71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts

[JChlupsa]

http://www.70sfunnycars.com/Photos/Lcamaro.JPG

This 71 Camaro was found in a barn in northern IL. Based on the body style the owner believed the car to be a Jungle Jim car (according to Bob Gibson of the NHRA Safety Safari everybody with a Nova or Camaro flopper thinks they have a JJ car!!!), but based on the Kelsey Hayes wheels and chassis, Bob believes the car to be one of Dick Harrell's 71 Camaros. Harrell apparently had two cars in 71, the one he was fatally injured in and most likely this one. (Photo and info courtesy of Bob Gibson




http://www.70sfunnycars.com/Photos/lcamaro1.JPG

Here's the same car pictured above as it is being restored today!!! (Photo courtesy of Mike DeLille)

<font color="red">Would bet its done already just what was posted with the pic </font>

[396L35]

Ask Val if she knows if there were two cars... Is there a body tag on the frame of the car??? I know when we looked at the Kirby car there was a Don Hardy tag on the frame, and I cant see Dick changing chassie builders???? Mark

[Belair62]

Where did this stuff come from Jeff ? Looks like they were taking the paint off carefully and I wonder if that uncovered any clues ???

[JChlupsa]

http://www.70sfunnycars.com/lost.html

[hvychev]

Jeff where in Northern IL was the car found?

[JChlupsa]

I have no idea on where-- that caption was with the pic on the site where I found it. I would bet around the Byron area though since I can remember a car similar to that running there at Byron Dragstrip. Getting to old to remember who drove the car though http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[davenkc]

Hope this clears up the questions about this....
That car is old news... At last I was told it is now owned by Ken Chase in MN. It has been positivly identified as a JJ car. Also that is a 70 not a 71. Dick did run 2 Camaros in 70 Pictuers are attached and others in following posts.
First is the 70 Dick ran
Dave

[davenkc]

Next is a picture of the 70 which was ran by Clyde Morgan
I understand this car was stolen when he took it back home to CA and never recovered

[davenkc]

Dick DID run 2 cars in 71 also. Here is the Camaro

[davenkc]

Here is the other car ran out of DHPC in 71 driven last by David Ray it is the Harrell/Christopherson Vega
Also note in previous post the Camaro was a Rally Sport
It is the car Dick died in and was destroyed

[davenkc]

Just fyi here is a pic of the Vega with the body up so you can see the Chrysler engine

[68l30]

Dave thanks for the info &amp; pics ! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif What year was the switch to Chrysler power?


Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[JChlupsa]

Great pics and mahalo for sharing them with us. Also thanks for the update on the pics I posted. I knew they were old but just never heard of what happened to the car.

[Belair62]

When I look at this era of cars it just gets me...these years and the few years preceding them are without a doubt the toughest looking funnies ever...

[Chevy454]

You know what I dig about 'em? You can actually tell what kind of car it is, without having to read what it says it is like on todays funnies. A Firebird funny should look like a Firebird, not like a wedge...

[Mr70]

You two sound more &amp; more like 80 yearold men.
"Back in my day,...."

P.S.I agree with you! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[JChlupsa]

they would be lucky to get 80 between themselves http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[Kim_Howie]

The only cars I love to watch race any more is the stocker &amp; super stocks and that has too many made up cars in it. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif Ps I'm not 80. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
Ps I'm not 80.

[/ QUOTE ]

I never would have guessed you were 90, Kim! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[Salvatore]

[ QUOTE ]
The only cars I love to watch race any more is the stocker &amp; super stocks and that has too many made up cars in it. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif Ps I'm not 80. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[/ QUOTE ]AMEN BROTHER on both counts!http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[davenkc]

Steve,
The switch to Chrysler power was the 71 cars,
The Camaro was using Ramcharger power and the Vega used
Ed Pink... (a pink elephant as they called it http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

[menmyfcs]

