IMSA, NASCAR, RX-7s, and Berettas with Tommy Kendall

In Episode 101 of the BaT Podcast, Alex sits down with multidsiciplinary racing legend Tommy Kendall to discuss the dangers of the BaT Daily Mail; an argument for the '74 Carrera as the first Southern California SUV; a fortuitous version of the classic "someone else's race car/boat/RV" story; his particularly well-timed upbringing by an enthusiastic new racer; coming up in karting and Formula Mazda; meeting compatriot Max Jones; the eye-watering costs of going racing in the early '80s; the value of a Showroom Stock education; his stewardship of the winningest IMSA car in history (with many of said wins coming with him at the wheel); a two-hour peripheral-port rotary rebuild under duress; water-cooled brake calipers; an untimely realization concerning NASCAR brakes at Willow Springs; nascent Chili Bowl plans; his move into commentatorship through no effort of his own; sage advice for anyone pushing the boundaries; a predilection for giant American land yachts, including but not limited to those masquerading as chickens; and their mutual affection for gold-flake Sanger powerboats.

Follow along! Links for the listings discussed in this episode:

1:58 TommyK1111 user page on BaT

4:07 Supercharged 1956 Ford Country Squire Wagon

20:37 1985 Mazda RX-7 Group B Rally Car

26:46 1990 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo IMSA GTO Race Car

28:15 1988 Chevrolet Beretta IMSA GTU Race Car

34:087 Chevy Berettas on BaT

47:14 No Reserve: 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham

47:31 Tommy Kendall's "El Gallo Grande"

48:31 Original-Owner 1992 Lincoln Town Car Executive Series Limousine

53:16 Acura ARX-05 DPi Race Car

Got suggestions for our next guest from the BaT community? Let us know at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to get them on!