Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

In the Ford venues recently there is new speculation someone else originally had the idea for the Cobra or it was already done by a "noname" but Shelby had the name, backing and resources to actually do the project. I believe this is the approach Factory Five Racing was trying to use to win their court case. As it may be however, history, as they say, is always written by the winners not the losers.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

How many Harrell race cars are currently accounted for ?

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Harrell owned/raced, Harrell raced, or Harrell sponsered?

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

All of the above...they could all have had the name on it at one time.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Harrell owned/raced-3 ('67 altered,'68 & '69 funnycars), Harrell raced-2 ('69 & '70 ZL-1s), sponsered-1 (Kirby FC). Of course Valerie may know of others.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Dave Libby has a post on the Harrell website about this car. It was originally painted a Plum color and wore the Courtesy chevrolet logo. Jim Kirby was the official owner but it was not only raced by Jim, but also by Dick Harrell and Charlie Therewanger. When Jim and Dick parted ways the car was returned to Jim and the next Chevrolet dealer to sponser the car was Bomeler from St Louis. While Dick was a sponser for the car during all that time he also raced it.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

[ QUOTE ]
When someone "restores" one of these cars, how do they determine what point in history they restore it to?

[/ QUOTE ] Wherever they want to I would assume. And that would usually be the most famous point.i.e. record holder etc.Take an old Willys gasser...a couple different owners in its racing past but it was a record holder....of course if you put it back you would go with the proper lettering etc. for it's glory day in the spotlight.JMO but it sure seems like something simple to work out with the family to get that name back on a car.Especially if Mr. Harrell himself raced the darn thing.Would it become instantly much more valuable with the name on it ? Not to me.I would guess the market is extremely small on a car like this.Is someone going to earn huge dollars off of a few exibition passes of a historic dinosaur...I doubt it.Its going to take a bunch of dollars to get it safe.Its real value is in people seeing it and seeing how cool it was back then in the infancy of these mega buck sponsored funny cars that don't even look like cars anymore..And also how crazy these guys were to even get in one of those things !

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

I have yet to hear from a Legal standpoint about this. My thinking is that the Harrell family would have a hard time preventing a historic car to not use the name if they were not using it to make money. The only way they could have a standing is if someone started to make a NEW 2004 Camaro with his name on it. If someone bought a car with the name on the side in the past and they have the pic to prove it then they have the right to advertize it as a Ex-DH car. I am not a lawyer but look at Shelby and you can see that he is in the same boat. He can demand that anyone offering a NEW vehicle with his name on it pay but not on one that was sold with his name on it back then. Personally I think they woudl be crazy to even try to restrict any of the old cars as the more of them out there would enhance the value of any new endeavor that might come along that they could cash in on.
Now if someone was making a Clone and using his name then they should put a stop to that.

I know that it would just make me very happy to have someone even remember my Daddy and to have as much interest in him like DH would be something else. I would only want to protect his name from being abused and I think that is more what they are trying to do.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

