Joakim Bonnier 1966 in the Chaparral
during practice at the Nürburgring

Mike Spence 1967 in the Chaparral 2F
during practice at the Nürburgring

Chaparral Cars was a United States automotive company which built prototype race cars from the 1960s through the early 1980s. Chaparral was founded by Jim Hall, a Texas oil magnate with an impressive combination of skills in engineering and race car driving. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Chaparral's distinctive race cars experienced strong success in both American and European racing circuits. Despite winning the Indy 500 in 1980, the Chaparrals left motor racing in 1982. Chaparral cars also featured in the SCCA/CASC CanAm series and in the European FIA Group 7. It is also said in popular culture that the Chaparral race cars were barred from events because of them being too effective and fast, especially the 2J. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2362x1579, 726 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Joakim Bonnier Chaparral (car) ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2362x1579, 726 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Joakim Bonnier Chaparral (car) ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 798 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2126 × 1597 pixel, file size: 957 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Bildbeschreibung: Chaparral 2F, gefahren von Mike Spence Quelle: Spurzem Fotograf: Lothar Spurzem Datum: 1967 Training zum 1000-km-Rennen auf dem Nürburgring File history Legend... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 798 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2126 × 1597 pixel, file size: 957 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Bildbeschreibung: Chaparral 2F, gefahren von Mike Spence Quelle: Spurzem Fotograf: Lothar Spurzem Datum: 1967 Training zum 1000-km-Rennen auf dem Nürburgring File history Legend... Car redirects here. ... Jim Hall was a Formula One driver from the United States. ... The Indianapolis 500 is an American race for open-wheel automobiles held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... The SCCA could be considered the grass-roots level of auto racing in the United States. ... The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. ... Cover of Car and Driver magazine, showing transparent diagram of CanAm racer The Canadian-American Challenge Cup or CanAm, was an SCCA/CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1974. ... The Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile, commonly referred to as the FIA, is a non-profit association established in 1904 to represent the interest of motoring organisations and motor car users. ...

Chaparral was the first to introduce effectively designed air dams and spoilers ranging from the tabs attached to the earliest 2C model to the driver-controlled high wing 'flipper' on the astoundingly different looking 2E, all the way through to Hall's most idealistically inspired creation, the 2J, the car that would forever be known as the 'vacuum cleaner'. Chaparral also used a semi-automatic transmission.

1

The Chaparral 1 was the first car to carry the Chaparral name and marked the transition of Jim Hall from an entrant to a constructor. Built by Troutman and Barnes the Chaparral 1 was a conventional front-engined car, a development of the Scarab sport car first built for Lance Reventlow in 1957. Jim Hall raced it successfully through 1961, 1962 and 1963 while he created the design for Chaparral 2. As it was not a design owned by Jim Hall other cars were sold to cut costs. It was the only Chaparral to be raced by someone other than Chaparral cars.

2

The 2 was designed and built to compete in the United States Road Racing Championship and other sports car races of the time, particularly the West Cost series held each fall. Following the lead of innovators such as Bill Sadler from Canada and Colin Chapman who introduced rear engined cars to Grand Prix cars in Europe where Jim Hall had raced in Formula 1, its basic design concept was a rear engined car.

First raced in 1963, it was developed into the dominant car in the series in 1964 and 1965. Designed for the short, 200 mile, races of the sports car series, it became indominable and proved that by also winning the 1965 12 Hours of Sebring on one of the roughest tracks in North America. As the same time as the car was being mechanically developed, Jim Hall implemented his theories on aerodynamic forces on race cars as well as increasing rear wheel weight bias.

The Chaparral 2 series featured the innovative use of fiberglass as a structural element although more conventional aluminium chassis were also designed and raced.

It is very difficult to identify all iterations of the car as new ideas were being tested continually. There are three generally accepted varients.

The 2A is the car as originally raced, fearturing a very conventional sharp edge to cut through the air. It also featured a square tail with a concave tail reminiscent of the theories of Dr Kamm. Almost immediately an issue with the front end being very light at speed with a consequent impact on steering accuracy and driver confidence. The first aerodynamic apendages began to appear on the 2A.

The 2B was the name applied to the cars with the full package of “aero tweaks”, chin spoilers, fender slots and rear spoiler.

The 2C was the name applied to the car with the first in-car adjustable rear wing which was designed to be flat on the straight and tipped up to add rear downforce under braking and in corners. This was a direct benefit of the automatic transmission which kept the left foot free to operate the wing mechanism. The 2C was based on a Chevrolet designed aluminum chassis and was a much smaller car in every dimension than the 2A. Wiithout the natural non resonant dampening of the fiberglass chassis, Jim Hall nick-named it the EBJ, “Eye Ball Jiggler”.

