A new Batmobile in London?

He is the iconic Caped Crusader who has starred in comic books, television series and film franchises for the last 70 years.

Now Batman is making his stage debut in one of the most lavish theatrical productions ever to appear in London, at The O2 arena. Gotham City will be brought to life in Batman Live, with a huge stage lit up by a dazzling display of pyrotechnics and special effects.

Today the villains that Batman and sidekick Robin will face during the show were unveiled as the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn and Catwoman. Creative director Anthony Van Laast, who has worked on West End shows and Hollywood movies including the latest Harry Potter, said: “It’s got stunts, it’s got Batman flying, it’s a big lavish spectacular – this is going to be a really good piece of theatre.”

The Dark Knight will be helped by a brand new Batmobile created by Formula One designer Professor Gordon Murray, which will drive on to the stage before skidding to a halt.

A 100ft screen shaped like a bat will act as a backdrop for the special effects, and characters will be able to fly around the set thanks to a grid suspended above the stage. It will also include an action sequence where the Joker tries to escape in a hot air balloon, only to be shot down in flames.

The story of Batman Live follows the young Dick Grayson, a circus performer whose parents are murdered, and how he becomes Batman’s sidekick
Robin.

It will tour the world for five years!

For more details go to batmanlive.com.

But batman the musical idea has been around a while, and even was featured in one of the Batman:The animated series episodes!

Take a look! One of my favorite clips!

Can you design the next batmobile urban assault vehicle?

Here’s a challenge for all the builders that want a chance to design something along the lines of a functional batmobile, or futuristic version of today’s HUMMER.

If you ever wanted to design a super car loaded with as many weapons and tools as you could imagine (think your own personal Batmobile), now is finally your chance. Not only do you get an opportunity to design the craziest vehicle you can dream up and see it built in real life, but you can also win up to $7,500 in prize money from the Pentagon’s research branch, DARPA.

There are a few simple rules that you do have to keep in mind though:

• The vehicle has to use “tubular steel chassis with existing GM LS3 V8 powertrain,” which is the steel frame pictured below.
• Has to carry up to five passengers, including up to three people lying down.
• It’s got to carry up to 1,200 lbs and tow up to 4,000 lbs

As long as you follow the three rules above, you can get as creative as you want with your design. Thinking of stealing some ideas from the Transformers movie? How about jet propulsion and speedboat ability? Go for it. DARPA is open to all suggestions. Submissions are to be in before March 3, 2011.

To find out more information and submit your designs, click here.

I have a chassy ready to go, but I don’t think it will seat 5 people even if they are lying down!

Batmobile History through the years!

Thanks to BATMOBILEHISTORY.COM

My netpal Bill has done a great service to all the batfans, he has documented and collected everything ever built or called a “Batmobile” in the comics, movies and TV and put them in order!   I want to thank Bill so below is his home page write up of his quest! Years ago Bill  gave me credit years ago for some info on the 66 batmobile and I managed to send him a few batmobiles he didn’t know about yet, I don’t think that’s possible now!!  So if you think you can send him something he DOESN’T know about the batmobile, check out his site or read his write up below about why he did it!

”

Batman first appeared in May of 1939 in Detective Comics #27, and although the first true Batmobile did not appear for another two years, it has become one of the Dark Knight’s best known weapons.

The Batmobile made its career debut in Batman #5, then appeared on a comic cover for the first time for Batman #20. Because of different artists’ interpretations of what the car should be, it changed size, shape, and features frequently. Later, as the car was marketed beyond the comics, more forms appeared based on practical or aesthetic considerations. In the 1960s, the first full size, fully operational Batmobile was built for the TV show Batman, and had to face financial and functional questions. A few years later the design of this car would be modified for use in the Superfriends cartoon series, with the unique considerations of making a car that could be easily drawn repeatedly for animation. Then, nearly three decades after the TV series, Batman returned to live action with Warner Brothers Batman movies. At about the same time, Batman: The Animated series came out, with a whole new take on the design of Batman and his universe. All of this was on top of the natural evolution of the car over 60+ years, taking into account new technological features like the jet engine and the computer.

I started collecting data on the Batmobiles a few years ago while trying to research a model project I was working on (you can visit my scale model site here). I discovered that there were very few reference guides to the Batmobile, and none of them covered the complete history of the car. Many focused only on a single generation (such as the Futura Batmobile), or they covered a particular genre (TV, cartoons, movies, etc.). As I collected information from all of these sources, I decided to put together my own history of the Batmobile.

