[Valerie Harrell]

Jude,

I have shown interest and shown effort toward continued 'use' with the Dick Harrell name/marks/logo & have done something with it. Yes, my cousin & I are on good terms. Yes, blood is really thicker than water. I mean no disrespect to the Yenko family, but history shows the Yenko name has not been in 'use' by family since Don passed away. Classic Jeff/GMCI has owned/used the mark/logo for years.

Why is Lyle Tom crying about the TM issue now? If you look at the USPTO office website you will see why Lyle Tom was denied as an applicant to the Yenko name in 2005. It is simple, Classic Industries owned & used the mark for some time now. When Tom filed, the USPTO denied his application. He knew exactly why he was denied. If you want I can post or email privately, the Lyle Tom Clary/sYc/USPTO response for the Yenko mark application. It is public record. If you have never used the USPTO site it is defiantly not dummied down for most users. Clary knew exactly what he was doing & why he was not approved.

Jude, it is easy to make judgments when you are not on the other side of the fence. The way I see it.... I call it grandstand tuning or the Monday morning quarterback.

As far as the GMP project with Helen .... no one contacted me until I found 3d party distributors selling the project on the internet. And Matt Murphy/GMMG contacting Helen on the 02 ZL1 project, all I can say is good for them. I am glad it worked out for Helen & the girls & Matt. Where they compensated....does any one really know?

You might not be able to answer this as I know I cannot....but is the Clary-Yenko project financially compensating the Yenko family? I cannot speak for either GMCI or Clary as far as the financial compensation. I do not know what goes on behind the scenes since that has not been made public.

However, to be represented by a reputable company (i.e., Classic Industries/GMCI Licensing/GMMG etc.) that is the direction I would go. Also, I know my father, mother and I, would only want to be represented by the best.

Again, my personal opinion, I would not want to be represented by a funeral director/mortician/coroner.... I can see it now....."Why come in my dear pretty....how may I comfort or help you in this time of need?" LOL

As far as my experiences in lawsuits...it is best leave the lawyers out of it if at all possible. In the end, after the dust settles, the judicial system is the one who makes the REAL money.

[Valerie Harrell]

Wow! Has it gotten REALLY quiet here or is it just me?

[Lyin Lyle]

I have a question here for everyone. Why did this not become a legal issue?
Tom beat it up on the SYC site.
http://www.classicautomotiverestorat...ey_camaro.html

Because it did not directly affect what HE was doing!

On post 100 by Joe 58 you may notice the sponsors names are on the car very big. a few weeks later we all had to remove the names until the sponsors could get things together after Houstons Platts terrible crash in Ga.
Does the Yenko family want to have to keep track of all that goes on with the TM rights ? This is just one more area that most do not understand.
How come None of the families are ever distraught or have to get legal council until the Lil King of the SYC gets involved? Why? for what? Everything you seem to read comes from Tom. Is Sandlin backing this one also? Or do you have a new fish to suck from? Isnt freedom of speach a nice concept? LL

[Clint_69]

What I find interesting is that Lyle stated in another post that he "withdrew" his application for the Yenko TM because he figured it wasn't the right thing to do, he did not mention that it was deined. I guess he forgot that detail. Also, whenever there is a fiasco with something like the trademark issues, there is always one common denominator. I wonder who the SYC got to assist the Yenko family as he stated , because I know he is not shelling out his own money to help, he never has just other peoples, i.e Steve S. etc. I am glad that this discussion is in public. It is very informative to those who want to learn a little about trademarks and also sets the record straight as to who owns what. Very good thread and informative to many readers.

[novamob]

Originally Posted by Valerie Harrell

Wow! Has it gotten REALLY quiet here or is it just me?

