| Photo ID # | c02.05.06_112_BAL_SYR_0080_1 |
| Car #: | #112 |
| Driver (s) : | Gary Balough |
| Location: | Syracuse |
| Date: | 1980's |
| Photographer: | Bob Scott |
| Photo provided by: | Bob Scott |
| Comments: | Comment from Bob: Here's a shot of Balough behind Jack Johnson from the race. Looks like he is just riding as if he could pass at will. |
| Visitor's Comments | To add your comments about THIS PHOTO - Click Here | |
| Date: | Visitor's Name: | Comment: |
| 02/11/06 | Bill Hanna | I like Bob's comment. I compared the batmobile to a slot-car, and yes he could pass at any time he wanted, it was that dominate, and changed the sport of DIRT racing forever................ and in my opinion RUINED IT. |
| 02/12/06 | Barry MillerBarry & Lesa Miller | I agree with Bill hanna's comment, I think this car ruined Modified stock car racing. After this car dominated everyone started copying it until we had what we have today. Every car looks the same and nobody dominates. What are the new cars suppose to be, they do not resemble anything I see on the road. They look ugly with their wide bodies and small tires. Someone should start a retro division with the old rules and bring back real racing. The glory days of drag tires and fuel injection are long gone and I miss them. |
| 02/14/06 | Paul Garzillo | Talented innovator Kenny Weld and driver Gary Balough sure left their mark
on the sport when they brought the 'Batmobile' to Syracuse in 1980. The car had interior louvers that moved and also adjustable rubber skirts at the bottom of the body to aid in handling and traction [or at least that was the party line at the time]. I tip my hat to how they applied advanced technology to the gray areas of the rulebook. Having said that, I would have to agree that this car changed the sport of dirt track racing forever, and it moved our beloved form of racing from a salvage yard, garage mechanic sport to one of specialized parts and technology. Unfortunately, the coupes, sedans and real car bodies were for the most part discarded to make way for the aero packages, and later flex chassis and $40k motors. This is the same problem with NASCAR. As Richard Petty said recently, "the sport used to be 'bout racin', now its all about technology and how much money you got". Good racing is always better than just going fast. Personally, I would love to see a weekly retro division [not just an exhibition show], featuring original bodies, at one of the tracks. I know Mr 3 Wide feels the same way. Maybe a 'legend' or two will come out of retirement. Re-creations such as Dave Spurlin's #42 and the Norcia #81 tell me there is still interest and talent out there to make it happen. One thing is for sure-- many more guys could get into the sport if they didn't have to mortgage the house to buy a motor and a trailer! |
| 02/25/06 | Todd Lewis | As the great Smokey Yunick said "Money Buys Speed How Fast Do You Want To Go". |
| 09.23.10 | BK | After being to Syracuse for past 32 yrs there are stories
there are never talked about. Following Friday's qualifying, they held a hot lap session where qualified cars held a hot lap session.Gary with this car turned laps faster then the sprint cars. unfortunately there is no official time to verify this fact but those of us who witnessed this were in total aw. |
| 12.31.17 | Mike Losee |
BK...All these years later I never realized that! I
often wondered how the "Batmobile" would fare against the sprints. I knew it
was THAT fast. Fortunately I was there in 1980 but must have missed those
hot laps! That beautiful powerful advanced unique car with the great Gary
Balough behind the wheel was "awe" inspiring all weekend, also when he
pitted late and just charged through all the competition, ALL 27 or 28 of
them, right to the front in a mere 17 laps...Wow!... |
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