Before I started this project, I had no idea how convoluted the history of the Batmobile could be. Over the last decade I have learned more about the car, the creators behind it, and Batman in general than I ever expected. Still, there’s a lot that I haven’t learned yet. If you know of anything that belongs here, or if you have any information on an existing entry, send me an e-mail at spencer1984@yahoo.com.”

You can also send any cool Batmobile art or designs to me at info@starcarcentral.com

2010 Camarillo Christmas Parade brings out the STAR cars!

You may have seen a police car in your rear view mirror at some point, but I think this is the first time Herbie the Love bug has almost been pulled over by Starsky and Hutch!

Once again Nate Truman’s StarCarCentral.com gang gathered to participate in the Camarillo Christmas parade! We were almost rained out last time, but this time it was practically a trouble free event!

We all lined up in the morning and most everyone found the starting line, Alex and Oscar decided to go to the end of the parade first! Eventually we were all in place ready to start the parade! Sue even came with out her Get Smart Sunbeam to support the SCC! She got to ride in Bumblebee for her efforts!

Alex and Oscar finally found the right end of the parade, and all was fine, until we started up the cars to get moving down the street!  I looked back and saw Lou’s hood of his Starsky and Hutch Torino up, and Alex getting out some jumper cables!

Is Kitt Jumping Starsky and Hutch, or the other way around?

Another first for the day, we have all had to get a jump to start a car at some point, but have you ever seen KITT from Knight Rider and the Torino from Starsky and Hutch helping each other out?

I assumed Lou’s car needed a jump, I went back to check and heard it running, so ran back to my A-Team van as the parade was moving!

With Lou’s car up and running, Jason kept snapping photos, and found a few Cheerleaders who wanted a shot with John’s Bumblebee Camaro!  I think Bumblebee is smiling!

StarCars, Let's ROLL! Alex? ALEX?!?!

So we got the signal to start rolling, and we all start moving out, except Alex in his KITT from Knight Rider!  What? He never, NEVER breaks down.  Alex is always over prepared!  Should we leave KITT and take Alex? Leave Alex behind? Where’s Devon and Bonnie and the big Knight Rider Truck when you need them?

STARCARCENTRAL.COM ROLL OUT!

So the parade moves out, and so do we! Luckily the parade wasn’t moving too fast!  We inched forward, and while we waited to join the main parade, Alex had a talk with KITT and convinced him it would be good to start at this time.  KITT agreed, and joined the line up at the last minute!

Starsky and Hutch being followed by the A-Team?

Everyone lined up based on the age of the show they were from, oldest to newest!

"I love it when a VAN comes together!"

Herbie led the group today,  as the theme was “Christmas through the Decades”!  Even though The Love Bug has been in movies and TV shows spanning 50 years, the first movie  was from the 60’s so Jason was up first!

Herbie Rocks!

We could have had the Batmobile for the 60’s too, but I needed more seats for my kids “aka” Banner holders- so I brought my A-Team van instead!  The 70’s was all Starsky and Hutch,

No ticket for Herbie today! It's Lou!

and the 80’s were represented by The A-Team van, KITT, and Magnum P.I.

Is that Tom Selleck taking a photo of a guy taking a photo?

And bringing up the 2000’s was Bumble Bee from the Transformer movies!

As each car drives by, its fun to watch the faces light up as they recognize some old friends!  Each car has its fans, some people get it wrong (pointing at KITT) “It’s the Batcar!”  and the littlest kids stare blankly at all of us, then point to the end and scream “BUMBLEBEE!  Mom’s it’s bumblebee!”

Magnum P.I. and the A-Team working together? "I pity the fool they are after!"

It’s always fun to bring smiles to fans of our cars and it’s also fun to get together afterward and swap stories too!  A fun Christmas get together at a secret location where another starcar lies in wait to rise from the ashes, and a trip to see the long awaited Black Beauty near by topped off a fun star car day!

Next up, The BLACK BEAUTY!

Bonus MERRY CHRISTMAS PHOTO! WHERE’S JERRY BEEN LATELY?

HE’S BEEN HANGING WITH A DIFFERENT SHORTER CROWD FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

"HO, HO, HO? SANTA IS A SCC MEMBER!"

