The Spark

They ran the Chaparral 2 yesterday.

It is one of my favorites. The front end reminds me of the C3.



cool seeing the individual exhaust pipes and intakes.





Notice how high the driver's head is.
We were talking about they wore open face helmets back then. I guess you got a face full of dirt and other track debris.

As you can see there are lots of vents on the 2. I found it interesting that the front fenderwells are vented into the cockpit as well as out the top. Dirt and debris would come inside right about where the shifter was.

Whatever it takes to go fast I guess.

I'll post some pics later.
I got some pics with the skin off so you can see the engine/trans.

They used a Corvette transistor ignition. It was mounted on the firewall inside the cockpit about shoulder level. I guess for cooling purposes.

burners

That is so cool. As always, thanks for posting the videos, they are most enjoyable. I love the sound of that engine.

BrianCunningham

I realize zoomie pipes make less power in a N/A application, but they sure do sound nice!

Slalom4me

I always enjoy the posts you make about the Chaparrals.

Thanks for sharing ...

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The Spark

Naked










You can see the vents to the right of the steering wheel. They are open to the fenderwell. No screen or anything.

You can just make out the Corvette transistor ignition in the lower right of the cockpit picture - just above the seat side bolster.

How about that roll bar. Looks pretty small by today's standards.

I am really shocked at the wheel studs and lug nuts. They are tiny by today's standards - even regular passenger cars look beefy compared to these. And they look like they used regular nuts like you'd find at the hardware store. Very small bolt circle.

The wheels look to be split rims so you could change the center section. Jim Hall told a story about how they got Firestone to make wider tires. They were doing tire testing for Firestone and Jim told his people to make the wheel wider so the sidewalls went out at the rim. Firestone looked at that and made wider tires to fit. So Jim had them widen the wheels again...and Firestone made wider tires. That's how they started racing on wide rubber instead of the bicycle tires of the past.

Slalom4me

Is the gentleman in the red ball cap Mr Hall?

Those doesn't look like his features, but the mileage seems close.
I don't imagine that just any senior qualifies to climb in behind the
wheel while the engine of a Chaparral is running.

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FKING1

I saw this car run at Watkins Glen once. It is an awesome machine and had a terrific sound.

The Spark

It is not Jim Hall. I forgot his name but he's about the same age.
Nice guy. We visited for a little bit before he climbed in the car. He said he used to race and that was some of the best times of his life.

Slalom4me

Sadly, the one guy it can't be is Mr "Hap" Sharp (1928-1993).

My vote is that there is a good chance you were talking to
Mr Jim Musser. If so, then he did a little more besides race.

Any chance that the gentleman shown on the right in the navy
sweater is the same fellow in the red ball cap whom you spoke
with on Wednesday ?



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parkerracing

I like how the crewman checks cylinder temps (runs his hand over each pipe).

As for debris in the cockpit, the right fender vent aims at the drivers shoulder (must have been big fun in the rain at Sebring. Today's drivers are such pansies). /:\

The Spark

Roy Williamson
He's on the Board of Trustees of the Petroleum Museum where the Chaparral cars are housed.

Probably friends with Jim Hall. He is very active in the community as well.

Slalom4me

Thanks.

Nice to know that the machines are well-cared for and exercised
periodically.

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