The Supercar Registry - 1967/1968 Dick Harrell funny cars

I debated about posting agian as I think the outcome will stay the same and I don't think the majority on this website will ever want to truly engage in a rationale, objective, jab free discussion about a members car..let alone THE head members car...When I use the term "you" in this post..it means a majority or the site..not necessarily one person..

I guess what I have always saw from this site, and heard and chose to ignore from other sites (and interestingly NOT just the 2 you guys are probably thinking of..hell not even only Chevrolet sites..remember if you like hi-po Chevies you probably also like other makes as well..) I finally saw firsthand. This time I can't look the other way...you guys (the majority here..so if "you" feel it applies then it does) are soo hypocritical....You slam and publicly pick apart guy cars that come here looking for answers, cars on Ebay and other websites that have NEVER been here, yet yuo feel teh need to stick your noses into their auctions, and in some cases make such a mockery of others work that it is sickening..How would you feel if some bozo's on SYC were slamming your car when you had no idea who or what SYC is???Yet when the critiquing turns inward you circle the wagons, make trite stupid post, refuse to engage in meaningful discussion, deflect all questions, and attack anyone that dares challenge your cars, views, or this stupid website..

Well no offense the last time I checked there wasn't a Jesus among anyone here..You guys come off like this how the hobby is supposed to be..when in actuality you are soo far removed from it in a lot of cases. It is supposed to be about having fun and being able to engage in discussion that teaches, entertains, and is meaningful. However that isn't done here..instead you put yourselves, your collections, and your pompous attitudes above others and it shows. Don't believe me..go to other sites and read some of the post..not from people you kicked off, but from people that came here looking for an answer or to see some really cool cars and read some of the post..I'm done with this website and the attitudes here..You guys are soo blinded that you validate and hold everyone's car to a higher standard yet can't do the same for a member..no matter who he is...All I've heard is how "those" guys were so bad..how they caused problems, etc..Well maybe they do and maybe they are asses who knows..BUT when THIS website and members here had a chance to apply the same attitudes, criteria,etc to a members car they couldn't..NO MAKE THAT WOULDN'T.....that is the travesty to me...the visible double standard that is here..

I honestly enjoyed meeting some of you guys..even if only through the internet..C. Lillard, BelAir Bob, Kim Howie (thanks for answering my questions..) and many more..

Here is an IM I sent to Tom earlier today. It is composed of 2 Im's I had sent to another very senior member here that I enjoyed chatting with and learned from.

Tom I'm actually not over my head, ad I'm very familiar with 'glass..The point I was making and have been making all this time is you are so focused on proving you have the DH car...the one the guy said you bought, the one you have marketed all these years, ets. that you aren't even being objective in looking at other possible cars. Here is a copy of a IM I sent to one of the more senior guys here, who I always think is objective..I'll give you his name if you wish as there is nothing to hide:

After reading all the post and trying to ask questions here is my take on it..

It seems IMO that there was 1 car....The one thing that I'm not sure has been done is take ALL the evidence and not just "sound bites" if you will and look at it from an objective standpoint. People are using pics..well are there dates on the pics..if not do they know where they were taken and then events can be looked up to find the dates..what are the dates of magazines...betweent the introduction of a new model year (body stlye) how much time is there to actually race..mostly good weather right..no winter..??? these are the types of things that need to be done and it sounds like neither Tom or anyone else has probably done that. The impression from Tom I get is he bought the car ONLY because he was TOLD it was a DH car..he even says so in his original threat..not wanting the other car..only the DH car. So he went into this automatically thinking he had a DH car..wrong think to do with a race car.

I've been around drag racing, as I'm sure you and many others have. I'm from the south.. Virginia actually where a lot of these types of cars ran on the match race circuit..These cars are much like NASCAR cars..the chassis's are pretty identical, but the bodies can have difference (as can the chassis's ) I'm not sure how many chassis builder's there were, but probably only a handful, same as bodies..so you get more than 1 or 2 cars looking pretty damn near the same..Remember competitve advantage? Take a NASCAR today as well as the current FC...they can and do change boddies, even between makes on the same chassis...

Back to the DH car..IMO there was 1 1968 DH car...I think what is being posted is actually the same car..just wearing different paint schemes as either damage, sponsors, or the racing year changed. Interesting I haven't seen where anyone has thought that maybe DH and Gibb as a result of their 1969 endeavors together might want his (DH)1968 car in a more "Gibbish" color scheme...look at the ZL1 and the "2nd" car as Tom puts it..pretty similar color scheme and colors.
I feel that the 1968 car started out either as an all red car with no roof, then went to the red/black roof (which in the pics actually looks like a vinyl roof..complete with a grain texture..vs. Tom's black paint), of course you can change first red/blk then to all red at this point until dated evidence comes in.. and finally as a result of the ending model year (racing season) and a new car/deal with Gibb (either money for the new car or commonality) to the late, burgundy scheme. I feel another reason the 2 car argument doesn't hold water is why would Dick, having 2 cars drive the Kirby car??? Aren't multicars indicative of a back up car...no need to drive someone else's car to meet comittments..

