I lost my "Dream" job because of Jim Hall. I was a finalist for the Manager position at Laguna Seca Race track in the late '60's. At the interview, with the Board, I was asked what I would do if Jim Hall asked me for 5 extra tickets to the Laguna "Charity" race. I answered that I would give him as many as he wanted for what he had done for racing. Oh oh...wrong answer. The Board determined I wasn't Laguna material. I would give the same answer today! Mike Eberlein, Park City, ut.
If there’s one person who knows more about aerodynamics than anyone else, it’s Adrian Newey (born 1958). The most successful F1 engineer of all-time, Newey designs have won 10 constructors’ titles for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull - the only team he designed cars for which he didn’t help deliver championships or wins to was March. Then you also have Gordon Murray. Not much to choose between the two both are pure genius.
Met Jim as a 13 yr old kid at the 1970 Road Atlanta Can Am race. He was so nice Vic Elford qualified the 2J on pole by 2 seconds over the McLarens. When asked if the car could go any faster, Vic stated-"i have no idea...that's as bloody fast as i want to go !" This from one of the bravest men in racing
Jim is the godfather of aero dynamics for race cars. I saw his cars running at Laguna Seca in CanAm races in 60s and 70s plus still see them at vintage events. I was there when the 2J was run at Laguna Seca Can Am race. The other cars didn't stand a chance until a cheap bearing died....believe on the last lap. I am a retired engineer and one of my sons is also a working mechanical engineer. Jim was an inspiration to a lot of young people who became engineers.
My nephew is one of the smartest people I know. In high school he would do calculus while listening to head banging music and he wouldn't even break a sweat. After he graduated high school I told him to apply to Caltech. He went online and did some research and told me they wouldn't accept him. I asked him why? He said he wasn't smart enough. I went "DAYUMM!!" He went on and got an electrical engineering degree. I asked him if there was any classes that he really struggled with. He said the only one was quantum physics. My point is caltech is a really tough school to get into. Back then it was probably even harder.
Thanks for this. I live in UK and marshalled at Le Mans in 1966 and 1967 but mainly at Brands Hatch and saw the 2D and 2F race at both. The 2F made the most impression on me and I have a model of it and a print of a painting by Michael Turner with it exiting Druids Hill Bend. Mr Hall was a great innovative engineer and I still enjoy reading the books I have on Chaparral.
What a great story! Remember Chaparral as a big name being talked about at the Nordschleife, Germany where I saw fast cars as a kid. My parents dragging me along to weekend races in about 1970. Always suspected there was something magical with these cars. 50 years later and to come across this gem is just awesome.
It just doesn't get any better than this interview. My favorite line- "I don't understand how people live without an engineering degree. You understand the world around you and how things work." Couldn't agree more...
As an engineer, I have thought along the same lines. I think "How can people get by in our technological society without knowing and using math?" My definition of engineering is "using math to solve problems in the real world".
I got to meet Jim Hall in Pensacola Florida. His before he had the wings on the car. I never forget. What a great engineering mind. I can't wait to see him again. I bet my dad .50 cents on number 66 . My dad picked number 65 his other car. That car broke down so my dad took the lead car number 73. Jim kept catching him and catching the last lap on the final corner he got a better run and won the race. What a day for both of us. That's still my favorite number today ,thanks Jim.
When I was 9 I was a mad keen slot car racer and saved up my odd jobs money to buy a Chaparral kit brand new. I got to paint it, assemble and tune it myself. It was my best and fastest car and I loved it. Had no idea until much later about the history of Jim Hall and his cars. What a genius and what a nice guy with it. Now I wish I still had that slot car!
The good old days going to the race track ( slot car !) Unpack your box with cars and El controlers . Be with guys and have fun Yes we had a smoke alarm going off as we had the great idea to attach rocket motors to the drag races..
This was one of the very best motor head videos I’ve watched, and I’ve watched quite a few. Jim Hall is a colossal figure in American racing, equal in importance to Carroll Shelby and Don Garlits. The aero cars that he designed, built and campaigned are legendary. The innovation he pioneered is borne out by how many things were outlawed because they were so advanced and effective. Thanks Jim, I am in awe of your accomplishments and you deserve all the recognition you get, and more. You are a hero.
As a mechanical engineer you have to love how Jim Hall’s cars were just more advanced than the rest of the field. Being smarter is always a better way to make a car go faster than just throwing money at it without understanding the fundamental issues. He’s a great role model for anyone starting out in their career.
In 1970 or '71 I moved to Tucson and passed through Midland, Texas on my drive across country. I asked a local gas station attendant where Hall's shop was and headed south a few miles to where it was located. Someone met me at the closed gate and I explained that I was designing and building a small sports racer and wanted to know about what they recommended for shock damping ratios. I was admitted and introduced to Jim Hall who was with a few fellows trying to balance a crankshaft on a machine whose normal operator was off work because it was the weekend. Hall took time to talk to me about suspension design among other things. I appreciated his interest in what I was doing. Jim Hall was, in addition to being a first-class race car engineer, a very nice, soft-spoken person.
Lived in Midland in '69...Mr. Hall and his wife would take walks in the evenings...as kids, we were into HO racing and slot cars were the rage....we would walk with him from time to time or peer into his garage to see if he had any of his "neat stuff" around. He was a nice man. Thanks for the video!!
I follow him with great anticipation weekly to find out what Jim and Chaparral did at every race when I was young and in school. I loved the look and shape of the Chaparral. Reason I became a car enthusiast. Thank you Jim Hall and the rest of the Chsparral drivers and team.