StarCarCentral.com lines up famous movie and tv cars for downs syndrome event for DSALA

Each year the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles puts on a Buddy Walk and Festival, and Nate Truman’s StarCarCentral.com line up was there to support the cause!  Only one thing was missing, me! AKA NATE!  Luckily,  the SSC is not about one person, it’s about a team of great star car owners who will come out with their cool famous movie and tv cars to support charities around Los Angeles!

KITT from Knight Rider,  Magnum P.I. Ferrari, Back to the Future Delorean, Ratchet  right next to Bumblebee from the Transformers, and Herbie all showed up to support all the folks at DSALA!

SCC members Alex, Oscar, Paul, Jason, Jon and Brian all arrived early and lined up somehow with out their fearless leader!?!?  How is that possible?  Oh right, they are all veterans of many similar events we have done over the last seven years!

Of course, this was the first time a mini Thunderbird Jet showed up, and gave rides!   I think all the guys wanted a turn!  I bet  a jet plane would give the horses at Santa Anita a run for their money!

But wait, I know what you are thinking, if Nate Truman’s not there, then there was no Batmobile!  HA!

Even though he won an Academy Award my secret weapon comes out a few times a year, with HIS batmobile!  Tom Woodruff came later but the boys saved a place for him right in front!

After the walk and festival ended, a once in a lifetime photo op happened!  All the guys went out to a local Sonic and managed to get every stall on the same side, for one of the coolest starcar photos in a long time!  That’s what I get for missing an event!

Now we have to turn that into a poster!  Too cool!   Next up, the next day, AUTISM Walk at Anaheim stadium!  Still no NATE!

If you want to attend or support DSLA next year, just check out their website at DSLA

Ghostbuster Ecto-1 vs. Monkeemobile? Starsky and Hutch vs. Herbie?

Star car Central clubs are getting together and having fun all over the world! This group took to the dragstrip  and took the famous movie and TV vehicles head-to-head!   No one posted their quarter mile times, so I guess the winner only gets bragging rights to those who where there!

The General Lee heads up the gang, and they all took their turns on the dragstrip!

Starsky and Hutch Torino vs The General Lee Charger? Who will win?    Great (or crazy!) minds think alike, and these photos remind me of my time on the track with “Road and Track” years ago at California Speedway!  So I know it was a day of just plain star car fun!  The monkeemobile vs. the Ectomobile?  How cool is that?

To see the batmobile go up against Mad Max, General Lee, Starsky’s Torino  and even a Delorean Time Machine, check out our spread in Car and Driver Magazine awhile back!  My car even made the COVER!….. (upper right corner, but hey, I was on the cover of Car and Driver!)   🙂
Great photos, and great fun!

South Pasadena Police Show has big starcarcentral.com gathering with the batmobile!autobots too!

One of my “rules” is we help out for charity’s and fire/police events, but usually just once.  We have so many requests that every summer weekend is booked sometimes at several places at once!  But Officer Lee at the South Pasadena police dept. treats us so nice, we come back to this one show, year after year!  The first time was just before I left to go on the very first Fireball Run!   This year, it was Paul and Reba who were raring to leave on their Fireball experience, Paul’s second time, and Reba’s first time out as co-driver!

Oscar opened up his office and had more snacks, drinks and a big screen TV, and most importantly, AIR CONDITIONING!

We even got to see Oscar perform with SEAN CASSIDY! WOW! Oscar is the guy at the piano…. a LONG time ago!

As the Star car Cats usually do, we wandered in groups, some stayed with their cars, others wondered off to look at the car show, and as always I circled and tried to connect with everyone at some point in the day!     Lots of laughs at Oscar’s office (our new annual hangout!) and lots of good food and drink from the SPPD.   Alex even left his car for a while and had a donut with us… next year we will shoot for Jerry to walk away from Herbie, at least to see the car show!

New to this event were Dave and his wife Barb, and Derek Joseph  with their General Lee,  Mark G. brought a police dept. display car, Jason debuted his Autobot Emergency vehicle, and John showed up with his Bumblebee Camaro too!   Jerry’s Herbie as always is perfect, and Alex and His KITT were polished hourly.  Paul set up his tent and tirelessly chatted with fans while the rest of us, Sue, Oscar, Jason, Charlie, Ari, Lou looked for shade and just enjoyed the day.

Gary stuck close to his Highway Patrol cruiser and Mark had to make an early exit to attend a wedding, but a few hung around to let the heat of the day pass and watched movies at Oscars place!

