View Full Version : Early Dick Harrell funny cars
As many of you know, several days a go an attack was launched by members of another website, aimed at not only discrediting my funnycar, but no doubt hoping to embarrass myself and the sYc along the way. It was obvious the attack was well orchestrated and pre-meditated, in the planning stages for weeks, maybe even months. Not only did they have someone from their site setup with an anonymous user name to do most of the dirty work (to prevent possible legal action), but they had a couple of “experts” standing by, with scripts in hand. Their evidence consisted of a bunch of photos which A. were hid behind closed doors, and still are, and B. 99% of the photos were of cars other then mine.
In the beginning, I will admit I was slow in responding to their allegations, mainly due to the fact I could not view their evidence. Once I was given brief access to their site, I was ready to respond, and when I did, it seemed to cause confusion in their camp, as even their so called “experts” could not get their stories straight, such as one saying it had a door, another saying it did not.
And as I was trying to explain things, a couple of folks got involved who were missing the point I was trying to make, which made it more difficult for me to explain my side of things. That is why I am starting this thread, to explain my side, without interruption. The thread will not be open, but anyone who would like to discuss things with me are certainly welcome to do so by PM, email or even phone, as several folks did the first time around.
For the past several years I have said that during the 1968 race season, Dick campaigned two flip top funnycars (not counting the Kirby car). Dave Libby and I have discussed this on numerous occasions. The following posts contain the evidence I feel backs this up. Whether you agree with what I am saying in whole, or in part, hopefully it will be both entertaining and informative.
The first funny car DH had was a 1967 Camaro, a steel bodied, altered wheel base car, built by Don Hardy, using square tubing under a body in white (basically a shell), The driver sat near the door, as in a normal car, unlike was in the case of “center steer” cars. The car featured an extra long fiberglass nose, with other pieces out of ‘glass as well, such as the rear deck lid.
This car was campaigned by Dick in 1967 and portions of 1968. It began as an injected car, later having the injection setup replaced with a blower. In the majority of pictures it will be wearing its familiar paint scheme consisting of a Red body with a black top, had Yenko on the side and can be easily recognized by the Cragars on the front. After being sold and then repossessed, it wore a yellowish paint scheme.
As was the trend, even though purpose built as a racecar, it still retained many of the attributes of a real car, such as a vinyl roof (fake) and taillights.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178971-67-1.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178973-67-2.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178969-67.jpg
Now to the fun part, 1968 and the flip tops. IMO, there were three, the red one which I will call 1968-1, the tri-colored burgundy “door car” which I will call 1968-2 and the Jim Kirby car which was a near twin to car 1968-2.
Car 1968-1 started out as an all red car, making its debut, at least in the photos I have seen, at the Winter Nationals in Long Beach, CA in late January or early February, 1968. Looking at the first picture, it appears the car is still somewhat under construction as seen by the lack of a rear spoiler and an unconventional looking parachute bracket. Take special note of no rear spoiler and what appear to be real taillights. Being one of the first one-piece Camaro bodies to be produced, very simple in design, with a few imperfections. This car was to be painted Black over Red as part of a special promotion Fred Gibb and Dick Harrell were working on, and also to mirror the look of the car it was replacing, the ’67 steel bodied car, including black top, door handle and real taillights.
Because so few pictures of this car exist, either in era magazines or photo collections, evidently the car was not raced at many major races. Who knows why? It was reported that early on this car did not handle way, maybe that prompted Dick to have another car built.
Don Hardy, possibly the first chassis for a one-piece Camaro to come out of his shop, built the chassis for this car. And because they were built one at a time, and there were no rules governing the construction of these cars, chassis builders were able to “tweak” each new chassis they built, meaning each one could vary slightly from the last one built by the same manufacture.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/36727-fgcars.JPG
http://www.fredgibb.com/history1/images/34.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/181191-image-1.JPG
The next group of photos will still be about car 1968-1, now Black over Red, rear spoiler added, and pay special attention to driver's side door area.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178909-67dh.JPG
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178837-bs-4.JPG
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178832-BS-1.JPG
In black and white photos, this car (1968-1) will appear to be light a colored car.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/181197-image-2.JPG
Not only does the car on the rack appear light in color, car 1968-1, but also there is no evidence of a door, judging by the interior.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/L67WT1/SEPT68.jpg
Now to car 1968-2, the Tri-colored burgundy car. First of all, text from a couple of period magazines.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/179391-1320.JPG
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/179361-1cartheroy.JPG
Now to pictures of car 1968-2, the burgundy car, taking note of what appears to be a molded in spoiler w/vanes and molded in rear taillights, and take special note of the drivers side door area (opening door).
According to Dick, this car cost $12,000.00 and took 8 weeks to build, and since DH had a similar car to drive, Charlie Therwanger would drive the new car. The tri-colored burgundy paint was sprayed by Corky Larson from Phoenix, AZ, on one of the most refined one-piece fiberglass bodies of its day. Judging by the large number of pictures of this car that appear in magazines and photo collections, this car was the one that represented the DHPC at the majority of the major races. Because of the popularity of this car, its appearance, etc, would explain why Kirby’s car was painted to match and why this paint scheme would be used on both the '69 funny car and ZL-1. .