As a kid, I remember watching this car zip around the Riverside Raceway in California in the mid-sixties: Hall, Gurney, Foyt, Andretti, Unser, etc. It was great.
You can tell he really enjoyed the early days. Who else saw the twinkle of exuberant enthusiasm in his eyes. As he's relaying the stories of his life. Jim Hall really enjoyed his work.
What an era, wow ! Jim Hall, Gurney, Penske, Shelby, Foyt, The Unsers, King Kenny, all Americans, innovators, fabricators, and that was just road racers.
Jim and Dan were my hero's. While recovering from a crushed ankle in 1965, 66, I read all the car magazines I could, and became infatuated with Can-Am, and especially Jim Halls Chaparrals. When I was 15, I begged my estranged Dad to take me to 67 Can-Am at Riverside, I was in heaven, and hooked for life. Jim and Dan were always nice to us bonehead kids asking 10,000 stupid questions. I always felt sorry for Jim after his Stardust crash in 68, but I knew what he was going through.
Watched him in Riverside every time Can Am was there up until his crash with Lothar M in Vegas. Loved the Formula races on the same weekend. Saw Dick Smothers race and Dan Blocker was with his kids sat next to us in the Esses before turn 6
I've always admired Mr.Hall mostly for his accomplishments because I didn't know him, after seeing your interview I also respect him as a man! A true gentleman with a amazing mind! Thank you for sharing this, you made my day!
Greetings Jim.!..saw you in action At riverside can am...never ever To be forgotten...you looked so Composed and casual...going Into turn one ...rite behind those Mc larens ..you were really pushing That big block Chevy 427... Glorious just glorious...brings Tears in my eyes..thanks for Being such a great American And a great racer ..long and happy Life for you sir.
I was fortunate to attend several Daytona 24hr races during the sixties, and vividly remember watching in awe how good the 2F car was. We were in the infield and were able to move around some to get different perspectives of the race and the Chaparral car was visibly faster and tighter in the infield turns, then also accelerated out of the infield faster, and unimaginably faster down the back banked straight. The sound of that healthy big block and the automatic transmission let us know at any given time just where that gorgeous white monster was on the course. I was a true blue Jim Hall and Chaparral fan. Really enjoyed this interview, thanks for posting it.
Yes, really appreciate his sincerity, no rah rah politics, just straightforward honesty and intergrity....very humble and thankful for the opportunities this country has provided
Cool video. Jim Hall was a do it man. He didn't do much talking outside of his inner circle. Whoever interviewed him really got this remarkable man to open up, and flap his lips for a rare spell.
Excellent video !! I watched he and his cars race at Elkhart Lake Wisconsin in 1965, 1966, and 1967 before being drafted into the Marines in 1968. I went back in 1970 while the Marines sent me to mechanical engineering school and I applied all I had learned from the Can - am cars, using his J cars and the 917 cars specifically into my own creations. I remember Dan Guerney making a statement about a," chrome eagle", that his competitors would copy or try to outlaw but they missed the true engineering that was beyond that, but he gave them something to look at and study. I've always admired Jim's vision and have lived my life the same way. Applying my farm work ethic and thinking outside the box to my engineering skills. I'm now designing energy efficient houses and vehicles as I've disliked the best gas engine being 25% efficient and have felt its obscene to waste $3.00 of $4.00 gas in the catalytic converter for pollution control.. I have been working on that since 1979 and had some great success using the," University of U-Tube", recently to research my inventions. Jim, it would be a great work that you and I are obviously passionate about, to make the planet a better place by applying your engineering genius to this challenge as I have. I'm going to be 75 this June and I'm making this my final quest. Following Smokey Yunic, Paul Pantone and Stan Meyers plus many others, whom I've studied and duplicated their work to make this challenge possible. Yes, America is the greatest country in the world and we need to lead the world in energy conservation with maximum power for engines in the future. Thanks so much for this video , showing Jim Hall is a hero and inspiration to the next generation.
When I was in Huntington Beach High School I spent a lot of time in Midland Odessa, Texas and traveling around the country to races. I met Jim Hall and saw him frequently in the late 60's. As far as graduate engineers he was the fastest thinking I have ever met. I hope to see him again.
Thanks so much for posting this. It's the first time I've seen a really in-depth interview with Jim. When I was in Journalism School in the '60s, I flew out to Midland and spent several hours interviewing him. Later, when I'd written my piece, I sent it to him for review, and he gave it a thorough evaluation and made a lot of corrections. I was amazed at how much time and attention he provided. Super guy.
As a kid growing up in Australia, I saw the high wing Chapparals on black and white tv here in the '60's. That was the start of my love affair with prototype sports cars. Thanks, from an old fella now, Jim.
I was at Mosport Park In the 60's when he crashed on the last turn and broke hios leg, He was so determined to keep the transmission he had a blanked thrown over the car as it was upside down! I loved him then and am so happy that he is well and obviously happy, Thanks for Jim for giving me the joy and excitement of being a part of albeit a spectator. :)
I really enjoyed this vid, Im an electrical engineer and I was in college in the 60s. I used to enjoy seeing the new innovations Hall came up with each season. I immediately saw the value of a wing on a race car. The "sucker car" was delightful--it really could have driven on the ceiling! I raced a little but I was never dedicated to it. An engineer takes science and applies it to real world problems. Hall taught everyone the value of aerodynamics to a race car.
