Re: Span Inc.
WOW. Lots of Dick Harrell talk these days. Dick Indeed worked for Bill Thomas.He later wanted to be more toward the midwest for the racing part of things. The timming was pretty good as the muscle car era was about at its peak.Dick not only being a very likeable person he also was very good at building a car that would perform as it should.
Don Yenko not being one to pass up a chance to have the best
choose Dick Harrell. Dicks love for fuel racing made him want more than to just build cars for others but to have a fleet of his own.The move to KC was for racing and his ties with Jim Tice at AHRA. I am speculating but also going on pretty good knowledge. Fred Gibb wanted a to build a muscle car program the ZL1 and who better than Dick Harrell. I have no doubt that even knowing any top people at GM that you were going to sell them on an idea with out a top name to put it together.As with all good projects it takes more than just one person to make it happen and you arent going to use Joe Dokes out in the back of your GM store.As time went on they made a great team and Dick got his dream.Dick Harrell Performance center.If you ever went to an AHRA race in the late 60s to early 70s you saw one hell of a lot of Fred Gibb and Dick Harrell cars.I am not sure Dick had the time to appreciate all of what he had built. I am sure of one thing. He would be proud of what it has become.
There is a story on how he ended up at Nickey etc.I just have to find it. Take Care all MenMyFcs
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