Tom has used his photos to try and say there are 2 cars..I would think if the true 1967 car..the one with the steel rear and more of a Pro Stock today, had a door which no one is suggesting otherwise, then wouldn't DH had wanted a door on his "new" 1968 car..after all he would have been accustomed to it and it could have been something that the car body builders were set to do..There is photographis evidence showing at least 1 Harrell car had a door..Tom is saying it is the later car..IF that is so why wouldn't his earlier car have one??? Makes no sense..The ONLY way Tom's 2 car theory works is if HIS body is the earlier car..the car he says has bolted in lights and roof...trouble is it doesn't make logical sense...Why would DH have a later car with a door, no door on the "early" 1968 car, when his 1967 car had a door as well..

2nd part in another IM

Sorry for the 2 parter...

Following my previous thoughts... If I'm not mistaken the Gibb cars were red (or I believe that is the way Lil Hoss is currently done)..red with a black vinyl roof..isn't it possible or has anyone even thought/researched if there was a tie between Dick and Fred at this point..We know that in 1969 there certainly was and what Tom calls "Car 2" was painted at some pont with a Gibb color scheme..why not have a similar color scheme at an earlier date...although on the same body. Why did DH paint a car..whether his only car or another car in the same scheme that was used by Fred Gibb... Tom says in some of the pics he is SURE there are 2 cars shown but the pics are very inconclusive at best..Instead of HYPOTHESIZING there are 2 cars he accepts it as FACT and claims his car is in FACT one of those cars..yet in his post he says he isn't sure there were 2 cars or that he even owns one...Since he claims not to have gained anything from owning the car..no notoriety, money or anything else..and hell Rob even sent me an unsolicited, somewhat caustic IM yesterday saying they don't..why not remove the DH name from the car and put retractions here and in the mags..stating he can't be 100% sure and rather than use the name he wants to error on the side of caution..What does it hurt..He can't and won't as this car is something he both bought as a DH car, with only a "someone said it is" for docs and without proper research, has stated publicly it is. Let's face reality..if he doesn't steadfast swear his car is, even though 10 mins of internet searching produces many cars that are extremely similar then he looks like an idiot and is guilty of what he preaches here about clones, recreation, and all that stuff..

I guess the biggest problem I have with this whole fiasco is the way it has been viewed..If someone other than Tom, both everyone's buddy here and the owner of the site , brought a 1968 FC Camaro to light and plastered "Harrell" on the side and said he had the definitve 1968 DH car..wouldn't the car and also they be scrutnized??? Hell "you guys" (the collective members here)..scrutnize cars daily..off Ebay, other websites, your own site...hardly ever a members car though. Can I do it and receive the same unbiased support through refusing to even have an open mind most have taken on here..If so maybe I should go find an old 1968 FC Camaro with a door, as we KNOW DH had one of those..not only by the photos, and movies, but by Tom's own admission..letter it as a DH car and call it as such..there is no burden of proof as there hasn't been with Tom..see my point?

It is so far out of hand now..guys I thought I had somewhat of a peronal correspondence with such as Steve Shauger are questioning why I sign a post a certain way..how crazy is that??? Unfortunatly it seems meaningful, educated discussion about a members car can't take place here..that is a shame. Sad as all I wanted was to find out what car Tom has and how he arrived at that conclusion...

Tom I have and alwasy will be somewhat on your side, as I truly don't believe you are trying to defraud anyone or use the Harrell name where it isn't warranted. However you need to produce the "as found" pics of the car. This is the only way to clear this up...I personally think it was very premature for you to put definitve statements on your car given both the nature of the car (an old race car) and the obvious lack of concrete documentation. Now that you have publicly said you can't prove 100% it is a DH car or that there were 2 cars in the first place..doesn't it make alittle more sense to retract the "irrefutable, definitive" statements you made and continue to make and do some follow up research. What if by chance you DO have another car..better to take the high road, then find out later. I will of course not be truly affected either way..but as you can see there are OTHER entirely plausible HYPOTHESIS, which is all you have to say YOUR car is THE DH car.

Repectfully,

G S Carlson

xxxxxx

Please remove my profile from your site. I would like to be able to come here and view post as there are some great guys with tons of knowledge. I do not to be able to post here or contribute any idea, knowledge or thought I have. This is my own wish.

Respectfully,

G S "Gregory" "Greg" "Gregg" "G Dog" (old Marine name..)Carlson..that's for you Shauger..guess it makes you feel better..get a life..you were much cooler when you were "Steve Shauger..Camaro guy" instead of "Steve Shauger Yenko owner"