So many wonderful comments here - I second them all It was 1964 and I saw my first Chaparral. It was love at first sight. His innovative spirit was intoxicating, always making you want a closer look to see the details of what he was doing. I went on to get two degrees in aeronautical engineering and eventually became the chief engineer for Aero at Boeing Commercial. And as exciting as that was, two things that stand out in my engineering career were designing a wing for Team Kool Green (just in time for the IRL to ban most innovation) and do some consulting with a little car company in Maranello. One final thought - not just anybody gets into Cal Tech ! So thank you, Mr. Hall.
I didn't know the 2j was in such an accident. I also heard of other drivers complaining about the oil that the two stroke made. Do you have a link of the 2j accident?
Jim Hall is the one of the greatest car designer and creative thinkers in American Sports Car racing. A great driver who left an amazing legacy of racing design and some of the finest, most historically important race cars of the era. His car are pure racing art . A delight to behold and a competitive force to be respected. Jim Hall is an American Racing icon . .
He’s one of the pioneers in racing cars! My Dad knew him while he was living! I met him when my Dad took me to Riverside Raceway back in the late Sixties! Real nice guy, a lot of knowledge in that mind!
I saw the car run at Riverside Raceway California in 1970. Very impressive but the reliability of the vacuum engine made for some wild rides when it quit. Thanks Jim Hall for a lot of innovative ideas.
What a treat to watch this today. He looks great and has a great memory for many of the details of 50+ years ago. I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2005 at Monterrey when Chapparal was the featured marque. Thanks for a great interview!
WoW !! I wish I knew this information when I was racing. I Remember the 2J and was always disappointed that the rules were changed to slow the car down. What an innovative guy. Could have listened to him for hours.
I just love how this cars are made of what they are made out of, I always thought the 2j’70 looked like a washing machine with wheels but i still love how it looks.
My brother and I grew up loving Chaparrals and rooting for them (until I defected and began rooting for McLaren). My brother - he was about 10, 11 years old - wrote Jim Hall, offering to be a water boy in the pit. Mr. Hall wrote back a kind letter and sent along an autographed photo.
I grew up watching jim hall race at laguna seca...at that time,he used the Chrysler dealership at nite to work on his cars,friday,and sat nite,before the race on sunday...they actually had tech on Friday nite,right on one of the main streets down town Monterey,ca...it was always infront of british motors,on del monte blvd...I think it was in 67' at laguna that the chapparal broke during pre race practice,...it rained heavy during the race,and this one racer,who wasn't on a big dollar team,had put on some special rain tires,that enabled him to basically run away from the field...john cannon,i believe was his name,from Canada...sure had a lot of great memories watchin the chapparal team at laguna during the early years of can am....jim hall was,and is still the man....great to see him in the fairly recent video.....my x wife lives in midland,tx...I told her she needs to go see chapparal cars,and tx me some pics...….
What a fantastic man! One can tell he is the best kind of guy. As a Fabricator, I can tell you the world is brimming with snakes. Jim Hall, and his “sucker car” was explained to me as a young lad. So, Jim’s creation became a part of that mythical time in my youth. Great to get to see the background with this great interview. Thank you much!
Title of this video should be "How to Have Fun With a Mechanical Engineering Degree". Jim Hall is such a great guy! Too bad his cars were a bit short on development and durability, because the ideas were definitely winners. Thank you for the video. Thumbs up!
I love this stuff. I saw the 2E car run and win at Laguna Seca in the '60s. That was an absolute eye opener. Wings and auto transmissions and lapping the field - yeah they did it right !!! Hats off Mr Hall - well done :)
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I felt like I was able to witness the greatest era of motorsports and racing. A time when true genius was still allowed to be exhibited. By far my favorite form of racing was Can Am. Jim Hall and Chaparral were the very cutting edge of technology. Yet within a few years it was all eliminated through rules. To think that he created a 2000lb car that could create 2000lbs of downforce in 1970 is still incredible. Then for him to leave racing, and Can Am disintegrate, then come back to Indy and dominate immediately is yet another credit to his genius.
One of the greatest innovators in our American Racing History, unfortunate for me is that I passed on the opportunity to go to Midland and work in the engine dept. Much later I met people that did work there and they all said it was one of the best experiences in their lives. Very thankful that you preserved this interview so that all of that admire Jim for all that he has done for racing is here for us -
Great footage indeed and what a valuable witnessing. I guess the Chaparral deserves a distinguished place in car racing history for pioneering the importance of aerodynamics on racing cars and for showing the correct way to go to improve the performance. I recall the 2D flying on the main straightline at Monza 1000 km .... just being not so sure about the automatic transmission to be the best choice.
What a privilege to hear Jim Hall tell his story, it really was inspiring and full of great stories and useful nuggets. Loved the idea that if you can convince others that it's the best idea it's probably ok but if you can't then maybe you need to reassess things. Such an exciting time in motorsport and car development, true pioneers. I've always be proud so many Kiwis were involved, we may be a little country at the bottom of the world but we have always batted well above our weight in everything. Having F1 run down here during the 50s certainly helped lol.
Love Jim Hall for his contributions to racing. An idol for sure! I was in one of the support races to the CanAm race at Laguna Seca in 1970 when the Chaparral 2J ran its last event. The 2J was absurdly fast in comparison to the other CanAm cars of that season. However, during the Saturday practice (or qualifying), the Chaparral crew forgot to refill the separate fuel tank for the vacuum motors and sent Vic Elford out onto the track. Elford was at top speed in the old Turn 3 when the vacuum motors ran out of fuel and stopped without warning. With the vacuum effect gone, the car became a flying projectile that flew a huge distance over to a main access road of the track. Fortunately, Elford wasn't injured; but, the car was totally destroyed. It was very lucky that spectators were not present in the "landing area" at the time. In my mind, that incident caused the FIA to review and ban the "sucker car" for its multiple unsafe characteristics. Following driver's also complained about being showered by dirt and rocks whenever the 2J dropped a wheel off track.