I thought I would chime in here. Dave is darn accurate on these cars. I spoke to Bob Gibson a short time ago when the subject of this car and 1 other one came up. he told me then that they knew it wasnt or could not have been one of Dick's cars. The fact that all of Dick's own Camaro funny cars are accounted for makes it even more simple. As Bob and I laughed. Every time a Camaro funny car gets found people all assume that its a Jungle or a Harrell car.
The Clyde Morgan car had a Fletcher chassis. It was stolen and never seen again.I will have to ask Christopherson what happened to the Vega. It was a Hardy car and had the later style cage. The only car Dick had like that was as destoryed as Dave said. Valeries 69 car had the 70 body on it for a while then the later car came which became the 71.
The 67 Yenko car is in Michigan, Clary has the 68 and Val has the 69. Dave again was right. Dick and the car I was driving for Mickey Thompson were both switched to Ramcharger Hemis about mid 71. We also both had Ed Pink Hemis at Indy that year. I wish I could remember what I did today as well as 30 years ago. Dave Libby scares me with what he can recall. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif Dale Pulde

[JChlupsa]

Aloha and welcome Dale. Mahalo for the insight and the History Lesson or should I say Harrell Lesson :P

[68l30]

Dave/Dale thank you...Aside from what is clear now,what was the initial reason for the change to Hemi power? I am amazed by the role of Hemi,and respect it,but with the success of the program they had with Chevrolet what was the initial gain in e.t/h.p..? Was there a WOW factor after the switch or "just" another updated car for a new season? Truly an inovative time in racing leading to total domination by the Hemi.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif


Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Chevy454]

EXCELLENT question 68l30! It's like you were reading my mind!! I'm curious too, Dale, if there was a noticable difference (seat of the pants, et/mph, whatever!) when the switch was make? IIRC, wasn't '75 the last year a BBC won an event in Top Fuel?

It's bloomin' amazing what they are doing with those cube-limited elephants in TF/TFC these days...http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[68l30]

I believe Jungle was the last to use a BBC and still compete.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Steve

[Mr70]

There's a GREAT 6 page Full color Feature article in the June 2004 Hemmings Muscle Machines about the Jungle Jim F/C Vega,and Don Garlits finding of it.

[menmyfcs]

The difference between the Chevy, the Fords or even the early hemi were nite and day compared to the 426. The fact that Mopar was making parts for it to be run like this was another plus. You could run 75 degrees of timing in a 426 compared to maybe 55 on a Chevy and not crack heads or cylinder walls and ease of working on them was another. Fire was the next concern. I can always remember racing the Coke Cavalcade &amp; running against Kelly Chadwick &amp; Ray Sullins. The Chevy car would leave good &amp; Kelly would say, "Man, I never saw you! I knew I was on a good one, then all of a sudden I would see the nose of your car &amp; away you went". Ray Sullins came from the Harrell camp &amp; was a big asset to Kelly. You could actually feel the difference on a burn out.

Dick had to change just like we did with Mickey Thompson. You had to be competitive to keep your name out there and have the sponsors. As you see today, GM and others still back cars that have their body on it (if you can tell what they are)! Remember, GM claimed they were not involved with racing, although Dick, Kelly, Jenkins, Smokey Yunick &amp; many more were getting truck loads of parts. They were consultants that channeled their work through other areas,
which gave you all the cars that you are collecting.
On the other side, you had shops like Keith Black, Ed Pink and the Ramchargers carrying the Mopar banner &amp; building race engines.

I do believe the late Jim Bucher was the last BBC to win in the fuel ranks. From about 71 on, the wins were pretty few a far between. Overall, Dick was most proud of the street cars, but he loved racing that funny car. The plan was for someone else to take it in the 72 season &amp; for Dick to focus more on the street cars.....time ran out too soon:(

[sYc]

Amazing that you could tell the difference just doing a burnout. And 75 degrees of timing in the Hemi, unreal. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif


Here is check from Dick to Ed Pink for some of that "Hemi Power".

[menmyfcs]

I am sure that check is one of many. That Hemi just has brute torque.I was driving the Dougs Headers car in the summer of 70 when Kelly had to be back home and I drove his car one nite at US 30 in Gary Ind. Kellys was a high compression low nitro % like 70%.and a 3.60 gear The Dougs car was a Low compression high nitro car 4.10 gear. both cars could run the same but felt a bunch different.
When we we be at the Motel after a race Dick would normaly have some street car with him. He had a Vega that they just did a small block conversion on. We were having fun playing with it and Dick said he had to go. Later he came back with a suit and tie on took the car. next day he said it paid off. he got an order for 20 of them.