I have just looked on this site after being away from it for a while.
To Motown Madman, 396L35 and others who don't know jack about things you speak so knowledgeable of.
Valerie DID not ask the owner of the Kirby car or any others for money to use the DH name. If you boneheads had any balls at all you would have asked Valerie her side of the story. Read the eBay ad a few times. THE WHOLE AD. It says, ìOriginal Dick Harrell #3 car.î Under Vehicle condition it says ìAn all original DICK HARRELL 68 Funny Carî. It is not, was not and would never be a DH original car. It also says "own a piece of history"; racing history comes from wins and famous owners. The DH name is a good piece of Jim Kirby history. What major event did this car ever win? It was painted Harrell colors so he could fill in for Dick. The name Jim Kirby was not one everyone went to pay and see. As for Dick switching to a Hemi and Kirby not wanting to. I raced against Dick and Clyde Morgan who was replacing Kirby in late summer of 70.
Both cars still had a Chevrolet in them.
Valerie asked Kevin who had the eBay auction for NOTHING other than to advertise the truth.
Porterfield was a personality situation. Late 80s, he was denied the approval of Elaine and Valerie both, to use Dickís name and signature. He has since used and abused it.
Think about it, T-shirts, mugs, hats and any other thing he could profit from, including appearance money. Now that diecast cars and other things are out he wanted in on that also. Seems Valerie hasnít asked Tom Clary to take the name off his car. Tom has been a true gentleman to the Harrell family, unlike others. GO FIGURE! This also brings up another issue. Tomís car indeed is a REAL Dick Harrell car and the other does detract from the value of there being more than just a few originals. I have the Emails from Valerie and Kevin in front of me. Kevin understood and writes that he should have written it differently. Please make no mistake Kevins car is a good find and a nice one.Just not a Harrell car as advertised
This sounds like the same group that so called heard Nancy Gibb talk about another car, when in fact this same group had that wrong as well. Yep, it was Candy red and thatís all you needed to say it was a Harrell funny car. It wasnít even a funny car! This kind of talk is not fair or good for anyone. I see several names on this subject that call or Email Valerie and act buddy buddy then post crap to stir the pot. She has taken along with the grief of her dads death and losing everything to all the whores, including family and tried to salvage her fathers past for herself, her children and her grandchildren. It was said that Dick Harrell would be proud to hear his name of the loud speaker and to see his cars out there. 1st of all I knew Dick Harrell. He would not charge you people for information about your cars like Porterfield who had it all given to him. Dick would go out of his way to make building your car a dream come true. Therefore he would not be pleased to have people like Porterfield running his name.
Motown Madman quit hiding behind your keyboard and step up to the plate.
Dale Pulde aka Menmyfcs

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

I would suggest you remove the referance to the red funnycar and the issues that took place.You never called me to get my side.I think that sounds familiar!!!

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Dale, I'm so happy that you made that all clear to everyone on this site that the Kirby car is not a Harrell car???? Yes, Kevin should have worded his ad differently and we all agree on that. When Kevin and I looked at the car for the first time we asked a lot of questions, and I can remember Kirby telling us that he raced for Harrell when Dick had other races to attend. Kirby also told us that Dick used his car as a back up car when Dick's car needed to be repaired. You are also right about Val not asking for money from Kevin to use the DH name but in fact she told him to reword the ad, and he did so. Kevin asked her why, and Val said that he would have to pay her money because she owned the rights to the name. As for the royalties to the name, didn't Tom have to pay to use the Harrell name on his car??? I think he did and in fact he admited to doing so. I understand the reason asking for the money and I am glad you are protecting the DH name. But I don't understand is you wanting to take this piece of history away from future generations. Just answer a few questions for me and I will leave it alone??? If this is not a DH car or a sponsored DH car why is his name still inbeded on the quarters of this funny car?? Also why does Kevin have all these pictures of Jim and Dick together at dealership shows and races??? And finally, did the spectators that went to the track to see Jim Kirby not have to pay to see the races that day because Dick wasn't there??? I just don't understand???? It looks like all the answer that we are looking for come down to this: Yes; Kevin has a Dick Harrell sponsored funny car. Yes; Dick Harrell race Jim Kirbys car as a back up when needed. And yesssss; people did have to pay to go see the races that Jim Kirby raced at for Dick Harrell. Thank you for listening to my thoughts, Mark [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Dale,
I made no statements that were rude to anyone, I was asking a question. I agree the Ebay ad should have been worded differently, but as I do not know the person who ran the ad I had no input as to what the ad said. My opinions on the legal and ethical issues of restoring an original race car to the way it was built and raced stay the same, no matter who's name is on the car, my thoughts were across the board for all cars in the hobby, not just DH cars. I dont know Porterfield or what he has or has not done so I can not comment on that. As for me Dale, I hide from nothing or no-one, the organization I belong to is world wide, and I am more then willing to step up to your plate. Email me for my address, you are more then welcome to stop by for a visit or if you prefer I can have some of my family members who are close to you stop by for a chat. This board among other things is a place for expressing opinions, which we all have, but it is not for personal attacks. I personally attacked no one, you have chose to personally attack me. This board is not the place for this type of behavior, so if you wish to continue take it to an email box so we can arrange a visit.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Motown Matt I think if you want to be civilized about this whole matter I have an answer for you.Excert some anxiety and help me find the 1969 camaro DH 1970 AHRA championship Funnycar body.Let me know.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Can you Guys Please tone it down a Bit so I don't have the Release my Dogs...We really do want to try and keep it Civil. I think these are the type of threads that are the reason we now have Moderators..... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Charley.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

