71 Harrell F/C anyone know of its whereabouts
 

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>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jeff where in Northern IL was the car found?

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

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 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/confused.gif

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dave thanks for the info &amp; pics ! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif What year was the switch to Chrysler power?


Steve https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

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

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.

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

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...

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

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...

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

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

P.S.I agree with you! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif

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

they would be lucky to get 80 between themselves https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif

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

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. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif Ps I'm not 80. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

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

[ QUOTE ]
Ps I'm not 80.

[/ QUOTE ]

I never would have guessed you were 90, Kim! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

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

[ 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. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif Ps I'm not 80. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

[/ QUOTE ]AMEN BROTHER on both counts!https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

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

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 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif)

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

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. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif Dale Pulde

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

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

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

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.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif


Steve https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

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

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...https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

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

I believe Jungle was the last to use a BBC and still compete.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Steve

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

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.

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

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:(

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

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


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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Steve https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

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

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 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

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

Thanks Dale. Now we know where to look for DH vegas, Palm Beach. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.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.

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

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???

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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."

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!