What a great and informative video on a very special man. Learned a lot I didn't know from watching the entire video. Thank you for uploading and bringing back some great memories of a legendary team and car.
As someone who has been a long time low buck road racer it has taught me a huge amount. I have a fair handle on aero, understand the dynamics of suspension and braking. And understand engines. And pushrods still make sense to me!! My dabble these days is so hard to go test, which includes practice as it keeps you sharp. And even then it is 40 miles away. So I go to the track and mentally kick myself, making mistakes and just not driving hard enough. Practice and faith in the car makes perfect.
Jim Hall is a legend and has a right to be proud of all his innovations and hard work. He's an automotive engineering genius. Two thumbs up for Jim Hall and his team. I saw the Chapparal cars race at the Can Am races at Laguna Seca in 1967. There were two Chapparals and I think two McLarens that dominated the race. I can't remember who won but the white Chapparals and the orange McLarens were so fast it was unreal. The noise that those small block Chevy engines made was LOUD. I liked to watch the cars as they crested the hill and plunged into the corkscrew and screamed down the hill. Amazing times!
I'm not even half way through this video yet and it's one of the most interesting/informative pieces of technical history I've seen. Love this shit. Thanks!
Jim Hall and Chaparral were the leading edge of race but most people don't know now. The Chaparral was the little engine that could back in the sixty's and my favorite car growing up!
I have long been fascinated with Jim Hall and his innovative creations, particularly in consideration of Ferrari, Colin Chapman/Lotus, and Bruce McLaren during his time.
I was born in 1956. In the 60's I would save my allowance to buy Road and Track magazine. They covered F1 and Sports Car racing with accounts of all the races and features of the competitors and cars. After virtually studying the mag front to back I would try to draw pictures of the cars as best I could. My favorite cars were the Chaparrals. I thought they were beautiful and they won everything in 65 and 66 it seemed like.
Very interesting . . . both he and I started our racing careers in an Austin-Healeys. I was unable to win for awhile because I was always getting beat by the Porsche drivers. So, I sold the Austin-Healey and bought a beautiful Porsche Speedster and immediately started winning :o) Jim Hall comes across as a very nice person on or off the track.
Terrific interview! Even though I already knew virtually all the information Hall shared in it, I watched the whole thing with great interest just to hear him talk about it personally. Let me tell you, there is a LOT more story, here. Hall brought more useful innovations to racing, I think, even than Colin Chapman. For the whole story, read "Chaparral" by Falconer and Nye.
Timestamps: 7:12 Jim Hall's brother and the connection to Bobby Unser and Carroll Shelby 18:13 - First Wings 29:55 - 2E high wing and early DRS 42:44 - 2J first fan car ("Sucker Car") with skirts [The 2J could pull 1.7G in low speed corners] 53:14 - Chaparral Indy Car with underbody ground effect and diffusor 56:28 - Ventouri effect explained on Chaparral 2K underbody 1:05:31 - Rattlesnake Raceway tour
I lost my "Dream" job because of Jim Hall. I was a finalist for the Manager position at Laguna Seca Race track in the late '60's. At the interview, with the Board, I was asked what I would do if Jim Hall asked me for 5 extra tickets to the Laguna "Charity" race. I answered that I would give him as many as he wanted for what he had done for racing. Oh oh...wrong answer. The Board determined I wasn't Laguna material. I would give the same answer today! Mike Eberlein, Park City, ut.
Dam how old are you? Like 70? I would have loved to experience that time of the cars😔
@@minecraftman6837 83 this year. Hoping for a few more.
Well your answer was fine by me. You lost out to a genius icon of motor racing. Don't feel too bad about it.
@@mikeeberlein3369🙂👍
The Godfather of race car aerodynamics and downforce. A true automotive genius.
is Gordon Murray :)
@@483972 Jim hall built aero cars way before Gordon Murray. Not to take anything from Gordon,it’s just Jim built his cars in the 60’s.
@@fw1421 indeed he was ... Murray just took it all to another lvl
madman,was he tha dude strapped snowmobile engine on his car fer downforce,crazy be crazy,woulda bin insane in the corners,eh?
If there’s one person who knows more about aerodynamics than anyone else, it’s Adrian Newey (born 1958). The most successful F1 engineer of all-time, Newey designs have won 10 constructors’ titles for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull - the only team he designed cars for which he didn’t help deliver championships or wins to was March.
Then you also have Gordon Murray. Not much to choose between the two both are pure genius.
Jim Hall is among the most influential figures in auto racing history. Much admiration here.
Best boss I’ve ever had, and he comes across as dedicated and smart as he was decades ago. Jim Hall is just a great man, all around.
He was your boss? Explain further please.
@@Daniel-xo5ej I was one of the four mechanics on the 1978 Haas-Hall Can-Am team, based out of Highland Park, IL, and Midland, TX.
@@goslonomo Sounds very interesting, if you have the time and the means you should definitely do a video about your time there and your experience.
I just made a comment that it must have been a fun and creative shop to work in. Thank, for confirming that
@@goslonomo ]]000
Met Jim as a 13 yr old kid at the 1970 Road Atlanta Can Am race. He was so nice
Vic Elford qualified the 2J on pole by 2 seconds over the McLarens. When asked if the car could go any faster, Vic stated-"i have no idea...that's as bloody fast as i want to go !"
