Who is Loyd "Balloonfoot" Bodine?

**ZOOOM** · 04-19-2006 09:21 AM

Does any one remember reading about this quasi famous driver?
What was he famous for?
ZOOOM

**Jamski** · 04-19-2006 10:52 AM

His skills would be very much in demand in these days of $3 a gallon gas...

**Dennis Sisson** · 04-19-2006 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Zooom

Does any one remember reading about this quasi famous driver?
What was he famous for?
ZOOOM

Setting coast to coast fuel economy records. (I think)

(I got in at the same time as TTE)

**Gerr** · 04-19-2006 11:13 AM

Lloyd was a supposed champion of the Mobilgas Economy Runs. He was the road test editor of Car and Driver magazine, circa 1969-70.

I don't believe any photos of Lloyd exist.

**ZOOOM** · 04-19-2006 09:28 PM

You people never cease to amaize me!

Yes! Loyd "balloonfoot" Bodine was indeed the most famous driver of the infamous Mobil Economy Run, held some 50 years ago!
It was said that Loyd drove like he had a "balloon" under his driving foot when he won so many economy runs........

Now-a-days... I can get 30 MPG in my C-5 Vette if I can convince myself that I should drive at about 60 MPH...... (doesn't happen often..........)
ZOOOM

**Kurt Cobain** · 04-20-2006 09:22 AM

**jandj** · 04-20-2006 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Kurt Cobain

He said "balloonfoot", not "balloonbrain".

"Them naughts aint much by themselves, but you throw a dot behind 'em and them rascals adds up quick!" - Jethro Bodine

**slinger** · 04-22-2006 06:09 PM

I don't think he actually existed. I think he was a made up character by the staff at Car and Driver . They used to do a bunch of things like that in the '60s and '70s. They had ridiculous interviews with Bodine that were a hoot. They had a fictitious British car called the Denbeigh Super Chauvinist complete with fake road teasts from British magazines. Funny stuff.

**ZOOOM** · 04-22-2006 09:41 PM

Now wait-a-minuit.....

I think you are confuseing the super with the Cyclops and the Passionate Pignatelli.........
ZOOOM
P.S. "Balloonfoot" really did exist. He was only a figment of Road & Track's imagination much later..............

**slinger** · 04-23-2006 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by Zooom

Now wait-a-minuit.....

I think you are confuseing the super with the Cyclops and the Passionate Pignatelli.........
ZOOOM
P.S. "Balloonfoot" really did exist. He was only a figment of Road & Track's imagination much later..............

I think your wrong. The headline from the Denbeigh road test was,"A really robust hooter and a first class jack."That's not to be taken seriously. Iremember the Cyclops well including the cool art by Stan Mott. The best was when they won LeMans using the FIA suitcase as an airbrake.
As for Bodine, he was a product of Car and Driver not Road & Track .