Co-oncidental with the development of aerodynamics was the development of race tires. This is is a complex subject that should have a separate article but as Jim Hall owned Rattlesnake Raceway adjacent to his race shop he participated in much of Firestone Tire race tire development.

A two article series in Car and Driver magazine featured Jim Hall's design theories. The article turns speculation about vehicle handing into basic concepts of physics and it may be said that it was the precursor to the elaborate data collection and management of current racing teams. The first real documented approach to measuring and managing the properties of race cars.

2D

The 2D was a variant of the 2, designed for endurance racing in 1966. It won at Nürburgring in 1966 with Phil Hill and Joakim Bonnier driving. It also competed in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, withdrawing after 111 laps. This car is one of two Chaparral race cars to appear in Gran Turismo 4. Detailed Nürburgring map showing both the Nordschleife and the new GP section. ... Philip Toll Hill Jr. ... Joakim Jo Bonnier (January 31, 1930 - June 11, 1972) was a Swedish sportscar racing and Formula One driver who raced for various teams. ... The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 34th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 18 and 19, 1966. ... This article contains a trivia section. ...

2E

The 2E was based on the Chevrolet designed aluminum 2C chassis and presented Jim Hall's most advanced aerodynamic theories to the racing world in the 1966 inaugural Can Am championship. The 2E established the paradigm for virtually all racing cars built since. It was startling in appearance, with its radiators moved from the traditional location in the nose to two ducted pods on either side of the cockpit and a large wing mounted several feet above the rear of the car on struts. The wing was the opposite of an aircraft wing in that it generated downforce instead of lift and was attached directly to the rear hubs, loading the tires, for extra adhesion while cornering. A ducted nose channeled air from the front of the car up, creating extra downforce as well. By depressing a pedal that was in the position of the clutch pedal on a car with a manual transmission, Hall was able to feather, or flatten out, the angle of the wing when downforce was not needed, such as on a straight section of the track, to reduce drag and increase top speed. In addition, an interconnected air dam closed off the nose ducting for streamlinging as well. When the pedal was released, the front ducting and wing returned to their full downforce position. It was a brilliant design. Within two years every sports racing car as well as formula one car had wings on struts, although many were not as well designed as Hall's and the resulting accidents from their failures caused them to be outlawed. Cover of Car and Driver magazine, showing transparent diagram of CanAm racer The Canadian-American Challenge Cup or Can Am, was an SCCA/CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1974. ...

The 2E scored only one win in Laguna Seca with Phil Hill driving, but the reason for this may have been the larger engines the other competitors were using. Hall stuck to an aluminum 5.3 liter Chevrolet engine in his lightweight racer while the other teams were using 6 and sometimes 7 liter iron engines, trading weight for power. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, was built in the 1950s near Monterey, California. ... Philip Toll Hill Jr. ...

The 2E was a crowd favorite and remains Jim Hall's favorite car.

2F

Hall applied the aerodynamic advances of the aluminum 2E to the older fiberglass chasss 2D for the 1967 racing season. A movable wing, on stuts, loaded the rear tires while an air dam in the front released pressure to keep the suspension from compressing at high speeds, and the radiators were moved to positions next to the cockpit. An aluminum 7 liter Chevrolet engine replaced the 5.3 liter engine of the 2D. While always extremely fast, the extra power of the larger engine was too much for the automatic transmission to handle and it broke with regularity. When a solution was finally found to the transmission problems, the 2F scored its only win on 30th July 1967 in the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch with Phil Hill and Mike Spence driving. After this race, the FIA changed its rules, outlawing not only the 2F but the Ford Gt Mark 4 (winner at LeMans) and the Ferrari P4 (winner at Daytona, 2nd at LeMans) as well. Brands Hatch is a British motor racing circuit. ... Philip Toll Hill Jr. ... Mike Spence was a Formula One driver from Britain. ...

As with the 2D, the 2F raced wearing Texas license plates.

2G

The 1967 2G was a development of the 2E. It featured wider tires, and a 427 aluminum Chevy engine. While on par with his competitors in terms of power, the lightweight 2C chassis was stretched to the limit and it was only Hall's driving skill that kept the car competitive. For the 1968 Can Am series, still larger tires were added when the 2H was not ready to race.

Jim Hall's racing career was effectively ended in a savage crash at the Stardust Grand Prix, although he did drive in the 1970 Trans Am series while fielding a team of Chaparral Camaros .

