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NE Mod Site Jan Garl Collection
via Dave Westerman
It was already becoming a time when it was hard to find the pre - WWII bodies on most modified stock cars. As they had become gradually harder and harder to come by, these old coupes and sedans were being replaced first by Falcons, then by Gremlins, Vegas, Pintos, and the like. Inevitably, with the popularity of the Gremlin as a body, race car manufacturers soon were not only making the racing chassis, but they were also designing and fabricating Gremlin - like bodies that used the latest in physics, aerodynamics, and technology.
In the midst of all this, came the 1980 dirt week extravaganza at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. I have no working knowledge of how the Batmobile came to be, but I do know that - when it came to Syracuse with Gary Balough as the driver - it stood the dirt modified racing world on its ear. Balough had come in with Kenny Weld with this wild rig, supposed to be a Lincoln Continental bodied modified. It had very imaginative body design, utilizing the air rusing past it and through it.
A write up for the Motorsports Racecar and Trade Show stated: "....he [Weld] and his co-creators – open-wheel race-car builder and metal fabricator Don Brown, former Northeast Modified driver and 1970 Daytona 500 winner Pete Hamilton and master engine-builder Mario Rossi – were doing was not going to be a waste of their time and efforts." The excellence of the car was no accident or fluke of luck.
I had the chance to talk to Balough when he briefly worked in my town a few years ago. I marveled at how he was practically lapping an entire field of the very best modified dirt racing had to offer. He muttered a little and allowed that the car, while really easy to drive that day, was not working at all up to its potential. DIRT, sensing a real problem with competitive balance, never allowed the car to race again. I got to see it when I was inducted into Weedsport in the 2000's. Gary again muttered that it hadn't been put back together correctly at all and that he didn't want to see it.
Gary eventually went on his way, not being able to stand the cold in Vermont. We all know the flap about how the car was financed and the subsequent prison terms it brought about; but, there may never be another single car that had the effect on the dirt modified world that the Batmobile had. There are guys who think it would still be compeitive today.
 Balough Collection via Lew Boyd Gary and the Batmobile sit a pre-race lineup. |
 Speedway Nostalgia Site Gary and the Batmobile sit a pre-race lineup. Different angle. |
 Source Unknown The Batmobile coming in on a very unassuming open trailer. |
 Source Unknown The Batmobile, in action. Either it WAS that easy to drive or Gary is under yellow. |
 Vintage Modifieds.Com Site This might be the most iconic photo of the Batmobile that day, perhaps in a pit stop. |
 Triplettracehosyr.com The Batmobile coming iright at you. |
 Courtesy of Ron Wetzler The Batmobile at Syracuse - from the rear. |
 Stock Car Racing Magazine Curious onlookers including Barefoot Bob McCreadie check it out with some of the skin removed. Most looked at it like it came down from a UFO. |
 John Gallant Collection Mike "Magic Shoes" McLaughlin drives for his life as Balough prepares to just swoop on by. |
 Source Facebook [Sorry , all I know] Gary Balough poses with a race queen in front of the car. I apologize, I don't know the other man. |
 Billy Gibson Pinterest Another view of the car at speed. |
 Rick Sweeten Photo via Three Wides The Batmobile, apparently iunder caution. |
 Source: 360 Nitro Site The Batmobile team, apparently. |
 Courtesy of Sam Barlow Gary poses by the car. |
 Nerfers Corner Reloaded.WordPress.com The Batmobile flashes under the checkers for the most lopsided win in Syracuse history. |
 Nerfers Corner Reloaded.WordPress.com The Batmobile, lined up in front of the whole field - where it would remain. |
 Nerfers Corner Reloaded.WordPress.com The Batmobile chases down what looks like the #60 car. |
 R. Scott Photo via Three Wides The Batmobile flashes by. |
AFTER THE SYRACUSE RACE
 Dirt Track Digest The Batmobile, on display at the DIRT HOF museum in Weedsport. |
 Roxanne Ladabouche Photo Jerry Cook poses with the Batmobile. I was honored to be inducted into Weedsport with Jerry, as well as Dick Kozze, Irv Taylor, Doug Hoffman, and Ron St. Marie. |
 Ladabouche Photo My rendering of the Batmobile. Having no background in dirt racing, my students never quite figured out why this was one of the drawings I made for them. |
 Guide Auto.com A camera art piece on the car. |
 Jalopy Journal The Batmobile, at some car show |
 Jalopy Journal The Batmobile, at the same car show |
 One Dirt.com The Batmobile, at some other display - from the rear. |
 Road Authority.com The Batmobile, at the same location - from the front. |
 Betta Talk,com The real Batmobile, made by George Barris for the 1960's TV series. It started as a 1957 Lincoln. |
THE BATMOBILE PERSONALITIES
 DIRT Photo A DIRT promo photo of Gary Balough. |
 Speed Sport Photo Kenny Weld, as a sprint car driver. |
 Ladabouche Photo MAn artist rendering of DIRT's major domo, Glenn "The Batmobile Has to Go" Donelly. A picture of him was surprisingly hard to find. |
 Flickr Photo Sharing George Barris, creator of the "real" Batmobile. |
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