[sYc]

Interesting!! When and where was this? And, do you know if the cars were ever built/sold?

[menmyfcs]

We were in West Palm Beach Fl. at the AHRA Grand American.
Early 71. I am pretty sure it was kit that Don Hardy made.
Dave Libby or Harry Kalwei may know. I will see them all soon and find out if they know. I saw a article on them a while back and will have to look for it.

[68l30]

Night and day difference...WOW thats a ton of HP..Thanks!

Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[68l30]

Is this a Harrell Vega? Dave, I know I showed you this pic before...July of 1971,Note the stripe and the Strippers,ET-1 class with a 12.70 dial interesting car...Thoughts???

Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[sYc]

Thanks Dale. Now we know where to look for DH vegas, Palm Beach. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

I would say you are right about Hardy being involved. Not only was Don Dick's chassis builder, but during the '70s, Don was very big into V-8 Vega kits. Everything from headers to 5 lug spindles to motor mounts, whatever.

[Chevy454]

Dale:

I'm guessing there was a pretty big learning curve when the switch to Hemi power was made, in both the tuning and the driving departments. Was there a different driving technique required with the elephant, other than a little more "pucker" in the seat area? About what horsepower range were the top hemi nitro cars in back in the early days?? If I'm not mistaken, aren't they in the 8,000hp range today???

[menmyfcs]

I am not sure what they figure the power to be now. I think if enough people made aftermarket parts for the Chevy then as they do now it would have been around much longer. KB and Rodeck blocks dart heads etc. At the time we made the switch the clutch just as today was a problem to deal with.
There were things learned that the Chevy wanted like to put the rotors in the blower backwards to help the front cylinders from being lean that also became a help for the Hemi.At the time the Hemi made more power by mistake than you had from the Chevy when it was right on.The thing Pat Foster and I both noticed is the Donovans and Chevys would just kind of get quiet and slow down at a 1000'the 426 was just getting up to where it kept on pulling. Then again you look at the normally asperated engines and the Hemi wasnt that great unless it had nitro or a blower. Until it crashed about 2 years ago one of the baddest nostalgia top fuel cars was a small block Chevy. Modern technology.DP

[68TopStock]

Dave and Dale,

Have you seen the "Agent 1320" report that is in the December 1970 Super Stock and Drag Illustrated? It reports Dick was teasing the press by announcing plans to bring a "new" chevy hemi powered car to the Rockingham AHRA meet. They were "shocked" when he showed up with a Ramchargers hemi! Would this first (public) hemi installation have been in the 1970 car or the new 1971 mini? That year, Rockingham was the 3rd event (out of 10). Maybe this was a later race, at Rockingham. I'll try and post this notice monday.

[68TopStock]

Here is the "agent 1320" report from the December 1970 SuperStock &amp; Drag Illustrated I mentioned above. Any comments?

[benesesso]

"The Clyde Morgan car had a Fletcher chassis. It was stolen and never seen again."

I can add something here (my first post, too!) Back in 1971 I was the co-owner of a 1971 Camaro AA/FC. How I got involved is a long story but I'll try to keep it short. I was working at a facility that rebuilt the hot section (turbine blades) of jet engines. We used plasma spray to protect certain areas, and I had the tops of the pistons sprayed--way back in early 1971. Those were 427 BBC slugs, and AA/FC and TF engines were going thru a lean/meltdown problem with the pistons-which could easily make all that nitro-laden 70 wt. Kendall turn into a napalm bomb.

Anyway, I somehow hooked up with a guy who apparently was a cousin of DH's crew chief or at least a crewmember (I don't know which). We ended up buying a complete AA/FC from DH for $5k-a real bargain back then. My two partners knew what I didn't--that the car was Clyde Morgans!

The story I finally got, after I found CM's name etched on either the alum. fuel tank or water tank and some other place, was that CM had been racing under DH's "group", with DH apparently footing some big $$$ bills. I was told that CM wasn't doing a good job of maintaining the car, and after CM took it to his home in CA DH sent his crew out there in the Quaker State semi to get it-apparently to settle up on the $$$ issues. The crew waited nearly all weekend for CM to leave his house, which he did late on Sunday nite (IIRC). The crew broke into his garage and had the car inside the semi in about 2 minutes, and then headed back to the midwest.

