Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Benesesso

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Aloha and welcome.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.<g>

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

Some great memories and a cool story. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

By the way, welcome to the coolest site on the net...and keep the photos and the stories coming! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/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 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

WELCOME! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/cool.gif

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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".

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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---.<g>

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

[ 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---.<g>

[/ 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?

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

[ 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?

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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 & Mulligan car, and what happened at Indy:

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

Excellent read...thanks for posting that Sam !

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

I just need to add this somewhere.. https://www.yenko.net/attachments/163...on_1_wheel.jpg

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

That is a cool picture Charley! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

Me!

[email protected]

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...llFunnyCar.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1..._harrell_1.jpg

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

WOW, What a story! Keep it coming.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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

[/ QUOTE ]

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

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

"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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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]

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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.

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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/a...s11_9_68DN.jpg

Re: 71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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/a...nKent2_Sta.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...MikeDitty_.jpg