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Bat Car: mysterious Detroit maker still unknown?


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#1 Maximo

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 01:08 PM

Gentleman of the Thingie Slot car Kingdom,

The BATCAR!!!
Fender+Arrowhead.jpg P1011215-vi.jpg
Ok, someone has to have been there to tell us the story of how this infamous Detroit THINGIE racer body was created and by whom? It has since been a favorite for many here and we would all love to know who might really know.
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Closest to who might know is Gene ZR1 Adams! A legend here already but I dont think he knows since he says it came from another Slot Raceway in the area but not the Groove!
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Maybe Im a crazy old kook, but I would love to know something about this untold (on the Internet) story. This low slung beauty has a bold stance and looks mean even when just sitting still!

If you have one built or made just for you, POST it here as lets admire all of them!!!
IMGP3148.jpg
Ask around, someone needs to have the story, or even bits of the story


-MaXimO

*All rights reserved for original picture copyrights holders.
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#2 Frank The Tank

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 04:36 PM

who's re-popping them now?


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#3 Maximo

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 05:25 PM

Batcar_1-vi.jpg

Gene's World!

Gene "ZR1" Adams, who did race at the Groove back in the day when Larry Shinoda was a big influence on the Detroit slot car racing scene, is the Master who has reproduced this sweet little baby from essentially the pictures first shown above from Model Car Science or maybe it was Car Model magazine.

He is a member here and can be more easily found on SlotForum as well, where he has re-imagined the Classis Manta Ray and Viper most recently! He has also produced an "evolution" version of the Batcar code-called the "Exotermic" and it is 3 1/8" wide. The version of the Batcar is 3" wide. I have a new project to come using the Exotermic body and it involves "old Detroit"!

Batcar_2-vi.jpg

-Xam...maX
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#4 Jairus

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 11:24 PM

I always liked this one too!

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Mostly because the wheels were left covered like the old #43 car.
 


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#5 Maximo

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Posted 12 January 2013 - 11:47 PM

I love that one and for some strange reason I never saw it before! Great strping.


-max

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#6 Maximo

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Posted 24 February 2013 - 01:02 PM

As clearly stated in this 60's article posted in the other thingie forum by Gene ZR1 Adams, the credit for this great design goes to JIM URSU!

I wonder what ever happened to Jim and if he produce any other thingie designs?
 


-Max

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#7 Champion 507

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Posted 25 February 2013 - 12:14 AM

Those are just downright awesome! :wub:

 

Cool paint jobs and great imagination!


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#8 Maximo

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 11:36 AM


Just wanted to state that even though Jim Ursu created this slot car design the "BATCAR" back in the late 60's, the current repop was created from pictures only and therefore that Intellectual Property is owned by Gene Adams of Gene's World. There may even be differencies between the original and Gene's version but so far an original example has not surfaced.

Otherwise, this Thingies forum is really dead now that the Proxy info has been moved to another section.


-Max

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#9 TSR

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 01:18 PM

The question is, was that "Batcar" body CREATED by Jim Ursu or was it by Larry S.? Is the caption simply saying that Jim BUILT the car using that body, or is he the actual creator of that design and not Shinoda?


Here is one of the two cars Larry S. gave to me in the last century, looking fairly close to one in the picture:

 

1898.jpg

 

But no Dynamic motor mount... just plain wire, and no Dyna-Rewind motor but a... Thorp! Very unlike Detroit...


Philippe de Lespinay


#10 Maximo

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 03:02 PM

Dokk,

That is a good question and no one has definatively answered it yet.

The BATCAR is not anything like Larry's other cars and if it were one of his, there should be someone or some media that could document that fact.

Maybe you are right that Jim Ursu did not create the Batcar, but I have heard over the years that several of the Raceway's in the Detroit area were making their own bodies in addition to Shinoda, and The Shores was one of them.

In my opinion. Larry's cars were generally smooth and slippery in their shape and not at all angular like the Batcar, but that is just by logical observation.

Will any of this be covered in your new book?


-Max

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#11 TSR

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 05:28 PM

Maybe you are right that Jim Ursu did not create the Batcar, but I have heard over the years that several of the Raceway's in the Detroit area were making their own bodies in addition to Shinoda, and The Shores was one of them.

 

And that is true, but we have some Shinoda bodies that look to have a parental connection with that Bat car. It is likely something that no one will never know for sure. What we know is that in the span of two years, the Shinoda bodies evolved, and the last ones were much less fantasy and a lot more aerodynamics than the early ones...


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#12 Gene/ZR1

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 05:53 PM

HI; TSR and MAX

 

TSR your bottom view looks like a Shinoda "Bullet" not the BAT CAR, it is rectangle for the most part.

 

For some reason the BAT CAR only was present in this one article.

 

My BAT CAR was done from a 1 inch photo as shown in the article, I could be way off with my model, but looks good enough for some racers to enjoy. I believe the BAT CAR is from SHORES RACEWAY.

 

The BAT CAR to me was well done by someone with talent and good skills, and credit needs to go to the unknown person.

 

TSR can you list your Shinoda body list?, I will be happy to send you single photos of all my molds and you can fill in the blanks.

 

I believe I have the most complete set of period correct recreated molds and variations from Larry's great work. I'm trying my best to make sure that there is one complete set in one place.

 

We all are getting old and older by the day, I think we all should work together and post up what we have so others can enjoy cause we are not taking this with us.

 

A thread of all threads should be started, before the forum writers start dropping off and all will be lost forever.

