors!
10 150g bots will be battling it out in a non-ranked but nonetheless chaotic class tomorrow. On the subject of chaotic, we’ll have Fermi, a Depth Charge-style horizontal with the weapon driving the robot! With a 75 gram weapon, Fermi will definitely be a bot to look out for. Another top contender showing up will be Toxicity, a wide vertical spinner that boasts podium finishes in all 3 of its performances. As a matter of fact, Toxicity was fairyweight champion at last year’s Michigan Mashup as well! We’ll see if they can keep the title. Last bot worth mentioning is R.A.M., the Really Awesome Machine! R.A.M. boasts a couple 1st place finishes and a 5th place at RCL Nationals! Running a bolt tooth drum spinner, R.A.M. will definitely be a contender for this event.
The 150g class for Michigan Mashup this year is looking to be chock full of dangerous spinners and huge hits! Let’s move onto the ants.
The 1lb field for Michigan Mashup this year is looking average (average meaning terrifying). An attending bot that is nothing short of terrifying is Cuttlefish, the #8 nationally ranked ant! Cuttlefish has a good amount of podium finishes to its name, and embraces the classic wide vert design. Another bot coming that’ll be one to watch is the Canadian hammersaw menace, Smirking Cat Sawbot! Having taken home 3 podiums at BotBrawl events, you better watch your LiPos if you’re up against this bot. Some more bots worth mentioning are a HUGE horizontal in Cattywampus, the 4WD beater bar Pablo Escobeater, a large undercutter named Agrajag, and crab-themed bot Brachyura.
There are even more scary bots than what I just mentioned in the ant bracket for Michigan Mashup this year. For the full list, feel free to check out the RCE listing as well as the event page on the Havoc Rundown!
As usual, the beetleweight bracket for this event is looking just as scary as the ants. A competitor I’m excited to see back in the ring is Hound, an Ablation-style drisk spinner that is being taken off the shelf after competing last in 2022. What upgrades will Hound have in store? We’ll find out. A great bot worth checking out this event is definitely Pipeline Punch. The former MRCA 3lb champion with countless podium finishes will definitely be sure to show out at this event. A few more bots worth looking out for in beetles are NHRL veteran Revolver, the Tropical Trouble kit Self Esteem Engine, and the 3WD onniwheel vert Crazy Horse Girl.
Will Pipeline Punch take home yet another dub, or will someone else take the gold? We’ll find out tomorrow.
Best of luck to all competitors at this event! I’m excited for some big hits and some big wins. If you’re in the Bloomingdale MI area, feel free to watch the action at Bloomingdale Communications, with fights tentatively scheduled to start around 10AM.
That’s all from me, have a wonderful weekend!
-Nicole