DH had his crew deliver the car to us in northern NJ. While dumb me wanted to check it over and go racing and license-getting, my partners had other ideas. We took that car completely apart and sandblasted the beautiful candy-apple red frame down to bare metal, then painted it orange. I couldn't get a straight answer on why all this was necessary.



Here are some photos-To be continued!

Continuing, when we received the car it had been primed dark grey by DH's crew. We sanded/stripped it down to the bare and painted it white. We also changed the trans, from a torque-conv. to a Crowerglide/TH400, built (reluctantly) by Fairbanks in CT. Back then Fairbanks was owned/run (?) by a nice guy named Joe something, and he had a German guy as his engineer. Joe told us the combo of nitro + blower would make more HP than what the TH400 could handle (how right he was!), but we knew we needed that low first gear to have any chance against elephant HP. After thinking about it Joe agreed to use us as a test-bed for his street-car trans's. He flat did NOT want us to put a Fairbanks decal on the car, and told us that he was only going to build it because we were complete unknowns and also didn't have much money. A Lenco was way beyond what we could afford back then, as was a hemi. We hoped that with the lower gear and my piston coating that we might be able to get the car to run halfway decent. But Joe was right, the trans. was unable to put up with what must have been about 1500 HP back then. It couldn't pull the revs down on the shifts, and after every few runs we'd pull it out, drain the stinking burned fluid out and drive up to see Joe. He'd open it up and shake his head, rebuild it and try new ideas, tell us not to bring it back, and send us away without charging a dime! We did this routine for 6 months.

But after 6 months we were just about broke so we sold the car. SO, where is it now? No idea, but we sold it to a guy who's father owned the/a flying school at Teterboro airport in NJ. He had a lot more $$$ and brains than we did, and took the blower off to just run on fuel. I guess he changed my pistons to get some squeeze back, and I was there when he made his first runs. The trans. would pull the revs down instantly on each shift--DUH! He later ran it on alky with the blower--same good trans. performance. That was the last I saw or heard about the car.

His crew chief was a sharp guy named Tom Wooden (sp-?) who later worked for Wild Wilfred Boutilier of Canada.

[benesesso]

Hmmm, last photo didn't attach. Here's another attempt.

Benesesso

[benesesso]

Here's the last photo. I scanned these from slides I took back in 1971. If anyone's interested I can probably find some more and scan them. My Nikon slide scanner is a real POS--the slides are REAL sharp.

[JChlupsa]

WOW, I can say all here would love to see more of the car and hear more of the history.

Aloha and welcome.

[benesesso]

More photos of the car will have to wait-I have to get a new SCSI card for my computer-the slide scanner only works w/SCSI.

I had always thought the car had a Hardy chassis, but I see an earlier post here that said it had a Fletcher. I've never heard of Fletcher, so maybe someone can check out my photos and let me know.

Right after we *finally* got the car back together with different colors and a few other minor changes, and against my strong advice to just run it on alky for a while to get used to it, my partners decided to haul it out to NY National Speedway for our first runs. Because I didn't have the most money invested I was supposed to get my passes after the no.1 guy (another guy named Dick). He was a pretty cool guy, but none of us had any real experience with anything over ~500 HP. NY National didn't care about any fuel/NHRA licenses-just see if the crowd likes it.

Our first run found us paired with "Broadway" Freddy DeName, but our throttle wouldn't return all the way to idle so we couldn't stage the car. I did manage to get my eyes full of burned nitro fumes, and it doesn't feel good at all!