Val.
The mods on TC have warned us time & time again not to bring issues from other sites to this one....expained in the 'please read' thread at the top.
Most of us don't want them to eliminate the COPO & Dealer thread so we get real quiet when we seem to be pushing the envelope.
Going back under my rock now

[Clint_69]

Jude,
I wouldn't really call this thread "pushing the envelope". I would say it's a civil yet pointed discussion as it relates to TM issues and the New Camaro Yenko Tribute project. It's a good and informative thread and educational to many.

[DjD]

Originally Posted by Clint_69

Jude,
I wouldn't really call this thread "pushing the envelope". I would say it's a civil yet pointed discussion as it relates to TM issues and the New Camaro Yenko Tribute project. It's a good and informative thread and educational to many.

You are already on thin ice here, maybe you are not the best judge of what is or isn't pushing things in this forum Clint.

[JOE58]

I agree the site rules need to be followed at all times.

Some of these issues go back many years but it is important to discuss them as they are related to the preservation of Camaro history.

The commercial interest don’t always have the best interest of the hobby in mind so the hobbyist need a place to express their opinions.

[Clint_69]

It's all good!

[rich pern]

Good Information and Discussion, and good that it can be discussed in an open forum.

Even BETTER that the Harrell family is sharing some information from back then.



more please!

Rich

[Lyin Lyle]

Just got back from taking the 69 Harrell Camaro for some freshening up.

Dennis. No matter what forum things get posted on, if they are clean and truthful, at what point does it get bad? Jude brings up a good point but also it stresses a point that came from the former and the SYC site. Do as we want or go away. I am not saying this is going on. I am asking a question. Yes, it is old news and we are SICK of it, but some newcomers do not know all of what really has transpired along with many others. Everytime the Harrell name comes up, TC bashes it. Unfortunately, it is almost to hard to put into words, And we lived it! I would bet to say that the Yenko family only knows very little about what has really gone down over the years. If anyone has done anything to hurt the Harrell cars its TC and some of his SYC.
The fact that Tom can blab to everyone in the industry that The Harrells are greedy and will sue you is one that does slay me. We have never sued anyone. In fact, Val was sent a warning by Tom due to she was selling Dick Harrell tshirts at a race in 2004 at St Louis. He said he was witness to Val selling t-shirts that had Fred Gibb on the shirts (that would be her 1969 Dick Harrell Camaro funny car with Gibb logo on the door, and Porterfield's Harrell Gibb 1969 ZL Camaro w/Gibb logo on the door (just as he has Harrell) on his SYC stuff. Because the track is in Illinois, he stated she had violated Gibb state TMs. This was after Val trademarked the Gibb name for Connie Gibb. Then Tom threatens Val to drop the Gibb TM or be sued. Val assigned the mark to Connie who has all but lost interest. Notice when Tom talks about the Gibbs, its only Helen and Nancy! Who is the dividing party? WHY? He knows Connie is on to him.
Tom never admitted to the fake car but did drop the asking price from over $200k to just over $50k and sold it. Have we sued Jim Parks for displaying it? NO! He only went with Tom to look like a bigger fool and put the Fred Gibb name on it instead of Courtesy. He now shows a car that never ever existed! Thats worse than any clone you could imagine. Its now not even a clone car.

[motionwannabe]

Originally Posted by Lyin Lyle

Just got back from taking the 69 Harrell Camaro for some freshening up.