You'd better release the dog Charlie----GO GET THEM FIDO-- tear them apart [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]------------- web page

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

OK, I've held off as long as I can waiting for someone else to use this line:

Charles In Charge [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Thank you for the explanation Dale, well said.

Who's 'copolocater', I thought that guy took his ball and went home - again [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

OK Charlie,
I will behave, I dont think my attack cat would stand a chance against your mean dog BelAir. I have been bit before, my wife gets jealous over her territory.
Motown. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

OK, now that I seem to have gotten your attention and for sure P.O.ed a few of you. Matt you are very correct. This is not the place to air our laundry. Then again if this is where they are being soiled so it is the best place to start. Now you all can understand how it feels to be judged and talked about with out knowing what all the facts are.
If you read this subject from start to finish you would more than likely felt as Valerie and I did. By the end of what I read, it sounded as Valerie put a gun to peopleís heads for money. Not one time did Kevin ever speak up. His talking was all done on hearsay from someone else. Some of you may not have seen it this way, however, you are not looking at it from our point of view.

To start with, Valerie never asked for a penny. She did however tell Kevin if who ever bought it wanted to use the Dick Harrell name they had to sign an agreement would be necessary as more than likely the car owner would also want to produce DH merchandise. She was trying to explain this to Kevin so the new buyer(s) did not have big merchandising ideas. Some of you are stating that she wanted money for using the DH name on original cars, this is not true. Porterfield being spiteful, took the DH name off the 69 ZL1 on his own. After telling Valerie she should be paying HIM. In fact, Porterfield ran the DH name for years & Valerie never protested this. Due to his merchandising it became a legal issue.

As to license agreements, they can cost from one dollar to one million dollars. In these agreements, there are limitations of use. Moreover, if a DH car is started or run anywhere and a person gets injured, they can and do sue all parties on the car. It has been going on since the 60s when Houston Platt had an accident in the south and is still done that way today. There was a die cast car made a few years ago with Fred Gibb and Dick Harrell on it. No one ever contacted Valerie on this. Helen had her contract; Valerie had to fight for herís. How would you feel? She has never interfered with any of the Novas, Camaros or any of the true cars that were built at the Dick Harrell shop. She has been more than cordial and helpful to anyone that has called or emailed her.

Copolocater, I emailed you off line, and as of last month I am still tracking where your car came from. I used your car as a reference. FYI, you may not remember, but 2 years ago that same car was offered to Valerie as her fatherís old car for about $150,000.00. When we told the guy it wasnít close, the seller still offered it as maybe an old DH car on many different sites. I guess this should be known as buyers beware. As far as Matt releasing any anxiety by finding the 69 car, from the past experience he could sell you any 69 funny car and you would believe it to be. There is a nostalgia funny car class coming about this next year at the Good Guys races. It could show up there.
This brings me to the Kirby car. For all of you that do not know how race operations work I will explain it as best I can. Jim Kirby would race this car painted and looking like Dickís car. Clyde Morgan and Larry Christopherson did the same thing. Lets say Kirby had 10 bookings all year and Harrell had 50. Kirby running for Harrell could get more bookings. What was here for Dick Harrell? I am just going to make up numbers, but I bet they would be close. Kirby could only get $700.00 a race where with Dickís name he would get $1000.00 and Dick would get 10 to 20%. If Dick drove the car it could get another $200 to $300. In most cases, the ads would read Dick Harrellís Camaro. I did this with a few owners myself and almost with Dick. A few years back when teams still match raced, John Force would get less money with Tony going to a race than if he was there. I hope this helps on the sponsor ideas. Seeing as one of you know Kevin and has posted he was selling the car to buy another and his wife wanted him to. Someone is not telling the truth. He told Val a different story.
I hope all will take notice when you are buying a racecar and the owner is telling you a story check it out with others involved with the story. As we get older we see our past sometimes as being different than it may have been. There may be a lot of pictures and papers. I am sure Bojie can tell you we have more than the average Harrell collector and he only saw a bit of them.
Dave Libby posted on the www.dickharrell.com site some of the past of the Kirby car (as he remembers it), which is very close to the way two others explained it also.
Matt, I have to come back to Lansing I think next month. Are you near there? Maybe we can do lunch. If youíre near Pontiac we could go to Foxes. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] What I said was uncalled for and I hope you can now see why.
Sincerely,
Dale Pulde aka Menmyfcs