The next week at some NHRA strip in NJ we just did a burnout while being watched by some fuel-license holder (forget who) and blew the big Olds rear. The driveshaft slammed up and smacked the seat hard, giving my partner a sore rear for a while-I couldn't understand why he didn't climb out of the car for a while after we towed it away.&lt;g&gt;

After that we managed a few license-passes, but the iron heads were cracking around the big valves and forcing water out some of the sand-core/freeze plugs in the block. On the last run we made the water was getting bad, and dumping right in front of the right slick. The car ran arrow-straight w/o the water problem, but it was jumping sideways as the slick spun. Dick was on and off the throttle, with the car snapping around every time until the water was gone. It was something to watch, because it would snap right back where it belonged every time he lifted his foot. After about 4 of these cycles it was halfway down the strip, still in the low TH400 first gear, and Dick was so mad he forgot to shift. He went thru the lights at 110 MPH as it backfired thru the blower and sent the belt into the air. I later calculated the revs at something like 11,000 (4.11 gears), and all of the big Howards alum. rods were stretched a little. That was the end for us.

Here's a photo of the Beebe and Mulligan car before Mulligan was killed when the clutch exploded-the Nationals when Garlits shut off at the tree knowing what John was going thru.

[Xplantdad]

Some great memories and a cool story. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

By the way, welcome to the coolest site on the net...and keep the photos and the stories coming! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif

Also, I noticed that you're from Arizona. Are you located in the Phoenix metro area? I'm on my way to Pavillions and the cruise at 83rd Ave. and Union Hills in a few...then home for some cool http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Mr70]

WELCOME! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Belair62]

Engine on that Beebe car is so cool looking....and is that a points type distributor or some weird mag ???

[benesesso]

That's an early 392 hemi-based engine, with the points-triggered magneto at the back. The later 426's had the dist/mag drive up front.

I live out by Litchfield Park. Here's a photo of TV Tom's last (I think) front-engined TF car. Not even a mag. to slow down any exploding blower fragments! Talk about "in your face".

[benesesso]

I can't make this software post more than one photo, so here's one of Clayton Harris-probably in NJ in the early 1970's. Clayton was VERY quick in those days.

[benesesso]

Here's what I drive these days-don't need much reaction time, but it weighs 800 tons. Traction isn't much of a problem---.&lt;g&gt;

[Xplantdad]

Is that you in the yellow jacket?? I'd really make sure that what you're carrying doesn't fall off! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[MosportGreen66]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's what I drive these days-don't need much reaction time, but it weighs 800 tons. Traction isn't much of a problem---.&lt;g&gt;

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally dig the slots on the yellow trailer! Very period correct!

Thats the world's biggest bottle of water if I ever saw one... really though... what is it?

[benesesso]

Yes, that's me. Not to worry, falling off isn't an option.

That whole rig is longer than a football field, has 432 tires and two diesels. Only does 4 MPH.

[benesesso]

That is the world's largest nuclear power plant steam generator-one of 6 my company had constructed in Italy. Each one generates ~1 million HP worth of hot steam. They were so big and heavy we had to build each one in two pieces (in Milan), truck them (one-at-a-time)to Cremona (home of the Stradivarius violins), transfer them to a barge on the Po River, float them to near Venice, weld the two sections together, load them on a heavy lift ship to Mexico, roll them off the ship onto hundreds of sheets of 3/4" plywood (all of the local supply) so the wheels wouldn't sink into the sand (not anticipated, someone got it trouble-not me, I was in Italy), move the plywood Egyptian-style ahead of the wheels (big labor crew plus a front-end loader) for 5 miles to pavement, then drive at 3 MPH up thru Mexico and the Arizona desert. Then the fun begins. Move them horizontally thru a big hole in the side of a containment structure with ~1" clearance, upend them to vertical (big end up) once inside, weld them in place and hook up all the steam/water lines-the largest of which is 42" dia. Amazing what a few hundred million $$$ can do! Payback time is ~8-10 years because we can make more power now. I was a mere cog on the wheel-the engineer responsible for getting them built the way we wanted. And I didn't even get a Ferrari for my troubles! Life is so unfair.

[Salvatore]

Yea, But you saw and did what most of us would never have an opportunity to do. WOW, what mechanical ingenuity. What a project!http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Xplantdad]

Kinda sounds like the transportation story of the transformer that made it's way to the West Wing Power grid from California and points unknown not too long ago...fascinating story. I'm with Sam...WOW! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[benesesso]

Yes, it's been interesting. BTW, I think the body of the car was a 1970, not a 1971. I was more into street Vettes than Camaros and don't know what the differences are.