Dennis. No matter what forum things get posted on, if they are clean and truthful, at what point does it get bad? Jude brings up a good point but also it stresses a point that came from the former and the SYC site. Do as we want or go away. I am not saying this is going on. I am asking a question. Yes, it is old news and we are SICK of it, but some newcomers do not know all of what really has transpired along with many others. Everytime the Harrell name comes up, TC bashes it. Unfortunately, it is almost to hard to put into words, And we lived it! I would bet to say that the Yenko family only knows very little about what has really gone down over the years. If anyone has done anything to hurt the Harrell cars its TC and some of his SYC.
The fact that Tom can blab to everyone in the industry that The Harrells are greedy and will sue you is one that does slay me. We have never sued anyone. In fact, Val was sent a warning by Tom due to she was selling Dick Harrell tshirts at a race in 2004 at St Louis. He said he was witness to Val selling t-shirts that had Fred Gibb on the shirts (that would be her 1969 Dick Harrell Camaro funny car with Gibb logo on the door, and Porterfield's Harrell Gibb 1969 ZL Camaro w/Gibb logo on the door (just as he has Harrell) on his SYC stuff. Because the track is in Illinois, he stated she had violated Gibb state TMs. This was after Val trademarked the Gibb name for Connie Gibb. Then Tom threatens Val to drop the Gibb TM or be sued. Val assigned the mark to Connie who has all but lost interest. Notice when Tom talks about the Gibbs, its only Helen and Nancy! Who is the dividing party? WHY? He knows Connie is on to him.
Tom never admitted to the fake car but did drop the asking price from over $200k to just over $50k and sold it. Have we sued Jim Parks for displaying it? NO! He only went with Tom to look like a bigger fool and put the Fred Gibb name on it instead of Courtesy. He now shows a car that never ever existed! Thats worse than any clone you could imagine. Its now not even a clone car.

WOW!!! Theres alot of bad history. I find it interesting. I dont understand the purpose of half of it. Valerie is a Harrell how can someone sue her for use of her name? If a car was built by Dick Harrell and it had the GIBB name on it when it was built /raced whatever, How can someone make you remove the name if you are restoring this car to spec? This blows my mind. How could that poor lady be sued for restoring a car her dad built which bears the name of the dealership that sponsered him I just dont get it.

[DjD]

Originally Posted by Lyin Lyle

Just got back from taking the 69 Harrell Camaro for some freshening up.

Dennis. No matter what forum things get posted on, if they are clean and truthful, at what point does it get bad? Jude brings up a good point but also it stresses a point that came from the former and the SYC site. Do as we want or go away. I am not saying this is going on. I am asking a question. Yes, it is old news and we are SICK of it, but some newcomers do not know all of what really has transpired along with many others. Everytime the Harrell name comes up, TC bashes it. Unfortunately, it is almost to hard to put into words, And we lived it! I would bet to say that the Yenko family only knows very little about what has really gone down over the years. If anyone has done anything to hurt the Harrell cars its TC and some of his SYC.
The fact that Tom can blab to everyone in the industry that The Harrells are greedy and will sue you is one that does slay me. We have never sued anyone. In fact, Val was sent a warning by Tom due to she was selling Dick Harrell tshirts at a race in 2004 at St Louis. He said he was witness to Val selling t-shirts that had Fred Gibb on the shirts (that would be her 1969 Dick Harrell Camaro funny car with Gibb logo on the door, and Porterfield's Harrell Gibb 1969 ZL Camaro w/Gibb logo on the door (just as he has Harrell) on his SYC stuff. Because the track is in Illinois, he stated she had violated Gibb state TMs. This was after Val trademarked the Gibb name for Connie Gibb. Then Tom threatens Val to drop the Gibb TM or be sued. Val assigned the mark to Connie who has all but lost interest. Notice when Tom talks about the Gibbs, its only Helen and Nancy! Who is the dividing party? WHY? He knows Connie is on to him.
Tom never admitted to the fake car but did drop the asking price from over $200k to just over $50k and sold it. Have we sued Jim Parks for displaying it? NO! He only went with Tom to look like a bigger fool and put the Fred Gibb name on it instead of Courtesy. He now shows a car that never ever existed! Thats worse than any clone you could imagine. Its now not even a clone car.

I can't (nobody involved on Team Camaro can) control what anyone says on another forum or any other web site. I can control what goes on here, this site will not be used to air all this laundry. All this he said, she said finger point is grade school at best and doesn't even make a good soap opera!

It has nothing to do with taking sides, I don't want to hear any of it from anyone! When car talk regresses to nothing more than the stuff you just posted it really takes any interest out of the super car subject.