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/181204-image-7.JPG
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178873-bs-5.JPG
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/180216-Harrell_copy.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178982-7.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/180566-dhd-1copy.JPG
Notice how dark car 1968-2 appears in black and white.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178979-4.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/181208-image-4.JPG
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/178981-6.jpg
Now to the Jim Kirby car. In the beginning this car was campaigned by Jim Kirby out of Fenton, MO (St. Louis) with no direct ties to Dick Harrell. Jim was running an injected big black until DH approached him sometime during the '68 race season, offering to give him a blown big block in exchange for painting the car in 'DH colors, which at the time was burgundy. If I am not mistaken, this car has a molded spoiler and taillights, same as car 1968-2.
Even though painted the same as car 1968-2, Jim’s is easy to spot because it will have Jim’s name on the front fenders.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/181213-image-5.JPG
Now, how to properly, and easily ID the cars.
And, where the 4 cars are today?
1. The 1967 steel-bodied will have an extended nose, will usually have Yenko on the side and will almost always will have Cragars on the front. Driver seated next to the door. This car is under going restoration in Michigan.
2. Car 1968-1 will either be Red or Red/Black, (in B/W photos light in color), will have a driver’s side door handle but no opening door, real taillights and either no rear spoiler or one added. And of course, at times, a black (dark) top. This car is located in Alton, MO,
3. 1968-2 is pictured below, the body on a Loggee chassis, with the Hardy chassis either used for Dick’s 1969 car or his 1970 car. Look for a opening door, molded in spoiler and taillights, will be some sort of burgundy in color pictures and dark in B/W photos.
4. The Kirby car will resemble the more defined car 1968-2, will be a shade of burgundy in color photos and dark in B/W photos. Will have Jim Kirby on the front fender. This car is in Georgia.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/180214-Manhart1969-08-10MilanJohnGacioch500.jpg
Now to the car I have, which I believe is car 1968-1. And this is where the going gets tough, as so few era pictures exist of this car. In my 5+ years of research, I have seen less then 10 (most seen elsewhere in this thread) that I believe are of car 1968-1. Why? That is the million-dollar question.
As of late, one of the questions being ask about my car is "who authenticated the car”? My response, it was the people closest to it in the day. But rather then take my word for it; here are a few pictures, posts and email that should collaborate what I am saying. The first five posts were copied from the "old" Dick Harrell forum.
<font color="red"> 3 General / Events & Gatherings / HORAN'S ELECTRIC - FUNNY CAR NATIONALS - ST. LOUIS Sep 16th, 2004, 2:05am
Started by valerieharrell | Post by Dale Pulde
</font> <font color="blue"> Tom clary's restored Dick Harrell Camaro </font>
<font color="purple">
General / Discussion / Re: A evening to remember Jan 30th, 2004, 5:13pm
Started by Dave_Libby | Post by valerieharrell
Dave and and his beautiful wife, Norma Libby
Dick Harrell Race Team Member: Dave Libby
I hold these two dear people very close to my heart. We had 18 people in our dinner party. And our table was so large that we were seated very far away from some, which made it difficult to talk unless you got up from your seat and walked over to that person Dave made a special point to get up from the table & walk across to the other side to see Mom. He knelt down and talked to her for quite a long time. He brought some magazines to share with her. With one in particular that he gave to her, highlighting Tom clary's 1968 Camaro F/C at the 2003 Funny Car Reunion in Englishtown, NJ. Mom was near tears as Dave spoke with her and shared different things about how much it meant to him to work with Mom and Dad. ............................
.................................................. ......
Warmly, Valerie
</font>
<font color="orange"> ........... Matt's presence proved to Mom that the outlook of what Tom clary and others were doing, to be bright and positive for the future of the entire muscle car and racing industry guys who have a sincere love for Dad and what he stood for, Dad's racing endeavors. And this is what has instilled their desire to complete restoration projects and collections.
</font>
<font color="green"> 11 General / Photos / Some pictures of D-H 68 Camaro Sep 26th, 2003, 8:45pm
Started by Dave_Libby | Post by Dave_Libby
First picture is in it's original paint. Some have questioned the 68 car as ever had a black top as it is today restored by Tom clary. Here is a picture of it that way. Car only ran with this paint job for a short time.
</font>
<font color="red"> 12 General / Photos / 1968 DH Camaro Courtesy FC-Englishtown NJ 2003 Sep 21st, 2003, 10:24pm
Started by valerieharrell | Post by valerieharrell
These are pictures of the 2003 Funny Car Reunion, Englishtown, NJ., with Dale in the seat of clary's restored 1968 Dick Harrell Camaro Courtesy Funny Car.
</font>
Here is a portion of an email I received following the Funny Car Reunion held in St. Louis in late 2004.
<font color="red"> Hello Tom.... Just wanted to drop you a quick note as I have 459 emails to read. I found this photograph (below) on the Deepstage.net site. As you probably know, the car really photographs beautifully. You have done a wonderful job representing the car & my father. Dale and I walked over to see you the first day we got in but you must have stepped away from the pit area. We looked the car over and picked up a few of your handouts. I really liked those and I am glad you have them with your car. ......
As always,... Val </font>
The following photos were taken at the 2nd Annual Funny car Reunion, held at Englishtown, 2003.
Valerie Harrell sitting in the car.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/181240-image-10.JPG
Valerie and Dale with the car.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/50146-DP-VH.JPG
Dave Libby with the car.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/50148-DAVE-CAR.JPG
Dale in the car, Val, Dave and Mo checking things out.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/46445-DH167.jpg
Article in Drag Racing Magazine, January 2005, by Bob McClurg from SCR7. Dave Libby and Harry Kalwie pictured. Part of the article contains an interview with Dave.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/181244-image-11.JPG
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.