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Dale,
A much more civilized and informative post. As years may pass I am certain you still have the skills to do a 200+ MPH pass in a nitro rocket, as I still have the Neandrethal skills to be called out for a brawl. I prefer these days to excersize my mind vs my body, the latter hurts to much the following day, as well as the fact I have my name carved in one to many jail cells already. You did the best thing you could do with your last post, you beat me up with your mind as I finished your post with learning something. Touche'.

I live about forty minutes from Lansing and would be more then happy to meet you for lunch, if you have time I can take you to have a look at a old Candies and Hughes funny car. Possibly a few people around Detroit you would like to meet if you havent already.

It seems as if there are a lot of politics surrounding the vintage funny car hobby, I can certainly understand as I was slammed into a similar situation about a year back when I located a lost Team Shelby Trans Am car. Everyone has a different sandbox and not everyone is invited to play.

I am not much on politics but I am determined to protect the history of this hobby as a whole across the board. I am still of the opinion that if a car was introduced to the public eye a certain way then it deserves to be restored to original condition no matter who owned it. If a name appears on a car, at some point permission was given to wear that name. That is not to say it allows a vintage car owner to start marketing other items using whatever name may be on the side of the car they currently have in there possession, with a vintage race car the actual "owner" will always be whoever owned or raced the car when it was in the spotlight. Discussions like this sometimes end up hurting the car, politics should be kept from public discussion as the private lives of our current politicians are a good example. Maybe every Ebay auction or advertisment for a vintage car should not be picked apart in public, but left to the parties it concerns.

Email me if you want to meet for lunch.
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Dale,

Your the man! That's what I call an informative post. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Copoloco,
I spoke with somone on the phone today who knows the whereabouts of a 69 FC Camaro body, he has no knowledge as to the true origins of the body as it is in primer, was the one you are looking for ever damaged and repaired on the right front corner?
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

MATT CALL ME IMEDIATELY I EMAILED MY #!!!!!!

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Dale,

Can you email me so I can ask you some Funny Car questions. I seem to be having trouble emailing you an email with your email address here. Is it [email protected] ?? Mine is [email protected]

Matt Murphy

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Sorry so late getting back. Went to the races fro then yesterday had Bikes to finish for the love ride. Didnt want Motown madmans other family over here because of unfinished bikes.
BTW Matt. Looks like after Thanksgiving I should be there,
Do you rmrber the ads. On Sibley at Dix. BE THERE!!. That was the last track Dick Harrell raced at before Canada.
Do you know Poncho Rendon. Ispent a fair amount of time at Ramchargers. Connies and Al Berglers, Really good to see Connies cars running well. I also used to run the War Eagle cars from a guys place on Pontiac Lake.

