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Nov192023

CHAPARRAL'S DAY, PART III.

Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 08:05AM

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. After its first major international win at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March of 1965, Jim Hall's Chaparral Cars team continued to compete in the biggest North American sports car races, delivering big wins at Laguna Seca (USRRC), Kent, Washington (USRRC and the Pacific Northwest Grand Prix), the prestigious Road America 500 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and the Nassau Trophy race at Nassau Speed Week in December. One thing about Hall & Co. was that they were always embracing new technology, working closely with Chevrolet Engineering and GM Styling to push the development of Chaparral racing cars forward. In fact, Hall chose the latter race at Kent in October to debut the next-generation of the Chaparral, the 2C. Built with more composites, the 2C was lighter, more aerodynamic, and it had a most eye-opening feature that caused quite a stir - a moveable rear wing. Concurrently, Hall developed the next-generation sports prototype for major league endurance racing, the Chaparral 2D Coupe, which delivered a phenomenal win at the Nurburgring 1000 km race in May 1966. (See Chaparral's Day, Part I here-WG.)

As if all that wasn't enough, Hall had his eye on the upcoming Canadian-American Challenge Cup Series, which was going to make its debut at St. Jovite in September 1966. Hall wasn't ready in time for the first race at St. Jovite, but he showed up for the next race at Bridgehampton, New York, and he shocked the racing world yet again with the radical 2E. Based on the lightweight chassis learnings from the 2C, the 2E boasted completely different radical bodywork which was topped-off with its most notable feature, a massive - and moveable, of course - high-mounted rear wing. The 2E was a stunning machine in every respect, and the Can-Am paddock was in an uproar contemplating what it all meant.

The weekend didn't go as planned, as teething troubles sidelined Hall's 2E, but Phil Hill finished fourth in his No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet behind Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Gurney-Weslake Ford), Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) and Bruce McLaren(No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet). The Mosport Can-Am was next up, with Hall suffering a blown engine and Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) finishing second to a dominant Mark Donohue (No. 6 Penske Racing Sunoco Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet).

The Laguna Seca Can-Am was next, which is the focus of this week's column. The Can-Am on the Monterey Peninsula would be comprised of two heats, a first for the series. And the entry list was an all-star lineup of the best sports car drivers in the world, including: Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet); Chris Amon (No. 5 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Dan Gurney (No. 30 All American Racers Lola T70 Mk.2 Gurney-Weslake Ford); Denny Hulme (No. 8 Syd Taylor Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); John Surtees (No. 7 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Mark Donohue (No. 61 Penske Racing Sunoco Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Chuck Parsons (No. 10 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Skip Scott (No. 91 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Masten Gregory (No. 88 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); John Cannon (No. 62 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); George Follmer (No. 16 Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet); Sam Posey (No. 33 McLaren Elva Mark II Ford); Lothar Motschenbacher (No. 96 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet); Parnelli Jones (No. 98 John Mecom Jr. Lola T70 Mk.2 DOHC Ford); and last but certainly not least, Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) and Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet). Needless to say, the stage was set for some thunderous, big horsepower racing.

Phil Hill qualified on the pole, with Jim Hall, Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney and Chris Amon right behind. Heat 1 was an all-Chaparral show, however, with Hill and Hall finishing 1-2 and Bruce McLaren finishing third. Heat 2 was a different story, with Parnelli Jones storming through from the back of the field for the win, delivering the only major league sports car win for the Ford DOHC Indy V8. Phil Hill was second and Jim Hall finished third, with Hill capturing the overall win for the weekend. Hall finished second to Surtees in the next race at Riverside, and Surtees would win the finale at Las Vegas to capture the first Can-Am Championship.

Ironically enough, the win at Laguna Seca would be the only victory in the Can-Am series for the Chaparral Cars team, which is hard to believe. But Hall never won again in the series with the even more radical 2G, the disastrous 2H or the pioneering ground-effects machine, the 2J. But for a brief fleeting moment, the Chaparrals ruled.

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When Jim Hall debuted the brand-new - and radical - Chaparral 2C Chevrolet at the Pacific Northwest GP in Kent, Washington, in October of 1965, the competition was getting a glimpse of what was yet to come, even though they didn't know it yet. By the way, Hall swept both heats that weekend.

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When Jim Hall debuted the Chaparral 2E Chevrolet at the Bridgehampton, New York, Can-Am in September 1966, the radical machine, punctuated by its high-mounted, movable rear wing, was the talk of the paddock.

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The Chaparral 2E was an eyeful from every angle. Note those very specific wheels. They were designed by a Chevrolet engineer and later patented by GM. When the patent lapsed, a certain German wheel manufacturer swooped in and took it over. The name of that company? BBS.

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Bruce McLaren inspects the high rear wing of the Chaparral 2E Chevrolet in the Bridgehampton paddock. Needless to say, the unveiling of the Chaparral 2E caused quite a stir and gave everyone plenty to contemplate.

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From the "Racing Was Different Back Then" File. This is how the Chaparral team transported its cars to the races back in the day.

(Pete Lyons photo)

Phil Hill was the star of the Laguna Seca Can-Am weekend in the Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, delivering the only Can-Am victory for Jim Hall's team.

(Dave Friedman photo)

Start of Heat 1 of the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am with Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet), John Surtees (No. 7 Team Surtees Lola T70 Mk.2 Chevrolet) and Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II Chevrolet) at the front. Note how the pits were on the opposite side of the track from where they are today.

(Dave Friedman photo)

The start of Heat 2 of the Laguna Seca Can-Am. Phil Hill (No. 65); Jim Hall (No. 66); Bruce McLaren (No. 4); John Surtees (No. 7); Masten Gregory (No. 88); Mark Donohue (No. 61); Denny Hulme (No. 8). Note Parnelli Jones (No. 98) in the back of the pack, he would storm through for the win.

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Phil Hill (No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) leads Jim Hall (No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet) through The Corkscrew during Heat 1 of the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am. They would dominate, finishing 1-2 in that order.

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This isn't Laguna Seca, it's the 1966 Las Vegas Can-Am a few weeks later, but it's a good shot of Parnelli Jones in his No. 98 John Mecom Jr. Lola T70 Mk.2 DOHC Ford.

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Phil Hill in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet at the Bridgehampton Can-Am. People forget just how talented Phil Hill was; he delivered many superb drives for Jim Hall's team.