Dick Harrell drag car (new thread)

[sYc]

Tim, I do not have, nor do I know who does, have the second car. I was told by a reliable source a couple of years ago about it. As far as they knew, only a portion of the chassis remained, as the car had been rebodied, maybe to a '70. What I do have is a 1968, which is why I have researched vintage FCs. It is believed to be Dick's Courtesy car, but I am still doing the research. That is one reason Dave Libby was at the reunion. He had some pictures for me. Tom

[sYc]

"My car is not a DH car. Now we have that understanding, now let's move on. " Copolocater

Now that we have that settled, and the bandwagon is almost empty, I am headed to my shop to sand on a Nova. Tom

[davenkc]

Tom and all

I will try to explain the existance of both 68 f/c as I know it.
Dick's 68 car in it's ORIGNAL configuration was a new construction by Don Hardy painted the same as the 67 (ie)
Chevy red with a black spray on vinyl top later it lost the black top when it was repainted a different shade of red overall. side note this was done after the plan to have 4 cars with the red/black combo, The car that Ken Bojie has now being one Dick f/c, a Chevelle formula stock and a camaro prostock. That didn't happen hence the 1st repaint.
Again after a short time it was repainted to the red/orange/burgandy combo most remember best. fast forward to end of season that car was sold to John McFadden, exactly how it moved from him to who you got it from is just not in the bank of info of what I know. After all that happened 1500 miles away. Going Back to mid year when the repossed 67 car was sold (67 will be explained in my next post) Dick made a deal with Jim Kirby to use his car to replace what the now sold 67 car had beem doing. As you Tom have mentioned it was a 68 Hardy car but inj.only Painted gold.Otherwise it was a near twin to Dick's car. It was painted by my brother a sort of plum color and we changed it over to a blown combination. (the loan of the car deal)
There is a picture of this car already posted early on in this thread so no need to post it again. It is the one with Dick's name on the Quarter panel and Jim Kirby on the front fender. BTY That is me and my older brother in that pic.
After all concerned grew tired of that plum color (it really was not very pretty). It was again painted red with a sort of beige/gold lace not too unlike what the 69 was patterned after. I have seen a picture of this paint job also in this thread. The clue is the name Jim Kirby on the front fender. RUMOR has it that Jim still has this car but that is as I say RUMOR. It is in my opinion that this is a moot point anyway no matter WHO has it if in fact it does still exist because it is NOT a Dick Harrell car! only one he used for a short time. It is a Jim Kirby car. Charlie drove it mostly anyway.
I am going to attempt to attach a picture of the above mentioned "Kirby car" with Charlie driving racing the 68 SuperCuda. I sincerly hope this will clear some of the fog around this matter.
Dave Libby

[sixtiesmuscle]

Dave, thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. I still have a question though. If Dick built [or had built] and drove a car, even for a little while, and, it carried his name, how is it not a Dick Harrell car? Is the protocol in funny cars to consider the car to be only one that was driven by the last driver?

As far as being embarrassed, Tom, come on. There have been alot more hostile discussions on this site before this. Let's not forget, these are JUST CARS!! The truth always comes out, EVENTUALLY, and we have to acknowledge that there are monetary motivations behind many of our dealings. I agree, a bit more civility and respect is appropriate, but, sometimes a good honest argument is what it takes to hear all sides.
I admit my interests are more in stock & superstock race cars, so, maybe it's different in the funny car world. As one member stated recently, we need edumacation. Mike Guarise

[davenkc]

Mike
Good question I will try to explain why my view is as it is.
The car in question (the 68 kirby car) was built by Don Hardy for Jim Kirby (of ST.Louis MO) and delivered in what form I have no idea maybe complete maybe a roller with body mounted but none the less to him.. hence his car.
As I memtioned a deal was made for Dick to use the car for a period of time for no fee. In exchange for this Dick
or to be absolutly correct we (his shop) would change it over to a blown combination. Even then this was no small expense. After the agreed time was up the car returned to Jim as it was (blown)and he ran it I believe on the UDRA mostly. I have heard that after Dick died Jim sanded the Harrell paint job off of it and it was last seen in primer
in an undisclosed location in St.Louis area.
Again this is my opinion but thanks for the question.

Dave.

[sYc]

Dave, about 5 years ago I spoke with Jim Kirby on the phone about his car. He still had it, parked in either his or his dad's basement, I do not remember which. He told me it was complete, ready to race. He stated that it no longer carried the DH paint scheme. It was changed after Dick's death. At the time of our visit, the car was for sale, as Jim was into Harleys. No one seems to know if he still has it. Tom

[davenkc]

Tom
I remember our conversation. I was only trying to be somewhat vague about where/what happend with that car
because as you say nobody seems to be able find out if he still has it or not.I am firm in the belief that although Dick & Charlie drove it it is still not a Dick Harrell car
because I believe you have the one and only true Dick Harrell 68 f/c.
best to you
Dave

[68TopStock]

davenkc, menmyfcs, Tom, Tim, and all board members,

I am glad to see this open, honest discussion, and hope friendships endure and we all understand this is
only about cars. They are material items, and just that.

I sincerely hope Nancy and Helen are not hurt by what has gone on in this post, as I cherish their friendship. I also respect the knowledge and heritage new members such as menmyfcs and davenkc bring to this forum.

Ken Boje

ps: davenkc, SuperJohn really was super! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[menmyfcs]

This forum is now getting down to a discussion that sounds worth sticking with. As for the wheelbase on the 69, this was verified today by a person that made a dolly under the car to help transport it to to a safe location. It is as I said and as Dave states, 118 and 120 a standard practice still today for more roll out on the lights. The builder just moves the body to try and get all the wheel wells to match. As of late, the bodies are made with the wheel well staggered. Maybe the 125 inch cars Dick had were some of the door cars. You can tell them real easy. They almost look bent in the middle.
This is normally what my take has been on what makes the car a ligit Harrell car. Was it built for him? No. Jim Kirby has a Don Hardy built car made for and owned by Jim Kirby, not a Dick Harrell owned car. Just a car he borrowed. Again, Dave is correct-Charlie Therwanger drove it most of the time as a fill in. Also, what is a back up car? In most cases it is a car to run if the other is crashed or being repainted. There was not one in 69 according to shop and crew personel. If Kenny Bernstein borrowed a car from John Force for a few races, and won one of them. It would just be the car Kenny won that race in and still be a John Force car. Not a Kenny Bernstein car! I hope this all makes sense.
Menmyfcs

[mc25t190]

its all over now baby blue, quote "grateful dead", former bob dylan tune.
mike,
i must agree! see attachment!