This from one of the bravest men in racing
Jim is the godfather of aero dynamics for race cars. I saw his cars running at Laguna Seca in CanAm races in 60s and 70s plus still see them at vintage events. I was there when the 2J was run at Laguna Seca Can Am race. The other cars didn't stand a chance until a cheap bearing died....believe on the last lap. I am a retired engineer and one of my sons is also a working mechanical engineer. Jim was an inspiration to a lot of young people who became engineers.
Unbelievable gentleman. Cal Tech grad, driver, inventor. Watched him race a Riverside. Awesome human being.
My nephew is one of the smartest people I know. In high school he would do calculus while listening to head banging music and he wouldn't even break a sweat. After he graduated high school I told him to apply to Caltech. He went online and did some research and told me they wouldn't accept him. I asked him why? He said he wasn't smart enough. I went "DAYUMM!!"
He went on and got an electrical engineering degree. I asked him if there was any classes that he really struggled with. He said the only one was quantum physics. My point is caltech is a really tough school to get into. Back then it was probably even harder.
What an absolute legend. So intelligent yet down-to-earth.
Thanks for this. I live in UK and marshalled at Le Mans in 1966 and 1967 but mainly at Brands Hatch and saw the 2D and 2F race at both. The 2F made the most impression on me and I have a model of it and a print of a painting by Michael Turner with it exiting Druids Hill Bend. Mr Hall was a great innovative engineer and I still enjoy reading the books I have on Chaparral.
Which are the best books on Chapparal? Cheers
What a great story! Remember Chaparral as a big name being talked about at the Nordschleife, Germany where I saw fast cars as a kid. My parents dragging me along to weekend races in about 1970. Always suspected there was something magical with these cars. 50 years later and to come across this gem is just awesome.
What a wonderful man. I am old enough to have witnessed the admiration and outrage of the Chaparral cars in the early ‘60s. Great story, thank you.
It just doesn't get any better than this interview. My favorite line- "I don't understand how people live without an engineering degree. You understand the world around you and how things work." Couldn't agree more...
As an engineer, I have thought along the same lines. I think "How can people get by in our technological society without knowing and using math?" My definition of engineering is "using math to solve problems in the real world".
I got to meet Jim Hall in Pensacola Florida. His before he had the wings on the car. I never forget. What a great engineering mind. I can't wait to see him again. I bet my dad .50 cents on number 66 . My dad picked number 65 his other car. That car broke down so my dad took the lead car number 73. Jim kept catching him and catching the last lap on the final corner he got a better run and won the race. What a day for both of us. That's still my favorite number today ,thanks Jim.
A great engineer, modest person, a true American Hero. He change the way racing cars are designed!
When I was 9 I was a mad keen slot car racer and saved up my odd jobs money to buy a Chaparral kit brand new. I got to paint it, assemble and tune it myself. It was my best and fastest car and I loved it. Had no idea until much later about the history of Jim Hall and his cars. What a genius and what a nice guy with it. Now I wish I still had that slot car!
As a youngster, I owned a Cox 1/24 scale Chaparral 2 slot car. To this day, I think it’s one of the most beautiful cars ever designed.
Me too
The good old days going to the race track ( slot car !) Unpack your box with cars and El controlers .
Be with guys and have fun
Yes we had a smoke alarm going off as we had the great idea to attach rocket motors to the drag races..
it's ass ugly
my hero growing up love him and his cars
I hear ya!!!!!!!!! :-)
What I remember is his cars looked different, fast with superior technology. You knew he was too good when they changed the rules to slow him down.
@@cr1385 "You knew he was too good when they changed the rules to slow him down." BINGO! Smokey Yunick, too.
Yep. My Hero too. And my favorite cars of all time.
Then why don't you marry him?
This was one of the very best motor head videos I’ve watched, and I’ve watched quite a few. Jim Hall is a colossal figure in American racing, equal in importance to Carroll Shelby and Don Garlits. The aero cars that he designed, built and campaigned are legendary. The innovation he pioneered is borne out by how many things were outlawed because they were so advanced and effective. Thanks Jim, I am in awe of your accomplishments and you deserve all the recognition you get, and more. You are a hero.
As a mechanical engineer you have to love how Jim Hall’s cars were just more advanced than the rest of the field. Being smarter is always a better way to make a car go faster than just throwing money at it without understanding the fundamental issues. He’s a great role model for anyone starting out in their career.
This is worthy of any college curriculum. Every High school student who is thinking about engineering of any kind would benefit from watching this.
You got that right!!... I second that emotion!!..
In 1970 or '71 I moved to Tucson and passed through Midland, Texas on my drive across country. I asked a local gas station attendant where Hall's shop was and headed south a few miles to where it was located. Someone met me at the closed gate and I explained that I was designing and building a small sports racer and wanted to know about what they recommended for shock damping ratios. I was admitted and introduced to Jim Hall who was with a few fellows trying to balance a crankshaft on a machine whose normal operator was off work because it was the weekend. Hall took time to talk to me about suspension design among other things. I appreciated his interest in what I was doing. Jim Hall was, in addition to being a first-class race car engineer, a very nice, soft-spoken person.
Lived in Midland in '69...Mr. Hall and his wife would take walks in the evenings...as kids, we were into HO racing and slot cars were the rage....we would walk with him from time to time or peer into his garage to see if he had any of his "neat stuff" around. He was a nice man. Thanks for the video!!
Glad he is still in the game. Thanks, Mr Hall, for a life well lived.
I follow him with great anticipation weekly to find out what Jim and Chaparral did at every race when I was young and in school. I loved the look and shape of the Chaparral. Reason I became a car enthusiast.
Thank you Jim Hall and the rest of the Chsparral drivers and team.