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a photo of the Beebe and Mulligan car before Mulligan was killed when the clutch exploded-the Nationals when Garlits shut off at the tree knowing what John was going thru.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tim Beebe and Johnny Mulligan; my all time favorite TF team and car, followed closely by "Kansas John Wiebe."
We were at Indy the day Johnny Mulligan was killed. Speculation that he was running Hydrazine when the engine grenaded. As I recall he lived a day or two in an Indianapolis hospital before he passed away from the burns he suffered in the crash. We knew it was bad when we saw it.
That was a bad year at Indy. One of our local guys was running a TF car also. He lost a clutch at mid-track and one of the disks hit a 16 year old kid in the forehead. He was sitting four rows in front of our group. I was standing at the fence next to the return road trying to get a picture of Jim Paoli's car (from Springfield, IL) when it happened. Evidently the disk went directly over my head and struck David Strawn from Athens, Ohio. Everyone else was standing, and he was sitting. I don't think I'll EVER forget that kid's name, age and hometown. The EMT's wrapped him in the blanket we were sitting on and loaded him in an ambulance. The speed of those EMT's, or whatever they were called back then, was amazing. They had that boy out of the park and headed to the hospital in less than five minutes. I heard he survived.
I'm thinking that was 1968 or '69?

[Seattle Sam]

John Mulligan, Number 41 on the NHRA's Top 50 list. He died in 1969.
http://www.nhra.com/50th/top50/J_Mulligan41.html

http://hotrodswest.com/images/B-M-Indy69.jpg

Here is a link to the story of the 1969 Beebe &amp; Mulligan car, and what happened at Indy:

http://hotrodswest.com/B-M-1969-2.shtml

[Belair62]

Excellent read...thanks for posting that Sam !

[BLOWNALKYCAMARO]

I have 2 pictures of this car at Larue ohio Marion co,Harrells car, one with him standing beside it,i have one as my background,to big to post,taken 3 months before the crash,car has a hemi in it

[Chevy454]

Upload it to the "Phote Gallery", or grab a free Photobucket account...

[Charley Lillard]

I just need to add this somewhere.. http://www.yenko.net/attachments/163973-67_Yenko_on_1_wheel.jpg

[Xplantdad]

That is a cool picture Charley! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[BLOWNALKYCAMARO]

still trying cannot get my pictures to load who can i send these to and let them try?

[Xplantdad]

Me!

[email protected]

[Xplantdad]

Randy sent these to me to post for him. I'll allow him to tell you about them. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/johns%20cars/tn_HarrellFunnyCar.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/johns%20cars/tn_harrell_1.jpg

[BLOWNALKYCAMARO]

I was restoring a very special car and this guy looked for it until he found it, 17 years as a matter of fact,brought along his friend that had these pictures. His dad took the pics. thats him with Dick ,had a lot of them but these were the best .Taken at Marion co Larue Ohio 1971 3 months before the crash in Canada.I have the one with the top up as my wallpaper ,wish they would have come out clearer on here . Thanks Bruce

[Salvatore]

WOW, What a story! Keep it coming.

[John]

..Check out the rims on the rear of that camaro..
...who made those?....What are they called?
... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[MosportGreen66]

[ QUOTE ]
..Check out the rims on the rear of that camaro..
...who made those?....What are they called?
... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I am going to a shot in the dark and say Kelsey Hayes...

[fletchersdaughtr]

As some may gather from my user name, I am the oldest daughter of Dick Fletcher AKA Fletch AKA Fletcher Chassis. I was doing a search about my dad and came across this forum and my interest was peaked by the story. My dad passed away this past New Years Day 2007. I am trying to gather as much information and pictures as I can of cars he build or contributed to. I have may memories of attending races at Lyons, Irwindale and Riverside. Memories from stories and pictures but most are from my childhood and vague. I would like to be able to pass on the legacy of my father to my grandchildren so an information would be greatly appreciated.

[sYc]

At this past York US30 show I spent alot of time with a guy who has the Clyde Morgan DH sponsored Camaro FC, '70-/71, and I believe it is on a Fletcher chassis. Clyde started out with another body on the chassis, until DH hired him, at which time the chassis was sent to Don Hardy's to be fitted for the Camaro. He was showing the car with the Fletcher chassis with a Vega body on it. He does have the Camaro body.

