Chaparral Racecars

[406 Q-ship]

This last Christmas I drove to Florida and on the way (well kinda) is the Petroleum Muesum in Midland TX. In this muesum they have a great section on Chaparral racecars, if your in the area I highly recommend it. Here are some pictures.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/DSC_0031-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/DSC_0033-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/DSC_0035-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/DSC_0037-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/DSC_0040-1.jpg
This my favorite, I just love the shape of the body.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/DSC_0042-1.jpg

They didn't have any of Jim Halls Trans Am Camaros....:crying:

I did get a T-shirt though............:yeah:

[Damn True]

Oh snap. Those kick arse on 17 different levels.

[David Pozzi]

Here's a couple from the monterey historics, Jim Hall driving with gold helmet, his son behind.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Paul_J]

I was invited to the black tie dinner and grand opening of that wing of the museum. It was a blast and got to spend time with Vic Elford, Jim Hall, his kids and grand kids, Dan Gurney and his son and a bunch of very rich oil men and women.

The Slot Car club I was in brought a complete track setup configured like Rattle Snake Raceway. It was fun to see these folks having fun on the scale track. Jim Hall even had a slot car on the shelf behind his desk at their shop. I've got to tell you, the women were the most aggressive on the scale track!

The most impressive part was their shop. They actually fabed up their chassis on a flat section of the concrete floor. His Crew chief Troy and main man showed us the marks on the floor.

Excellent photos by the way guys! Thanks for posting.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

my momma told meeee.. you better CHAPARRAL!

[mpozzi]

My favorite Chaparral as well ...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/ChaparralsJimHallPhilHilletc078-1.jpg

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[The Stickman]

One thing alot of people do not know is that there weren't that many Chaparral's made. They simply reconfigured them. BTW supposedly you can buy a brand new 2E from them to vintage race.

[buickfunnycar.com]

Jim Hall brought all 7 Chaparral's here to Laguna when they were the featured marque and damn if they didn't drive 'em all on the track.
Museum pieces these are not...

[Damn True]

One thing alot of people do not know is that there weren't that many Chaparral's made. They simply reconfigured them. BTW supposedly you can buy a brand new 2E from them to vintage race.

Lola is doing the same thing with T-70 coupes and spiders.

I can't bring myself to look into how much they go for.

[mpozzi]

I took a picture similar to the one I previously posted when the Chaparral's were the featured marque for the Monterey Historics. They had an entire tent with the cars inside and security was booting everyone out one evening. I snuck inside, got several pics of the cars, and then printed a few that night.

Jim Hall was signing autographs the next day so I took one of the photographs and asked him to sign it. He kept asking me "where did you get this ... it's one of the best pictures I've seen of this car?" I printed several more and sent them to Midland (Petroleum Museum); I hope he got them.

I must have taken 500+ pictures of his cars that weekend ...

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi

[Damn True]

Is that the same car as this one?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/DSC_0042-1.jpg

I dig all the crazy louvers and the zoomies poking out through the boot lid.

[JEFFTATE]

As I look at these pics ,I am drooling and daydreaming at work.
I love the car with adjustable wing !!
Jim Hall did some good design work !
That's another vacation / tourist spot I must see. ( the Chaparrals )

[Paul_J]

If anyone does get a chance to go to Midland and the museum, I would try to find a way to make it to their shop where they built and tested all the cars. They have quite a few more cars there that Jim raced in the early days of his career. We got the full tour and even took a ride around Rattle Snake raceway behind the shop. I don't think it is open to the public but I think some of you could pull some strings if you know the right people. I'll find the location of the shop later.

Edit: You can Google Earth "Rattlesnake Raceway" or go to the coordinates 31o 54' 45" N - 102o 03' 15.77' W

Hwy 349 south of town.

The Team developed an automatic transaxle so Jim could operate the adjustable wing with his "Clutch" foot. He would angle it down in the turns and then bring it back up to a more neutral position in the straits.

For those that don't know, the car in the pictures at the top of the thread that is shaped like a box, the 2J, has a small snowmobile engine attached to two fans in the rear body panel that would suck the air from underneath the car hence the name "Sucker Car". It also had articulating panels along the sides that could move up and down. It was eventually banned from racing.

[1971CHEVELLE]

very cool pics. thanks for sharing

[406 Q-ship]

Jim Hall brought all 7 Chaparral's here to Laguna when they were the featured marque and damn if they didn't drive 'em all on the track.
Museum pieces these are not...

They told me that all the cars on display are race ready at all times.....just gas'm up and go

[406 Q-ship]

Is that the same car as this one?


It sure is......

[Paul_J]

They told me that all the cars on display are race ready at all times.....just gas'm up and go

Yes, we heard the same thing. Jim Hall and his grandson drove the 2F to the museum from their shop.

[406 Q-ship]

I wonder if Jim Hall would adopt me....:yeah:

[vanzuuk1]

Rent the can am dvd, its porn for car guys.