One of the inovaters in the racing world of the 60's. The cars were often beautiful and fast as hell.
As a kid, I remember watching this car zip around the Riverside Raceway in California in the mid-sixties: Hall, Gurney, Foyt, Andretti, Unser, etc. It was great.
You can tell he really enjoyed the early days. Who else saw the twinkle of exuberant enthusiasm in his eyes.
As he's relaying the stories of his life.
Jim Hall really enjoyed his work.
What an era, wow ! Jim Hall, Gurney, Penske, Shelby, Foyt, The Unsers, King Kenny, all Americans, innovators, fabricators, and that was just road racers.
Jim and Dan were my hero's. While recovering from a crushed ankle in 1965, 66, I read all the car magazines I could, and became infatuated with Can-Am, and especially Jim Halls Chaparrals. When I was 15, I begged my estranged Dad to take me to 67 Can-Am at Riverside, I was in heaven, and hooked for life. Jim and Dan were always nice to us bonehead kids asking 10,000 stupid questions. I always felt sorry for Jim after his Stardust crash in 68, but I knew what he was going through.
Watched him in Riverside every time Can Am was there up until his crash with Lothar M in Vegas. Loved the Formula races on the same weekend. Saw Dick Smothers race and Dan Blocker was with his kids sat next to us in the Esses before turn 6
I've always admired Mr.Hall mostly for his accomplishments because I didn't know him, after seeing your interview I also respect him as a man!
A true gentleman with a amazing mind!
Thank you for sharing this, you made my day!
Greetings Jim.!..saw you in action
At riverside can am...never ever
To be forgotten...you looked so
Composed and casual...going
Into turn one ...rite behind those
Mc larens ..you were really pushing
That big block Chevy 427...
Glorious just glorious...brings
Tears in my eyes..thanks for
Being such a great American
And a great racer ..long and happy
Life for you sir.
I was fortunate to attend several Daytona 24hr races during the sixties, and vividly remember watching in awe how good the 2F car was. We were in the infield and were able to move around some to get different perspectives of the race and the Chaparral car was visibly faster and tighter in the infield turns, then also accelerated out of the infield faster, and unimaginably faster down the back banked straight. The sound of that healthy big block and the automatic transmission let us know at any given time just where that gorgeous white monster was on the course. I was a true blue Jim Hall and Chaparral fan. Really enjoyed this interview, thanks for posting it.
A humble man, with great knowledge that he used to good end. A role model for sure!
Most enjoyable opportunity to revisit events of my lifetime. Mr. Hall's comments at the last 2 minutes make you very patriotically proud.
Yes, really appreciate his sincerity, no rah rah politics, just straightforward honesty and intergrity....very humble and thankful for the opportunities this country has provided
No doubt
Ive been in motorsport as a driver and constructor for more years than I care to think. Everything Jim said makes sense. What a nice guy he is.
Just a wonderful interview with an absolutely incredible guy, who along with Dan is a great hero of mine. Thank you for doing this!
Thank you for doing this. Jim Hall is one of if not my favorite race car designers. Dan Gurney and him need more movies/documentaries made about them
Cool video. Jim Hall was a do it man. He didn't do much talking outside of his inner circle. Whoever interviewed him really got this remarkable man to open up, and flap his lips for a rare spell.
Finally something on the Hall Chaparral cars...Very inspirational, intelligent and innovative even to us Shelby fans... Jim is one hell of a man
Excellent video !!
I watched he and his cars race at Elkhart Lake Wisconsin in 1965, 1966, and 1967 before being drafted into the Marines in 1968.
I went back in 1970 while the Marines sent me to mechanical engineering school and I applied all I had learned from the Can - am cars, using his J cars and the 917 cars specifically into my own creations.
I remember Dan Guerney making a statement about a," chrome eagle", that his competitors would copy or try to outlaw but they missed the true engineering that was beyond that, but he gave them something to look at and study.
I've always admired Jim's vision and have lived my life the same way. Applying my farm work ethic and thinking outside the box to my engineering skills.
I'm now designing energy efficient houses and vehicles as I've disliked the best gas engine being 25% efficient and have felt its obscene to waste $3.00 of $4.00 gas in the catalytic converter for pollution control..
I have been working on that since 1979 and had some great success using the," University of U-Tube", recently to research my inventions.
Jim, it would be a great work that you and I are obviously passionate about, to make the planet a better place by applying your engineering genius to this challenge as I have.
I'm going to be 75 this June and I'm making this my final quest. Following Smokey Yunic, Paul Pantone and Stan Meyers plus many others, whom I've studied and duplicated their work to make this challenge possible.
Yes, America is the greatest country in the world and we need to lead the world in energy conservation with maximum power for engines in the future.
Thanks so much for this video , showing Jim Hall is a hero and inspiration to the next generation.
best comment Ive read on any TH-cam video! and this was one of the best videos Ive ever seen! More power to ya!!!
When I was in Huntington Beach High School I spent a lot of time in Midland Odessa, Texas and traveling around the country to races. I met Jim Hall and saw him frequently in the late 60's. As far as graduate engineers he was the fastest thinking I have ever met. I hope to see him again.
I was following his exploits from 1965 onward and finally got to know the man today. This is very much appreciated.
Thanks so much for posting this. It's the first time I've seen a really in-depth interview with Jim. When I was in Journalism School in the '60s, I flew out to Midland and spent several hours interviewing him. Later, when I'd written my piece, I sent it to him for review, and he gave it a thorough evaluation and made a lot of corrections. I was amazed at how much time and attention he provided. Super guy.
And thank you(!) for posting this.