[fletchersdaughtr]

"The Clyde Morgan car had a Fletcher chassis. It was stolen and never seen again."

And

"I had always thought the car had a Hardy chassis, but I see an earlier post here that said it had a Fletcher. I've never heard of Fletcher, so maybe someone can check out my photos and let me know."

My earlier post wasn't very specific as to why this particular thread caught my attention when googling my dad. It was because of the messages that I referenced above. I see that this is a very old thread so am just hoping my post catches someones eye that knew Fletch.

[fletchersdaughtr]

Interesting. Thanks for the post Tom. I never really thought there would be any of his old chassis out there still. In his later years he did build some nice roadsters and of course built the chassis for them. My mom has the last one he built. Don't know if she'll sell it or if it might be a future inheritance but I don't even like to think of such things. It is just nice to know that his last project is still in the family.

[whsell3]

Hi, I am the guy who owns the Clyde Morgan / Dick Harrell Camaro with the Dick Fletcher chassis. I have alot of information on the car, as well as contacts to guys who have stories of your Dad from back in the era. You can contact me at [email protected]

[fletchersdaughtr]

Thank you whsell3! This is exactly what I was hoping for. Anything you could share with me would be most welcome. I have an email on the way to you now.

[whsell3]

Clyde was driving Charlie Wilsons Vicious Vette, he wanted to venture out on his own so he secured sponsor ship from Southeren California AMC Dealers Assoc. He had Dick Fletcher build the chassis for the new car and outfitted it with a Javelin body. The car first ran at an East Vs. West meet at Lions in the fall of 1968 where it set low E.T. of the meet.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Morgan68AJavelinLions11_9_68DN.jpg

[whsell3]

Clyde had owned his own body and custom paint shop in Garden Grove, CA. He not only did his own paint work on the car, but he built his own engines and did all the mechanical work on it also. Note the Fletcher Chassis painted on left rear deck lid.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Morgan69or70JavelinJavelinKent2_Sta.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/MorganClyde_1968_11_OCIR_MikeDitty_.jpg

[whsell3]

Clyde was making a name for himself in the funny car ranks. He went to many final rounds and was able to win the Seattle National Open with the car. The Javelin is also noted as being one of the first cars to break the 200 mph mark.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Morgan70aJavelinSeattle4_3_70ND.jpg

[whsell3]

Clyde was approached by Dick Harrell and was offered the chance to run under the Harrell name. The cars last race was in Arizona, from there it was sent to Don Hardys in Texas where the Javelin body was removed and the Fletcher chassis got a new 1970 1/2 Camaro body placed on it to become a Dick Harrell team car.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/index.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/scan0008.jpg

[whsell3]

Clyde and the car went on tour around the country.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/New20York201.jpg

[whsell3]

All good things come to an end. Clyde had returned home to California, from there the car was stolen. The FBI was called in but could not find the car. It ended up that benesesso and friends bought the car and turned it into Nitro Express.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/IMG000139n.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/NitroExpress.jpg [/image]

[whsell3]

benesesso and associates ran the car for about 6 months and sold it to Don Hulse in New Jersey. Don had the car sent to Circus paints and repainted.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/LoResCorrected.jpg

[whsell3]

Don ran the car for a little while and had seen The Shoes Wonder Wagon car and liked it, so decided to rebody the Camaro to a Vega Wagon. This was the third and last body to be fitted to the Fletcher chassis.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Richmond_73.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Plane_Crazy.jpg

[whsell3]

So, to make a long story longer, Don sold the Camaro body and it ended up going to a guy in Carlisle, PA. by the name Roadster Jack Coulston. He mounted the body onto a stage II Logghe chassis in the mid 70s. painted it orange and made only about twenty passes with the car. Mostly ran at York US 30
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/CAODIF451-1.jpg

[whsell3]