 

I just had a birthday and had to get a burning permit from the fire department do the mass amount of candles.

 

Any thoughts?, you all take care.

 

G;

 

The question is, was that "Batcar" body CREATED by Jim Ursu or was it by Larry S.? Is the caption simply saying that Jim BUILT the car using that body, or is he the actual creator of that design and not Shinoda?


Here is one of the two cars Larry S. gave to me in the last century, looking fairly close to one in the picture:

 

attachicon.gif1898.jpg

 

But no Dynamic motor mount... just plain wire, and no Dyna-Rewind motor but a... Thorp! Very unlike Detroit...


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#13 TSR

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 06:18 PM

Gene, I know my car is not the "Bat". On the picture in the article is a car looking similar to mine built by Pat Horner, that's what I was referring to... :)

 

So your opinion is that Shores raceway made the bat. Since you were there, your info is very precious to all enthusiasts and you are right, we should start a new thread trying to sort out all the known shapes by Larry and others. 

 

I just had a birthday and had to get a burning permit from the fire department do the mass amount of candles.

 

I hope that you are joking, because the news we get of Detroit in our own (financially and morally) bankrupt state are not that good... so maybe be the mayor is doing anything he can to pay for his welfare programs!  :D

 

Happy birthday, Gene, and we all hope that there will be plenty more to come. They don't make them like you anymore...  :)


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#14 Maximo

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 06:31 PM

Happy belated Birthday Gene!

Thanks to both you and de Lespinay for chiming in. I am all in favor of a definative thread that answers questions rather that just keeping us guessing until we are all in the grace and no one cares anymore. To know what is the Shinoda line-up for sure would be great. Maybe Bader and Dokk will open up the collection and show us more of what is hidden there. Or at least what can be identified for good.

Case in point: Recently, Roger Schmitt sold a Shinoda original body the looks like a "Mongoose" but was labeled "Worlock"! Who knows???



-maX

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#15 TSR

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 06:33 PM

Indeed. What we do not know is if that tag belongs to that body or another...  :)


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#16 Maximo

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 07:32 PM

Yes, Gene raised the exact same point. So, what really was the "Worlock"?

There are questions in need of answers and it only really matters if someone cares enough to ask.

It is now or never to start sorting it our before there is no one left to tell the story and no one left that cares!

I for one do and I hope that the powers that be will answer the call... The whole Detroit scene is a book itself, but maybe best told here.


-mAx
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#17 Horsepower

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Posted 08 April 2013 - 10:18 PM

Happy birthday, Gene, and we all hope that there will be plenty more to come. They don't make them like you anymore...  :)

 

Yup, another case where they "threw away the mold"! :laugh2:  Happy Birthday Gene! :clapping:


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#18 Maximo

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Posted 31 July 2013 - 09:01 PM

Phillipe....Gene... what happened to this thread of the history of Larry Shinoda's cars and the whole Detroit slot car scene back in the day??????

 

Who really designed the Batcar?, the Predator?, the Shrike? and the Mongoose?? or is it the Warlock??? What happened to this discussion???

 

I realize that a book may be in the offering or there is some difference of opinion as to what happen by who and when, but can't we also discuss it here before it is carved into stone one way or the other?

 

Start another thread that properly conveys that direction but at least say ....something!!!

 

 

-max


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#19 Gene/ZR1

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Posted 01 August 2013 - 04:05 PM

Phillipe....Gene... what happened to this thread ofnthe history of Larry Shinoda's cars and the whole Detroit slot car scene back in the day??????

 

Who really designed the Batcar?, the Predator?, the Shrike? and the Mongoose?? or is it the Warlock??? What happened to this discussion???

 

I realize that a book may be in the offering or there is some difference of opinion as to what happen by who and when, but can't we also discuss it here before it is carved into stone one way or the other?

 

Start another thread that properly conveys that direction but at least say ....something!!!

 

 

-max

ok, something, next :)


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#20 Jaak

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Posted 01 August 2013 - 05:22 PM

The Gene has spoken  :victory:

Hope all is well Gene.


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#21 Maximo

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Posted 01 August 2013 - 06:14 PM

Gene,

 

Glad to know that you are paying attention!

 

I will offer up some bodies that have NO stories yet tied to them....!

 

Certainly someone knows or once did but time is not on our side.

 

 

 

-Max

 

 

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#22 SlotStox#53

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Posted 01 August 2013 - 06:24 PM

Some cool looking Thingies ! :D

#23 Superbird

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Posted 22 January 2014 - 10:32 AM

Hi Fellows,

 

Thingies and Bat cars are not just from the far past.

 

Remember the Flexi Wedge bodies that were a fad for a while in the '90s? My response to that was to create this Stealth Fighter theme machine. Since it was black with 'wings' people also called it a Bat car or Batmobile.

 

When I demonstrated the car to my local track owner I was proud of the car's big safety feature. In any collision this car simply went under the other guy flipping him safely out of the way instead of causing any bent metal. The track owner was horrified and banned the car from his establishment! He figured flipping somebody was unsafe (as compared to a crash?). .

 

I had a few other designs like that as well.

 

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#24 Maximo

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Posted 22 January 2014 - 10:51 AM

Pete,

 

Wow, your Bat car looks like a stealth fighter! What happened to the mold?

 

 

-max


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#25 Superbird

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Posted 19 February 2014 - 05:43 PM

I have the mold but I only made a few copies of the car for my son and  some friends. The track owner wouldn't sell them for his wedge race series so my motivation vanished. It also looks great in other colors like yellow!  


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