We are a “free form” group and everyone seems to like it that way!

Shaggy Dog Herbie, General Lee Charger, and Delorean S’mores!

June 13 at the Burbank Road Kings show, Paul BTTF Delorean and Jason parked together and later Brian and Robo-Herbie showed up to put a “marshmallow” on either side of the flux capacitor time machine.

The Early herbie gets the girls!

Sue (Get Smart) came out to see everyone now that she is back on her feet and it was great for a few of the SCC guys to see Sue, we missed her!
Sue brought over some good news, when she arrived she told Jason that a General Lee was parked on the other side of the show! Paul and
Jason went to investigate.

Dave Joseph’s General Lee is awesome! Jason and Paul were excited to see this and of course we extended an invite to join Star Cars future events!

Jason worked on the Sandford and Son truck owner again, and hopefully we will see some changes to this classic truck! 🙂

Jason stayed and had a crossgeeking moment when a Shaggy Dog wanted a picture with his Herbie. “The Shaggy Love Bug D.A.?”
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After the show a Yellow Camaro cruised by, and made Jason's day as the hope of spotting future starcars and meeting other starcar owners keeps us all looking!

Brian came late and then left with Paul to go attend and perform at SPM KITT owner Jennifer’s Party for her daughter.

Tomorrow, a Back to the Future Delorean you can hit with a stick, and LOTS and lots of Ferraris!

KITT knight Rider brought back to life….

Hey Star car fans,

One of my first jobs in Hollywood was a tour guide at Universal studios, and for a short time I was also the voice of KITT on the back lot in the early eighties while the show was still in production.

Well

years go by, and I sit my son in the same car at Universal, with some other guy doing the voice of KITT but I was on a quest to get the TV batmobile, so it was just a fun memoriy to sit in KITT again, this time witn my little boy.

Well that boy if off to college now and I have had my tv style batmobile for almost 10 years,

and I needed a new daily driver to get me to work and back. I figured, hey, why not a KITT? It has lots of stuff my batmobile doesn’t that I want in a daily driver like A/C, windows, a roof when it rains, wiper blades when it rains, a lower profile so people don’t wave and take your photo so much, A/C, vents, A/C did I mention Air Conditioning? and a ROOF? Anyway, after much negotiation, KITT is now in my backyard with my batmobile, and they are getting to know each other.

I am working my way through all the Knight Rider Episodes looking for details, and discovering that they were very fast and loose with dashes and panels so making an accurate KITT is impossible, as even the screen used cars weren’t the same from show to show, and often even used two cars in the same episode that had different dashes!

My son got a little bigger since the last time he sat in a KITT!

A few wires to figure out and trouble shoot before kitt is back on the road….

This KITT was built by Dan Morgan “Knight” in the 90’s, about when I was building my batmobile, then it made it’s way to California and to the SCA thanks to Jason “Knight”.

So with the help of a F.L.A.G. operative Alex, KITT should be on the road soon! (Foundation for Law and Government, for those who aren’t fans of KR! )

Now if you are in southern California this weekend the Star Car Association will be at the Pumpkin Festival in Calabasass http://www.calabasaspumpkinfestival.com/FestivalEntertainment08.htm

come by and say HI to some new members and our new SCA KITT OWNER, Alex! Also the DEATHRACE hero Mustang will be making it’s first appearance with the SCA!!

So how will I get my new car around the Batmobile, and the minivan to get to work?

That’s easy, just like THIS!

Holy Swirl Marks, BATMAN! Team Meguiars continue…

Re: Batman Car Extreme Makeover – Pictures & Comments

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Before starting the paint polishing process we tackled some of the other areas that needed attention like the interior… Ryan and Nick roll up their sleeves and dive right…

The Roll-down Dash was all hand fabricated and very very cool! (New Car Manufacture take note).

We’ll see if a little polishing work with brighten it up little to showcase the craftsmanship that was required to recreate the original dash…

Before

The left side is original, the right side is polished.

Before

After

Time to do the other side…

__________________
Mike Phillips
Meguiar’s Online Administrator
Cell: 949-533-0225
mphillips@meguiars.com
Please post questions to the forum, please don’t send them to me in an e-mail or a Private Message. My e-mail is in my signature for forum emergencies, not for sending questions, the idea of the forum is to join and post your questions to the forum. Thank you –Mike Phillips