1966 Batmobile Replica Drive with Car Chase Heroes

It's that time of year again where I have my annual track day with Car Chase Heroes.

All was ready and booked but as you will see, the weather did not get the memo and it was to be a hugely wet day. The last time I was at Abingdon Airfield, I drove the Dodge Hellcat on the wet so at least my luck and the weather has been consistent.

After arrival and booking in it was straight into the sighting laps, these are usually conducted in a BMW or an SUV, but today as I'd booked in at the start of the day, some of the fleet cars were used for sighting laps, so I jumped straight into the passenger seat of the Ferrari 458, once these were done, it was into something much different.......

This, a replica of the George Barris built 1966 Batmobile.

I first laid eyes on this watching reruns of the Batman T.V. series starring Adam West and Burt Ward during the 1980's. 

While a lot of people enjoyed the fight scenes and the Bat Fight Words such as BAM, SPLATT and POW, the star of the show for me was the Dynamic Duo's car.

 Like one of the T.V. cars this is steel bodied weighing nearly 3 tonnes with a 6.2 litre (368 CU) V8 that produces 250bhp, linked with an automatic gearbox. The basis of this car originally was the 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept car that Barris bought from Ford for $1. 

As I was in the waiting area, an instructor in a hat approached and called out "Bruce Wayne" I nodded and called back "Dick Grayson". I smiled and followed him to the Batmobile.

I took a few photos while he sorted out a couple of things and then got in.

I love the interior of this car, there are some nice details but most of you will notice it's not identical to the series car but it's fun. The Batphone gets used a lot.

Once ready, it was time to head out onto the track.

This car is keyless and the engine was already running when I got in.

There is a button you press on the front of the gearstick and pull back into drive and ease on the accelerator and you are away.

Track Photos

Driving this around the track you soon learn a few things about this car. Because the car is open cockpit, the rain get you from above, due to the shape of the windscreen, the rain flies off it and onto from every angle. 

Before we left the Pit Lane, the instructor said that "the steering rack in this car is held together with chewing gum". Once underway, it's easy to understand his opinion. There is also a fair amount of body roll on the corners.

Because of the weight of the steel body and underpowered engine, it goes nowhere very quickly. If Batman were indeed to chase the Joker in this, the Joker and his gang would leave Batman in their shadows.

Holy Aston Martins Batman, James Bond is catching us.

Get lost Bond, this is our crime to solve.

Driving this car around the track is very sedate but the good part is it's like being in a moving motor show where everyone else is quicker, overtakes you and waves as they go by. 

The engine makes a great noise when you put your foot down and it's very comfortable to drive.

This car though is one that leaves you smiling for the simple reason you are driving a Batmobile, how many times in your life will you get to do this unless you are Batman? It's also makes the people around you smile for the same reasons. It brings back memories of youth, a T.V, series and it's a great looking car.

For further information about Car Chase Heroes, please visit

https://www.carchaseheroes.com/