History Jim Hall's Chaparrals-American Innovation

One of my absolute heroes, extremely clever...

 

i totally agree, jim hall's cars have always been some of my favorite cars. class, ingenuity, ground breaking engineering, and timeless quality. his chassis were as inovative as anyone.

 

I used to go to the CanAm races at Riverside, and watched Jim Hall and Bruce McClaren race. I saw all of Hall's new Chaperral cars run with the various rear wing innovations. The first "air Brake" movable wing, and of course the "Vacuum Cleaner" car. Pretty amazing stuff.

 

Did you say vacuum cleaner? Coming right up!

 

Opps, noticed and fixed my spelling error.
Yeah, that's the one. It was notorius for spitting out gravel etc out the back all over the other cars.

 

Miller91, have you ever read "Chevrolet = Racing" by Paul Van Valkenburgh? It gives a lot of insight into Hall's creations. My copy is one of my prize books.

 

I had those ..old Aurora slot cars

 

I heard/saw the "sucker car" run at Laguna Seca a couple of years ago. It sounds like a Can-Am car being chased by a BIG model airplane.

 

noboD, I haven't, hard to find but I have a pile of relevant books, and met Jim Hall twice!

 

Here's a couple. Chaparral 2F Sebring 1967.



Chaparral 2G Riverside 1968.

 

Jim Hall = my absolute all-time hero.

Chaparral = my absolute all-time favorite cars.

My only regret = I have never met the man or seen one of these cars in person.

I had the Cox slot cars.

 

You should read it, everyone should that has an interest in Chaparrals.

 

I love Can-Am. I wish wide open Can-Am racing was back today.

 

Amen to that!!

 

http://www.petroleummuseum.org/Gallery/CarsonDisplay.html

Hey Plym, We till have a chance to see some of them. They are in Texas.
Smokey

 

Here's a vintage Cam-Am in car ride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEmHpTSACSg&feature=related

 

Yes, I know of that museum. Hope to get out that way some day.

Seems like everyone is repopping the 60's super cars - Cobras of course, also Listers and Cheetahs and so on. Damn imagine a Chaparral repop. Faster than a NY minute.

 

i was lucky enough to see the Chaparrals run at Laguna Seca many times. I remember the early ones didn't have the wings, like your picture of number 65 in the first post . Thanks for bringing up some great memories. Those races were incredible. American iron powered racers at their finest.
chuck

 

Try this video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWlfkAjZeac

 

Petroleum Mueseum in Midland, Texas.

 

The Monterey Historics, Jim Hall driving with gold helmet, his son behind.

 

I was at Monterey Historics for that, mind numbing...

 

Jim Hall and the Chaparral cars were my favorite, the first race I went to was the first Long Beach Grand Prix (which was a Formula 5000 race before F1 and Indy Car) to see those cars flying down the streets with the engines screaming was bitchin' . One of the turns by the old Pike the cars had to go up a incline and just about go airborne before making the right and going down the main street in Long Beach, Mario Andretti called it his favorite corner in racing at one time. Here's a picture I found on the net of Jim Hall (tall guy with the hat) and Carl Haas with a Formula 5000 car driven by Brian Redman who won the first Long Beach Grand Prix back when it was a real street course.

 

Closest I ever got to that was a Hot Wheels of the winged Chapparral, and a model of the McLaren. I love those big pumpkin colored cars.

 

Now that is beautiful, great picture

 

just one question..why are such beautiful and historic cars tucked away in a Oil Museum?

seems like the only auto related thing there..

 

I remember those. At the time I thought they were goofy. Air drag spoiler, fans holding car to ground, the very idea sounded lame. Shows how things evolve and was I ever wrong.

 

the Chaparral Museum is a permanent exhibit at the Petroleum Museum in Midland where Chaparral Motorcars is based. Jim Hall was a Texas oilman, which is how he could afford to play...

 

I'm a big fan of Jim Hall! He developed some cool shit!

 

I hope you all realise Hall really didn't do all the design work for his cars. That is what the Chevrolet = Racing book is all about. Many parts, ie engines and transmissions, were sent to him with sealent on the threads of fasteners. Run them until they break and send them back, do NOT disassemble. Most of the wings were designed by Chevy engineers. I just pulled it off the shelf and am rereading the Chaparral section tonight. James Graner, of Rockford fame, was one of the drivers.