Thank you and Jim Hall for such a wonderful interview. I learned a lot! What a maestro!
As a kid growing up in Australia, I saw the high wing Chapparals on black and white tv here in the '60's. That was the start of my love affair with prototype sports cars. Thanks, from an old fella now, Jim.
I was at Mosport Park In the 60's when he crashed on the last turn and broke hios leg, He was so determined to keep the transmission he had a blanked thrown over the car as it was upside down! I loved him then and am so happy that he is well and obviously happy, Thanks for Jim for giving me the joy and excitement of being a part of albeit a spectator. :)
One of the great engineer/drivers.....loved the 2F.
I really enjoyed this vid, Im an electrical engineer and I was in college in the 60s. I used to enjoy seeing the new innovations Hall came up with each season. I immediately saw the value of a wing on a race car. The "sucker car" was delightful--it really could have driven on the ceiling! I raced a little but I was never dedicated to it. An engineer takes science and applies it to real world problems. Hall taught everyone the value of aerodynamics to a race car.
So many wonderful comments here - I second them all It was 1964 and I saw my first Chaparral. It was love at first sight. His innovative spirit was intoxicating, always making you want a closer look to see the details of what he was doing. I went on to get two degrees in aeronautical engineering and eventually became the chief engineer for Aero at Boeing Commercial. And as exciting as that was, two things that stand out in my engineering career were designing a wing for Team Kool Green (just in time for the IRL to ban most innovation) and do some consulting with a little car company in Maranello. One final thought - not just anybody gets into Cal Tech ! So thank you, Mr. Hall.
I didn't know the 2j was in such an accident. I also heard of other drivers complaining about the oil that the two stroke made. Do you have a link of the 2j accident?
@@katdaddy469 I don't know why you are asking me this, but Wikipedia has a short paragraph on it : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hall_(racing_driver)
My Mt. Rushmore of American race car builders during that golden age - Briggs Cunningham / Carroll Shelby / Jim Hall / Dan Gurney.
Richard petty my man and parnelli jones
I remember my old man going on about Mr. Hall. When his car won at indy in 1980, it was probably the happiest I can remember seeing him.
That 66 car is my favorite car ever. Absolutely beautiful. Jim Hall was able to see things everyone else was blind to.
Jim Hall is the one of the greatest car designer and creative thinkers in American Sports Car racing.
A great driver who left an amazing legacy of racing design and some of the finest, most historically
important race cars of the era.
His car are pure racing art . A delight to behold and a competitive force to be respected.
Jim Hall is an American Racing icon .
.
He’s one of the pioneers in racing cars! My Dad knew him while he was living! I met him when my Dad took me to Riverside Raceway back in the late Sixties! Real nice guy, a lot of knowledge in that mind!
Jim Hall is an American racing legend. Great days of racing for sure...thank you Mr. Hall.
God bless America!
You're a fucking HERO for uploading this in full. Amazing.
This great innovator has been a hero of mine since the mid-60s. The other Jim Hall is also a man for whom I have great admiration.
I saw the car run at Riverside Raceway California in 1970. Very impressive but the reliability of the vacuum engine made for some wild rides when it quit. Thanks Jim Hall for a lot of innovative ideas.
I have a black and white picture of the 1966 2E winged car hanging on the wall in my workshop where it's hung for over 30 years.
Priceless wisdom personified... thank you!
What a treat to watch this today. He looks great and has a great memory for many of the details of 50+ years ago. I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2005 at Monterrey when Chapparal was the featured marque. Thanks for a great interview!
WoW !! I wish I knew this information when I was racing. I Remember the 2J and was always disappointed that the rules were changed to slow the car down. What an innovative guy. Could have listened to him for hours.
Thank you SO much for this video. I grew up near Riverside (International) Raceway. I saw most of these cars race there!
Please don’t stop theses interviews.
We need to make theses brilliant minds to mine as much knowledge from them as possible.
I just love how this cars are made of what they are made out of, I always thought the 2j’70 looked like a washing machine with wheels but i still love how it looks.
My brother and I grew up loving Chaparrals and rooting for them (until I defected and began rooting for McLaren). My brother - he was about 10, 11 years old - wrote Jim Hall, offering to be a water boy in the pit. Mr. Hall wrote back a kind letter and sent along an autographed photo.
I grew up watching jim hall race at laguna seca...at that time,he used the Chrysler dealership at nite to work on his cars,friday,and sat nite,before the race on sunday...they actually had tech on Friday nite,right on one of the main streets down town Monterey,ca...it was always infront of british motors,on del monte blvd...I think it was in 67' at laguna that the chapparal broke during pre race practice,...it rained heavy during the race,and this one racer,who wasn't on a big dollar team,had put on some special rain tires,that enabled him to basically run away from the field...john cannon,i believe was his name,from Canada...sure had a lot of great memories watchin the chapparal team at laguna during the early years of can am....jim hall was,and is still the man....great to see him in the fairly recent video.....my x wife lives in midland,tx...I told her she needs to go see chapparal cars,and tx me some pics...….
Cool!
What a terrific interview, not only about racing but about how to run an engineering career. Love it. Love it.
What a fantastic man! One can tell he is the best kind of guy. As a Fabricator, I can tell you the world is brimming with snakes.
Jim Hall, and his “sucker car” was explained to me as a young lad. So, Jim’s creation became a part of that mythical time in my youth. Great to get to see the background with this great interview. Thank you much!
Title of this video should be "How to Have Fun With a Mechanical Engineering Degree". Jim Hall is such a great guy! Too bad his cars were a bit short on development and durability, because the ideas were definitely winners. Thank you for the video. Thumbs up!