Harry Kalwei was the person that went to Las Vegas to pick up Dicks REAL 69 Funny car for Valerie. That 69 Body that is near you is still a good find.At least for a mold as the Nostalgia Funny cars are going to run 5 Good Guys events this year and more tracks want them. Later Dale [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Hey guys!
I just did a funny car search and found this thread.
I have some old funny car pics, including Harry Kalwei that I will try and get scanned.
Looks like rain this weekend so I'll have some spare time.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

You need a Lobotomy to look through that thread...from what I gather it's not really a Harrell car....according to the experts...I'm gonna go chug a bottle of Merlot and come back later because maybe it became a real one since then. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

[ QUOTE ]
according to the experts...I'm gonna go chug a bottle of Merlot and come back later because maybe it became a real one since then. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Try a 1969 vintage Merlot. Maybe that's what they're drinking. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

[ QUOTE ]
Try a 1969 vintage Merlot. Maybe that's what they're drinking. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Since this is an automotive site, shouldn't that be a NOS 1969 Merlot. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif
James

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

[ QUOTE ]
You need a Lobotomy to look through that thread...from what I gather it's not really a Harrell car....according to the experts...I'm gonna go chug a bottle of Merlot and come back later because maybe it became a real one since then. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/rolleyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ] Ok let me begin by saying that Dale is right about this car... Dick Harrell never owned the Kirby car but he sure as hell had his name on the side and raced the hell out of it when he came to St. Louis or any other Midwest races.. As for the car being real, well its not everyday that you can buy a vintage funnycar from the original owner with all the documentation (scrap book that Kirby's wife put together of all the history of the car). As for the experts out there getting ready for their Merlot, have fun, sit back and relax because I know you have alot on your minds... I was present the day that the car was bought from Kirby and I was also there the day Matt came to pick up the car... I would have to say that this car is very cool original piece of race history and Dale would have to agree on this considering he has seen the car since the time this was first posted, the car has never been wrecked or burned and has survived this whole time with its original frame with the original Don Hardy body tag still attached... Dick's car was number #1 and Jim's car was number #3... Hopefully the car will show up at the reunion this year and everyone can decide for themselves if its real or not??? Good luck Matt and I hope to see you there.. Mark

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Hey Mark, I agree it would be neat to see the Kirby car at SCR8 and get it along side Toms 68 Harrell F/C. I can see a Pic of them together at the starting line at Gateway as a Retro Cover shot for Hot Rod or Chevy Hi Performance with Bob McClurg shooting the pics. Would make for a neat poster as well.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

It would be even cooler to have Jim behind the wheel of his old car with Dale in Dick's place... Hell Dave can set up both cars to run just like the old days... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif Mark

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Dale couldnt fill Dick's shoe's no matter how hard he tried.
I do agree with Jim getting back behind the wheel of his though.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Matt has a very cool car there..no matter what is on the side of it...hey maybe we can get JE to make food/beer runs for us at SCR8...

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Are you listening to this!!!!! Jim Elgan https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif By the way last time I knew post don't talk!

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Maybe he spilled Merlot on PeeWee.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Lets see, Today I have received plenty of Emails from folks where they all say I got mentioned in a Thread on another site for my post on this thread. Seems that dale thinks he CAN FILL Dick Harrells shoes. Hate to tell you Dale but you need to crawl out of the cespool and wipe off your own shoes. YOU sir could not then or today be a Dick Harrell, He was a Class Act, you are just an act. I am really surprized that the others in the DH camp think you could even come close to DH. As for JE, a broom pusher from day one that was problem taking care of business in the bathroom when the real men like Dave Libby were building the cars that are today so sought after. JE if you have a problem with that my email is [email protected] . Dave Libby all I can say is I wish I was there when the cars were built. You did some great work and after talking with you at SCR7 I could tell you were proud of them when you built them as you are today. Thanks for bending my ear for just about 2 hours that day about Steve Sandlins 68 Chevelle and the other cars you built.

(by the way Yes I do know most of you asked for your membership to be deletd here but also know you all stop in to read as ghosts just the same. Thats fine by us and since I know you do stop in and I dont have a need to visit your site Ill post here thank you
Have a nice day!!)

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Now Jeff don't be too hard on them. You do realize that if they didn't say something about things wrote on this site that they wouldn't even have anything to post on theirs! Heck they have to get some of their followers to drag up old posts here so they can bash it over there. I think someone greased the wheels on their train and it is stuck at the station.

Re: Jim Kirby's 1968 Harrell Funny Car for Sale!
 

Someone tell him there's only one shade of green.

SS