Kenny Bernstein - 1987 & 1988

[NONE]

Photos taken at the Southern Nationals by a friend. I think one of these is the one they called the "Bat Car".

MEMORIES.

 

[MM]

i remember hearing stories about that body....they could only lift the body about 5 feet in the air cuz the back would be smacking off the ground

 

[bukweet]

20 years ahead of it's time.
And, IMHO the beginning of the end of a Funny Car that actually looked like what the car was suppose to represent.

I miss the days when you didn't need painted grillwork and lights to tell what you were looking at.

 

[vegasnitro]

Ahhh yes ... the Buick Reatta "Batmobile". Very innovative, but I am also inclined to agree that it was definitely the line of demarcation between the modern flopper body and the old "factory" representations.

 

[Nunz]

Remember when Jim Head built a similar body, probably taken even a step further? Then it was outlawed. Not sure how much more radical than Bernstein's it was to get turned down by NHRA.

 

[mike]

Remember when Jim Head built a similar body, probably taken even a step further? Then it was outlawed. Not sure how much more radical than Bernstein's it was to get turned down by NHRA.

I loved that Jim Head Oldsmobile! It wasn't all that much more radical then Bernstiens efforts, but imo, looked cooler

photo credit goes to competitionplus.com. i couldn't find the original link. sorry Bobby.

Michael

 

[qtermile14]

The "Batmobile" was the body that caused the NHRA to be more specific with their body rules. Before this, I think the rule just said something like it had to be within 90 percent of the original factory body.

 

[mick]

LeSabre in '87 (batmobile)
Reatta in '88

 

[Rajunz]

That's the Reatta in the first photo, LeSabre in the other photos. It also had vortex generators on the roof when it debuted, but those were nixed immediately.

Remember when Jim Head built a similar body, probably taken even a step further? Then it was outlawed. Not sure how much more radical than Bernstein's it was to get turned down by NHRA.

The Batmobile was indeed built within the current rules, so it was allowed to run for the season. Jim Head soon after built his '87 Firenza and it was also allowed to finish the season. The rules were alot more specific the following season. Here's a good story on it.
NHRA News: Budweiser King: The Funny Car days (1-1-99)

 

[Z28LT1]

Those pics remind me of the time that Bernstein ran over Armstrong up here in Brainerd. If memory serves me that happened in '88. Oh well, good times (well, not for Dale).

 

[Bullet]

Those pics remind me of the time that Bernstein ran over Armstrong up here in Brainerd. If memory serves me that happened in '88. Oh well, good times (well, not for Dale).

And a race or two later the crew came out with shirts that had tire tracks over them!

 

[mick]

Those pics remind me of the time that Bernstein ran over Armstrong up here in Brainerd. If memory serves me that happened in '88. Oh well, good times (well, not for Dale).

i think the girls on the scaffolding past the finish line even saw that one

 

[Tony]

Great shot of the portable toilets in the background of the starting line pic. Shows us how much the facilities have improved since then.

 

[Outlaw Eric]

I miss the days when you didn't need painted grillwork and lights to tell what you were looking at.

I don't mind the painted grillwork and lights... I HATE having 5 inch tall letters on the fenders explaining what brand of car you are seeing...

EDB