2H

Never one to be complacent, Jim Hall noted that the increasing downforce also created enormous drag. Seeking a competiive edge, the 2H was built in 1969 as the replacement for the 2G to minimize drag rather than maximize downforce.

Generally deemed a failure, it eventually sprouted a huge wing.

2J

The most unique Chaparral was the 2J. In addition to a powerful 700hp engine, and a three-speed semi automatic transmission, the back of the 2J housed two large 17-inch fans driven by a 45hp snowmobile engine. The purpose of the fans was to 'suck' air from under the car and propel it out the back. This gave the car tremendous gripping power and enabled greater maneuverability at all speeds, which cannot be achieved by simpler aerodynamic devices such as diffusers and wings. Since it created the same amount of vacuum under the car at all speeds, down-force did not decrease at lower speeds. With other aerodynamic devices, down-force decreases as the car slows down or achieves too much of a slip angle, both of which were not problems for the 'sucker car'. It also had ground effect skirts to keep air from leaking out, a technology that would appear in Formula One several years later. The 2J competed in the CanAm series and often qualified at least a couple of seconds quicker than the next fastest car, but was not a success because it was plagued with mechanical problems. It ran for only one racing season in 1970 as its technology was quickly outlawed by the SCCA (even though it was approved by the SCCA prior to the car's first race). The SCCA succumbed to pressure from other teams, McLaren in particular, who argued that the fans constituted 'movable aerodynamic devices' which were outlawed by the international sanctioning body, FIA. Their were also complaints from other drivers saying that whenever they drove behind it the fans would throw stones at their cars. McLaren argued that if the 2J was not outlawed, it would likely kill the CanAm series by totally dominating it - ironically, something McLaren had been doing for years^[1]. A similar suction fan was used in Formula 1 eight years later for the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix, by the Brabham BT46B but was banned soon after. The 2J is the other Chapparal to appear in Gran Turismo 4. Ground Effect is an aerodynamic effect used in car design, which has been exploited to create downforce, particularly in racing cars. ... Formula One - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Cover of Car and Driver magazine, showing transparent diagram of CanAm racer The Canadian-American Challenge Cup or CanAm, was an SCCA/CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1974. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The SCCA could be considered the grass-roots level of auto racing in the United States. ... The SCCA could be considered the grass-roots level of auto racing in the United States. ... The SCCA could be considered the grass-roots level of auto racing in the United States. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile, commonly referred to as the FIA, is a non-profit association established in 1904 to represent the interest of motoring organisations and motor car users. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Cover of Car and Driver magazine, showing transparent diagram of CanAm racer The Canadian-American Challenge Cup or CanAm, was an SCCA/CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1974. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The 1978 Formula One Swedish Grand Prix held at the Scandinavian Raceway on June 17, 1978. ... The Brabham BT46 was a Formula One racing car, designed by Gordon Murray for the Brabham team, owned by Bernie Ecclestone, for the 1978 Formula One season. ... This article contains a trivia section. ...

2K

Rutherford's 2K on display in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

The 2K was a USAC ground effect car which was designed by Briton John Barnard. It won the 1980 Indianapolis 500 with Johnny Rutherford. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 1. ... Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana (a separate town completely surrounded by Indianapolis) in the United States, is the second-oldest surviving automobile racing track in the world (after the Milwaukee Mile), having existed since 1909, and the original Speedway, the first racing facility historically to incorporate the word. ... USAC Logo The United States Automobile Club (USAC) is an open-wheel auto racing sanctioning body. ... Ground Effect is an aerodynamic effect used in car design, which has been exploited to create downforce, particularly in racing cars. ... John Barnard is a race car designer. ... Results of the 1980 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on May 30, 1980. ...

Culture

Speed Racer's Mach 5 appears to be inspired by the Chaparral 2C, by the pointed nose, open cockpit, and bulging fenders. Speed Racer is the title of an English adaptation of the Japanese anime Mach Go Go Go ), a series which centered around automobile racing. ... The Mach Go (Known outside Japan as the Mach Five) is the racing car Speed Racer drives in the anime series of the same name. ...

In 2005 a wing of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas was dedicated to the permanent display of the remaining Chaparral cars and the history of their development by Midland native Jim Hall. Nickname: Location within the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Midland County Government  - Mayor Mike Canon Area  - City 173. ...

External Links

Chaparral 1 on Ultimatecarpage.com

Chaparral 2A on Ultimatecarpage.com

Chaparral 2D on Ultimatecarpage.com

Chaparral 2J on Ultimatecarpage.com

Fluid Mechanics

Vic Elford and the Vacuum Cleaner (Chaparral 2J)

References