14 replies to this topic

[chaparrAL]

In the 60s Chaparral considered racing in USAC & the Indy 500 but failed to follow through. They did make one tub and a few years later Franz Weis finished it himself and raced it in 2 races in 71 at Brainaird and Riverside{ i think}.It was an unusual shape car with a boat shape nose. I remember seeing a picture of it probably in Autoweek or some other magazine. My search for a photo of this car has dead ended so maybe you gentlemen can help Thanks Al

[MG Brown]

I don't think you looked too hard.



Franz Weis drove the car at Brainerd (15 August 1971) and Lime Rock Park (6 Sep 1971). Neither entry gave particularly notable results.

According to the book "Chevrolet = Racing?" (Paul Van Valkenburgh - 2000) the 1971 F-5000 Chaparral was a side project undertaken by Troy Rogers and Franz Weis, and probably not an "official" Chaparral.

The book goes on to say that the chassis had its origins in the Chevrolet Grand Sport III (shown on the cover of the book in it's 1966 form) project originally intended to compete at Indianapolis in 1967. Due to Detroit/GM politics of the day it ended up in Midland, TX, where it apparently sat for 5 years or so.

[chaparrAL]

WOW ! Thanks MG

[chaparrAL]

But where is it today?

[Steve Deiters]

http://IMS_Chapparal.jpg

The Chapparal F-5000 car was wrecked badly I think at Donnybrooke, but the dates given earlier in this string would be in conflict with that if they are correct. As I recall the tub was "rounded" so to speak with all the wheels torn off in the crash and the car was never raced aqain.
A number of years ago when Jim Hall was still running in the CART series I spoke to him at the Indianapolis Speedway and asked him what ever happend to that car. He is man of few words compounded by a not particularly good day at the track for the team. He said he still had the chassis and it was under a tarp back at his shop and that was about it. I didn't press the issue since he seemed lost in his thoughts and I left it at that.
Fast forward to the opening of the Chapparal Muesum in 2005(?). I was there with Ken MacDowell of Parma and attended some seminars and other sessions they offered. Jim Hall spoke of the chassis in one of them. His plan was to have a car with wings (keep in mind this was like 1966 or '67) and had cleared the preliminary design-wings and all- with USAC and he proceeded with the construction of the tub. USAC then did not follow through on their end of the bargain and he didn't finish the car. A major dumb move on USAC's part (again) considering that Jim Hall & Chapparal were almost household words in those days. The car was finished in the '70's when Franz Weiss asked if they could finish it and go racing. Other than giving his permission I don't believe that Hall was involved in the finishing of the car or the running of it in F-5000 races.
Attached you will find a photo of testing from August, 1965 of the Chapparal 2C testing at the Indianapolis Speedway. These tests were done in anticipation of building the Indy car. In the background under the tent you can see Mario Andretti's Dean Van Lines Brawner Hawk which I assume was there testing the same day. Talk about walking with giants for a day! I have some other photos of the test, but they are not quite as dramatic as this one. I can post them if you like, but I have to get them scanned first.
In closing wouldn't the story of this car make a great chapter in the book that we all wish Jim Hall would write?

[chaparrAL]

Found it!

[Steve Deiters]

Another thing I remembered was that at the time this Indy car tub was brought out of mothballs to become a F-5000 racer was that perhaps Don Gates who was an engineer involved with the development of the Chapparal 2J may have had some influence on this car getting on the track. The boat shaped nose was quite unique for this class of cars and it was maybe one of the first F-5000 cars to have side mounted radiators. Gates went on to design the Antares Manta which also had boat shaped nose and approach to overall design and ran at the Speedway the next year in 1972. Looks like alot of things were happening with different cars from the pen of Don Gates at that time. The Antares Manta was a bit of a disaster to say the least while the 2J was so successful it was banned and it looks like the Chapparal F-5000 fell right in the middle technologically speaking. Too bad it was wrecked before it's true potential could be explored.

[Tex]

Now, THAT is a bizarre lookin' car!

[TSR]

Attached you will find a photo of testing from August, 1965 of the Chapparal 2C testing at the Indianapolis Speedway.

Steve, it is 2A-002, not 2C-001. The 2C is a completely different animal.

Al, the "Chaparral" F5000 body smells very much like Paul Van Valkenburg and his 1/24 scale wind tunnel at the GM R&D... and if you compare the car to the later (1972) Antares Indy cars designed by the same people, surprise, they look quite similar!

[Steve Deiters]

I stand corrected. If I would have looked at the other photos I have of the Indy test session I would have seen that it was indeed the 2A with the fiberglass chassis rather than the 2C. My mistake. I should have just called it a "Chaparral 2"
Any more info you can share on the Van Valkenburg 1/24 scale wind tunnel? First I've ever heard of it. Also any other info on the Don Gates/Chaparral/Antares Manta/what's he doing today connection would be appreciated.

[Prof. Fate]

Hi

Actually, the nose looks like your average kids gravity racer!

Fate

[chaparrAL]

You mean the Bow.

[tonyp]

It looks like a garage full of non-related junk screwed together into a car. Nothing fits.

[chaparrAL]

After studying the picture a bit , the wheelbase looks short but that may be an illusion because the nose is so long. The nose looks twice as long in front of the front wheel CL as other cars from that period.

[chaparrAL]

Hey Thingie fans ! This would be a cool body!