Don had a new Pontiac Grand Am built by S&amp;W and had loaned the wagon out to the Cassidy Brothers when they had wrecked there Mopar. When Don got the car back there wasnt a use for it so it was sold. The car was sold with in the year again and also went into PA and to Gerry Tully. Gerry named the car Star Baby and made the cover of National Dragster. It was sold to a Tom Hoover(not the same one)for a brief time and then went to Greg Zyla. Greg invented a board game about drag racing only to use the money he made off of the game to buy the car. www.boardgamegeek.com (http://www.boardgamegeek.com)
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/063p2_xlg.jpg

[whsell3]

Ok, lets see. Oh, the Camaro body with the Logghe chassis was last ran by Jack Coulsten, only to be sold and never ran again. It went through several hands only to have parts taken off of it each time. I aquired the body and chassis and a few odds and ends in about 1981 only to shuffle it around here and there over the years, some times it sat inside, and alot of time it set out. I was told it was a Jungle car when I got it. Could of sold it lots of times but never did. http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Chassis.jpg

[whsell3]

In all my hours of research into the body and Logghe chassis I found that is was not a Jungle car. I seen a picture of Clydes Camaro body lifted up, and seen three little half circles cut out on the front bulkhead, and with the candy red paint still on the nose like as left in 1971 by benesesso, it gave it away. I found and called Clyde and sent him pictures, he called me back crying. He said but that is not my Fletcher chassis. I told him a guy by the name of Franklin Amiano told me it was put under a Vega Wagon in 1972. Well, it turns out that in my Jungle Jim research I meet a guy at the 2006 York reunion, Jungle Glenn Gualtieri. The guy he bought his ramp truck from had a Vega Wagon with an old wide chassis under it. It had been sitting in his Philadelphia engine shop for the past 27 years. Here is the car the day I found it.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/DSCF0077.jpg

[whsell3]

When I sent Clyde pictures of what I had found, he was just beside himself. I did not meet with Clyde yet in person, but I did manage to meet benesesso (Dan) and here he is with his old Nitro Express car, and the Fletcher chassis and body back together after 35 years.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Picture002.jpg

[whsell3]

Here is the link for Greg Zyla
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/994092

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Cool research, thanks for sharing the pic's.

[SS427]

Interesting stuff. This is one of the more fun parts of the hobby.....research. Thanks for sharing. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif
Rick

[whsell3]

Thanks, I have a ton or more of time into the story. I just wanted to make sure that the car is what I was claiming it to be and that it got the proper research to put it back into its place in history. I am very lucky to be able to put the story as well as the major pieces of the car back together. I also have alot of people to thank for helping me. I would like to put the car back together as Clyde had ran it, and will be getting started in the restoration of it the near future.


http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Picture_499a-1.jpg

[Kim_Howie]

William, Congrates on finding the body and frame. Looks like you have researched the car a lot. Good luck with the Harrell camp!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[sYc]

William, neat piece of drag racing history. As I went back and re-read the thread, to say it has an interesting past is an understatement. Good luck with the restoration.

[Charley Lillard]

Neat story...So was it really stolen ?

[whsell3]

Yes, it was stolen. When Clyde first ID'd the body I offered the car back to him. As far as getting everybodys ok on the car that is something time will tell. I would really like to find Clydes old Javelin body, but I can never get through to Don Hardy to see if he sold it or destroyed it or what they did with it? I also would like to find out who owned my Logghe? I was told it might of came from Charlie Hill, but then I found out the Hill brothers ran some of those cars to. I guess I need to do more investigating.

[Charley Lillard]

Very nice of you to offer it back to him and great detective work on your part.

[fletchersdaughtr]

Hi Bill. Thank you for all these great posts. As you probably know, I am making copies. I haven't called Clyde yet but will soon. Talk to you again soon.

[whsell3]

Well, I figured I would just come out and share the story of the car with everybody. Here is a picture of Greg Zyla, his son Tim, and myself with the wagon. Greg had told me that if not for Woody Hatten he might not have ended up with this car. Greg said that he was looking at three different cars at the time and Woody insisted he buy this one because the welds on the chassis were so nice.


http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa309/whsell3/Vega_Funny_Bill_Greg_Tim.jpg

[Fast67VelleN2O]

http://forums.godragracing.com/viewtopic.php?t=59217&amp;sid=91cf181cf9452491dffa9034 96274c31