Past the HAMB date cutoff, but Ryan has written JJ entries on them... so I'm not calling it O/T I've had this visit planned multiple times, but work always got in the way. I FINALLY got a chance to get there today Chaparral 2 Chaparral 2D Chaparral 2E Chaparral 2F Chaparral 2H Chaparral 2J “If I can come up with a better mousetrap that is within the regulations, I ought to be allowed to use it” - Jim Hall, October 1970 Chaparral 2K And finally… me in a 2E BTW, the brake pedal was still hooked to the wing actuator. Oh, and for a while now I’ve been collecting automotive art for my home office (as soon as I buy a house). So of course I came home with something today #391 of 500. Signed by Phil Hill (Phil and Jim took 1 and 2 at the ’66 Laguna Seca Can-Am in the 2E’s.) and Jim Hall himself
Stroked .... now Iam stoked ! Been looking for pictures of Chaparral 2 . I have been thinking about building something like that for the road. I know it will be o/t here. I'll use late model fwd but in the rear for drive train. Then wear out the engish wheel on the body panels. Any more pics. of c2 ? thanks rtp
Ask and ye shall receive. I didn't get too many though. My camera battery wasn't cooperating and I was there right before closing time, but I can't complain too much; the staff was awesome and let me in for free! (so I bought a shirt to go with my signed print ) One of them relayed a funny story. Apparently when the 2J was running (only one racing season in '70 before being outlawed) the competitors weren't too happy. One (or maybe a few) approached Jim and told him that the fans were throwing rocks and dirt on their cars. His response... "If you don't like it, maybe you should get in front of me."
I posted a few pics from my last visit a number of years back. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258902&highlight=chapparal One of my favorite museums. If you get the chance next time you are through there, head south east to the chapparal race track. Seems like the gate is always open.
Stroked, did you have to remove the steering wheel on the photo-op car to fit. I pretty avg size and that thing is for wee-people. I held it in front for photos. I also came home with some art.
I am VERY jealous!!!! I never knew that there was a Chapparal museum. Jim Hall was my childhood hero, and his cars were my favorites. My gosh, in the past two days we have Jungle Pam _and_ Chapparals!!!!! Is the HAMB great, or what!?
Hell yes I had to remove it! LOL. I was wearing boots when I first tried getting in. Those had to come off too. I saw that piece you got. Very tempting. I also almost bought the 2D Nurburgring poster, but then I saw the signed print... and, damn the price, I had to have it. LOL. I was like a kid in a candy store.
It is actually part of, and inside, the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland, TX (Jim's home). http://www.chaparralcars.com/ http://petroleummuseum.org/
Stroked, if you haven't already read it get a copy of "Chevrolet Racing...?" by Paul Van Valkenberg. It is one of my prized possessions. I understand it was just rereleased, I have a first edition. It will give a full perspective of how these cars were really built. James Garner {Rockford} also drove for Hall. If I ever get to Texas that is a definate stop. Thanks for posting.
I'll definitely check it out. Someone also pointed me toward this DVD (narrated by Jim Hall and Sam Posey): link: CAN-AM: The Speed Odyssey Trailer: http://www.canamfilm.com/flash/canamTrailerNew3.swf
Stroked, I spent 200 bux that day. the old gals in the museum thought I was nuts. I bought shirts for the family, a poster, a book, a dvd... alot of stuff. The book I bought was the only one and on display in the window. I nabbed it too. When I got home I had a nice surprise, autographed.
Thanks for this thread Stroked. Lotta interesting stuff @ HAMB. These cars I could look at 4 days from the tyres up but from the pics you see that the body work is beautiful & astounding in it's crafting. Can Am rocks !
My Mom and Dad took a trip West to Cali in the late 60's. They stopped at a gas station (I think near Riverside) and one of the "66" Chapparel cars was on an open trailer. They were gassin up the tow vehicle when he snapped a pic. Beautiful cars
How could those beautiful race cars be considered O/T???????????? Jim Hall and the "boys" were RACERS!