With a few exceptions the folks coming to this forum are strangers here on a mission and I am so sick of it I'm ready to make it my mission to remove this forum. You are here and here only to further your mission! Be honest if I closed this forum would you be back? The bottom line, I don't care who did what or said what to who and this is not the place to set the record straight. If this comes off sounding angry it's not directed directly at you, it's the ongoing BS that a few keep bringing here that has me fed up...

[Lyin Lyle]

Dennis. Heard loud clear and respectfully! Aring dirty laundry and clearing the record are 2 close but different items. Sorry, I guess sometimes too much information is not good. No one wants to hear their wife or husband is cheating but sure is good to know what you have.
FYI to all here. Valerie and I have had our words over these post please do not take it out on her for what I have said What started to be a fun hobby became no fun 5 years ago. Best regards LL

[Valerie Harrell]

Dennis,

We meant no disrespect to Team Camaro whatsoever. Yes, I am a newbie and I did not come here to bash any one. I was sent a link to this thread and out of curiosity here we are. When I read some of the posts, we debated whether or not to respond.

Maybe we should not have posted at all and just sat & watched.....however, we tried to answer the guys truthfully as to the questions that were being asked. We let our emotions get carried away, which is hard to do when you have had to live it & your livelihood has been destroyed.

It is difficult to keep the answers simple because it is not quite that easy to answer the questions vaguely. Maybe we should have not responded at all. It does appears like a she said, he said session, yet, some had questions I was trying to respond as honestly as possible. Instead, we could have posted actual attorney letters, public record legal documents & let the members be the judge instead of answer with our opinion. Most importantly, we were not trying to air dirty laundry; only set the record straight to the answers asked.

I apologize if we went over the top. We meant no harm to Team Camaro. I have actual documents that back up everything we have posted here instead of quotes. Actually, this is the first time I have been over on Team Camaro and I like what you have done with the website AND I am not trying to blow smoke...I don't need to impress anyone.... some can like me or don't...it a free country.

After replying to this thread I started digging around and saw the post on the Lead Sled and commented on that thread. Then I saw the kewl Yenko/Harrell/Gibb Car Found thread and what an awesome story! Those were the first photographs & story that Belk posted that I have seen of the car.

Like everyone else, we are jazzed that there are new 2010 Camaros coming out. Like what Stefano has done with the Nickey Camaro. And for obvious reasons, why I prefer the GMCI/Classic Industries Yenko Camaro....they are a stout reputable company. To me it is about integrity .

I cannot vouch whether or not GMCI/Classic has been in touch with the Yenko family. Maybe they have. I would seriously like to speak to Lynn & Hope Yenko and reunite with them. I have a great relationship with Connie Gibb. Since I lost my little sister May 2007, & because of the Gibb ties, Connie has always been like a big sister to me. Enough of that as you guys probably do not care to hear about all the mushy stuff anyway...but again, that was all part of the Harrell/Gibb history too.

I am sorry if myself, Dale or if some of the members bent the rules, asked things that should not have been asked & upset certain members. Please do not take it out on the members who commented on issues I have had to deal with.

All I can say is that the Harrell name has been both a blessing and a curse with the last 10 years being mostly a curse. I have fought for my father's original 1969 Camaro funny car through two separate divorces. The last divorce in 2000, was over the '69 DH Camaro & the DH trademarks. I am not a trademark expert, but I have lived through 3 court battles because of the Harrell name ... this is not counting the legal issues my mother went through over my Dad's estate after he was killed in his race car. Unfortunately, there is a lot to Dick Harrell's history that comes with being born with the Harrell name. At times, I wish I was born with a with a common name such as Smith or Jones; or born with a silver spoon; or the frills; the trophies; the money won, the glory, world records set & how many cars we owned & how many were built. Sometimes I wish I just had a nice simple, boring, peaceful life.

Some here were just curious and like my father I tried to be honest to a fault.

I apologize to you and any one on this board that I may have offended.

Sincerely,
Valerie Harrell