Memories...
In the 1960's Jim Hall and his Chaparral Racing cars dominated the worldwide road racing scene. His cars were technical innovations and works of art. Jim was the first to introduce effective aerodynamic devices to his cars, innovations that set the stage for modern designs that are still being used today. Innovations that changed the entire nature of auto racing. Chaparral Racing was, and is still based in Midland, Texas. The cars were in their prime when I was a teenager who had just learned how to drive, and Jim Hall was our idol. Young, smart, an international sports celebrity and owner, builder and driver of these amazing cars. Yesterday I had the unique opportunity to spend a good deal of time viewing the Chaparrals on a personal tour. It brought back some great memories
One of the early Chaparrals sported a very high, very large moveable wing and when it appeared on the scene it stunned the competition, not only for it's looks, but because it worked......increasing the downforce on the car and thus the speed thru the corners. Jim went on to design and build a whole series of Chapparal's each with it's own unique improvement, and along the way winning such races as Sebring and Nurburgring in Germany. The Chaparrals culminated in the Chaparral 2-J which was the first true "ground effects" car on the racing scene. The 2-J featured a box like vehicle, called by some "the flying brick", the shape being necessitated by the snowmobile engine, mounted on top of the powerplant that powered two rotary fans on the rear of the car. This device, combined with skirts along the perimeter of the car, sucked air from beneath the car creating a vacuum that held the vehicle to the track. This innovation was so effective that the SCCA banned the car after only four races.
Jim Hall and Chaparral Racing went on to enter the Indy Car circuit where they remained until the mid 1990's having great success and winning the Indy 500 in 1980 with Johnny Rutherford driving [yellow car above]. The cars are now stored in the original shops where they were built and tested, soon to be placed in a special museum display in Midland. I had the good fortune to meet Jim Edwards, a former Indy Car driver himself, who is in charge of maintaining and restoring the cars to their original running condition before being presented to the museum. Jim took the time to give me a personal tour and what a great time it was, hearing the inside stories about the cars, races and the man I had so admired so long ago. This visit would be like a football fan being able to spend the afternoon with the entire 1972 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Team, it's some significant sports history. Jim invited me back for more pictures, something I intend to do.
In the 1960's Jim Hall and his Chaparral Racing cars dominated the worldwide road racing scene. His cars were technical innovations and works of art. Jim was the first to introduce effective aerodynamic devices to his cars, innovations that set the stage for modern designs that are still being used today. Innovations that changed the entire nature of auto racing. Chaparral Racing was, and is still based in Midland, Texas. The cars were in their prime when I was a teenager who had just learned how to drive, and Jim Hall was our idol. Young, smart, an international sports celebrity and owner, builder and driver of these amazing cars. Yesterday I had the unique opportunity to spend a good deal of time viewing the Chaparrals on a personal tour. It brought back some great memories
One of the early Chaparrals sported a very high, very large moveable wing and when it appeared on the scene it stunned the competition, not only for it's looks, but because it worked......increasing the downforce on the car and thus the speed thru the corners. Jim went on to design and build a whole series of Chapparal's each with it's own unique improvement, and along the way winning such races as Sebring and Nurburgring in Germany. The Chaparrals culminated in the Chaparral 2-J which was the first true "ground effects" car on the racing scene. The 2-J featured a box like vehicle, called by some "the flying brick", the shape being necessitated by the snowmobile engine, mounted on top of the powerplant that powered two rotary fans on the rear of the car. This device, combined with skirts along the perimeter of the car, sucked air from beneath the car creating a vacuum that held the vehicle to the track. This innovation was so effective that the SCCA banned the car after only four races.
Jim Hall and Chaparral Racing went on to enter the Indy Car circuit where they remained until the mid 1990's having great success and winning the Indy 500 in 1980 with Johnny Rutherford driving [yellow car above]. The cars are now stored in the original shops where they were built and tested, soon to be placed in a special museum display in Midland. I had the good fortune to meet Jim Edwards, a former Indy Car driver himself, who is in charge of maintaining and restoring the cars to their original running condition before being presented to the museum. Jim took the time to give me a personal tour and what a great time it was, hearing the inside stories about the cars, races and the man I had so admired so long ago. This visit would be like a football fan being able to spend the afternoon with the entire 1972 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Team, it's some significant sports history. Jim invited me back for more pictures, something I intend to do.
