Dick Harrell drag car (new thread)

[menmyfcs]

I have heard a lot of statements made in racing and just on TV. I am sure glad I dont believe them all. Maybe I have missed something. This is supposed to be a 69 Dick Harrell funny car. What was she doing towing it behind a wagon when Harrell had a full shop of men to work on His race cars including Ramp turcks and then an 18 wheeler.Some of The Fred Gibb door cars were towed on trailers. Do you have any clue how long it takes to make 150 trips to any where?
I would be suprised in 69 if she was even 16 years old.
On a busy year the car may have made 70 race dates.If Valerie had the 1 car. Who had or has the other.It would be a Don Hardy round tube chassis.Not a square tube car. Now I will ask you.Where is their documentation?

[sixtiesmuscle]

I say, where is EVERYBODY'S documentation?? Let the people you refer to identify themselves, and, state what they think they remember. So far, everything else is just hearsay. Why you think one person's recollections are more accurate than another's, I'm not sure. Unless, as you say, it's what you want to hear.
Can't we keep an open mind, and, let the info develop as it will? It could take months to gather,and, we can't settle these issues by jaw-jackin' on this site.

[bkhpah]

The men that built the car would be a good start. The people that had there hands on the car every day would have an idea of what went on then. Dave Libby saw the car at the reunion, what was his impression? Maybe the Gibb's will share their story with the board members?...BKH

Post deleted by yenko

[sYc]

My original intent was to keep this duscussion civil and off line. Since neither has happened, I will now go online with what I know.

The car in question is not a new found discovery. It has been making the rounds in the vintage funnycar world for the past 2-3 years, much like Bob Peck amd his cars on this site. It is known as the "Idaho" car. No one associated with vintage funnycars has every felt that the car was one of Dicks. The previous owners had tried many avenues to pawn the car off as being one of Dicks, going as far as offering the sYc a nice commission if we could help them sell the car. We passed. Finally the car was listed on Ebay. As is done on this board when a COPO is listed on Ebay, the car was once again discussed on a couple of vintage funny car sites, again with no one saying it was one of Dick's. Thus, the car sold for much less then what a real DH car would sale for. At the supercar reunion, Dave Libby, who was employed by Dick at this time, stated that the car was not one of Dick's. This was done to a group standing around the memorabilia displays.

To the ones who have blasted menmyfcs, you might want to reconsider, apoligize and stick to steel bodied cars. That gentleman was invited to this board by me, becuase he is the world's leading authority on vintage funnycars, bar none. He is employed by NHRA, moderates a couple of vintage funnycar sites, is very involved in vintage funnycar racing, and most important, was a close frined of Dicks during this time. As Ed Cunneen is to ZL-1s, he is to vintage funnycars.

Now, to the Gibbs. Becuase of the respect I have for the Gibb family, it was very troubling for me when it appeared that I was disputing their word. Thus, though a mutal friend, I sent an apoligy to them. I was told that I might want to visit with them direct. Boy, was I surprised to hear what they had say about the events at Vettefest. Here goes, as told to me by Nancy Gibb, with her mom present.

First, a couple of very important facts. 1. Helen Gibb never examined the FC at Vettefest. She was being interviewed by a TV crew. When she finished the interview, she and Nancy left the show. 2. Nancy was 10 years of age in 1969.

Nancy did not tow the cars 150 times, she was sitting in the back seat of a station wagon with Dick's wife Elaine, as it was being pulled down the return road. She did not see two cars being painted at the same time, she told Tim that there were two cars painted the same, the ZL-1 and Dick's funny car. The mis-quotes go on and on. From the very beginning, she told Tim that the chassis was wrong, and that all she knew about the body was that it was similar to Dick's 1969, except Dick's had an extended front end. She gave Tim several examples of other drivers of the time who also had Camaros. When asked if this could be, or that could be, Nancy said yes, could be, but that she did not know. Nancy nor Helen, have no idea whose car Tim has. Nancy only remembers Dick having one 1969 FC, the one he won the world championship in, which has the extended front end. She did say Dick may have had another one, but had no way of knowing.

I do not know what everyone there heard, but I know what Nancy said happened, and I take her for her word. And you do not have to believe me. Ask any close friend of the Gibb family, or ask Tim. He should have an email from Nancy by now expressing their concerns.

The worst part of the whole situation is this, and it saddens me deeply. Because of the way that their words were turned around, Helen was quoted as saying" I wish that we had never gone to the show(Vettevest). I may never attend another event(except LaHarpe)."

Everyone who has participated in the two threads regarding this matter owe the Gibb family an apoligy. I have already done so, several times over. Tom

[davenkc]

Tom,
I agree with your statment about the disrespect shown to the poster menmyfcs I also know who he is and you are accurate in your description of both his knowledge and the respect he has in the f/c world.
That being said if it would be prudent of me to say, I am one of the few remaining people there is who believes he can pretty accuratly explain the many yes and no of Dicks
funny cars from 67 thru 69 which I have intimate knowledge of. I was there! My knowledge of the 70&71 cars does have a few gaps but I do have a fairly good amount about them as well.
This would be a lenghtly post to do this but I would be glad to do it if there was enough interest. I maybe can once and for all clear up a few mostly unfounded rumors

Dave Libby

[whitetop]

One possible way to get an answer is to sand the body down in an area and see what the base color paint it. Not sure if the body would of been stripped when it was repainted over the years. Then again weight conscious racers might have removed the old paint. I know many old race cars have been discovered or at the same time pointed out as a fake by this method.
Dave

[sYc]

Dave; Glad to have you aboard. And, not only are you welcome to post about what you know, I encourage it. It is people like you, and the Gibb family, folks that were there, who help us sort the BS from the truth.

For those who do not know Dave, he was employed by Dick Harrell in KC. Dave's handsome mug can be seen in a couple of articles that were done on Dick, back in the day. One of them shows Dave working underneath one of Dick's funnycars. Tom

[sixtiesmuscle]

If asking for people to identify themselves, and, thereby verify the knowledge base that qualifies them to pass judgement on a car is taken as disrespectful, I apologize. I for one, am thankful that we can hear from those qualified to weigh in. That's what we need in this instance, not "he said- she said".

[Stefano]

Dave,
I for one, would certainly like to learn more, especially from a first hand source. I would believe that should be one of the main objectives for a Forum such as this.