My hero since I was 11 years old
One of the great innovators of racing, he influenced all forms of autosport.
I really enjoyed watching this. What a man! Thanks for making and sharing this.
I saw the 2J driven by Jackie Stewart compete in a CanAm race in Watkins Glen. What a car!
Me too. What an era that was and what a clever guy Jim was. I was fortunate enough to meet him and chat with him at Amelia Island I think in 2005.
"I did my life in an ethical way...and I think that is the most important thing."
I love this stuff. I saw the 2E car run and win at Laguna Seca in the '60s. That was an absolute eye opener. Wings and auto transmissions and lapping the field - yeah they did it right !!!
Hats off Mr Hall - well done :)
Awesome interview - I saw Jim Hall and many of those cars at Watkins Glen when I was growing up.
Dave White me too!
It was nice to see a Chaparral at Good Wood I am a big fan from Australia 🇦🇺💙. 🏁
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I felt like I was able to witness the greatest era of motorsports and racing. A time when true genius was still allowed to be exhibited. By far my favorite form of racing was Can Am. Jim Hall and Chaparral were the very cutting edge of technology. Yet within a few years it was all eliminated through rules. To think that he created a 2000lb car that could create 2000lbs of downforce in 1970 is still incredible. Then for him to leave racing, and Can Am disintegrate, then come back to Indy and dominate immediately is yet another credit to his genius.
I grew up on CanAm Racing @ Riverside Raceway; late 1960's-70s. Bruce McLaren & Jim Hall were some of my early engineering heroes.
One of the greatest innovators in our American Racing History, unfortunate for me is that I passed on the opportunity to go to Midland and work in the engine dept. Much later I met people that did work there and they all said it was one of the best experiences in their lives. Very thankful that you preserved this interview so that all of that admire Jim for all that he has done for racing is here for us -
Great footage indeed and what a valuable witnessing.
I guess the Chaparral deserves a distinguished
place in car racing history for pioneering the
importance of aerodynamics on racing cars
and for showing the correct way to go to improve the performance.
I recall the 2D flying on the main straightline at Monza 1000 km .... just being not so sure about the automatic transmission to be the best choice.
What a privilege to hear Jim Hall tell his story, it really was inspiring and full of great stories and useful nuggets. Loved the idea that if you can convince others that it's the best idea it's probably ok but if you can't then maybe you need to reassess things. Such an exciting time in motorsport and car development, true pioneers. I've always be proud so many Kiwis were involved, we may be a little country at the bottom of the world but we have always batted well above our weight in everything. Having F1 run down here during the 50s certainly helped lol.
Love Jim Hall for his contributions to racing. An idol for sure!
I was in one of the support races to the CanAm race at Laguna Seca in 1970 when the Chaparral 2J ran its last event. The 2J was absurdly fast in comparison to the other CanAm cars of that season. However, during the Saturday practice (or qualifying), the Chaparral crew forgot to refill the separate fuel tank for the vacuum motors and sent Vic Elford out onto the track. Elford was at top speed in the old Turn 3 when the vacuum motors ran out of fuel and stopped without warning. With the vacuum effect gone, the car became a flying projectile that flew a huge distance over to a main access road of the track. Fortunately, Elford wasn't injured; but, the car was totally destroyed. It was very lucky that spectators were not present in the "landing area" at the time. In my mind, that incident caused the FIA to review and ban the "sucker car" for its multiple unsafe characteristics. Following driver's also complained about being showered by dirt and rocks whenever the 2J dropped a wheel off track.
What a great and informative video on a very special man. Learned a lot I didn't know from watching the entire video. Thank you for uploading and bringing back some great memories of a legendary team and car.
Wow, fantastic video. What a brilliant man, and having the shop and track out the back door is perfect. Desire and ideas the fuel of innovation.
As someone who has been a long time low buck road racer it has taught me a huge amount.
I have a fair handle on aero, understand the dynamics of suspension and braking. And understand engines. And pushrods still make sense to me!!
My dabble these days is so hard to go test, which includes practice as it keeps you sharp. And even then it is 40 miles away.
So I go to the track and mentally kick myself, making mistakes and just not driving hard enough. Practice and faith in the car makes perfect.
Thank you for putting this up.
Jim Hall is a legend and has a right to be proud of all his innovations and hard work. He's an automotive engineering genius. Two thumbs up for Jim Hall and his team.
I saw the Chapparal cars race at the Can Am races at Laguna Seca in 1967. There were two Chapparals and I think two McLarens that dominated the race. I can't remember who won but the white Chapparals and the orange McLarens were so fast it was unreal. The noise that those small block Chevy engines made was LOUD. I liked to watch the cars as they crested the hill and plunged into the corkscrew and screamed down the hill. Amazing times!
'67 were ALL BIG BLOCKS.
@@danielmauter1737 -- Didn't know that. No wonder I was so impressed with the sound. BIG BLOCKS are awesome! Thanks.
I'm not even half way through this video yet and it's one of the most interesting/informative pieces of technical history I've seen. Love this shit. Thanks!
Jim Hall and Chaparral were the leading edge of race but most people don't know now. The Chaparral was the little engine that could back in the sixty's and my favorite car growing up!
Jim Hall,great inventor and I think he is a ginius, shame he is not so fames in Europe,but I think modern automotive must thank his ideas :-)
this company's work reminds me of lola racing being forgotten. people never seem to remember the first but usually the flashiest
I have long been fascinated with Jim Hall and his innovative creations, particularly in consideration of Ferrari, Colin Chapman/Lotus, and Bruce McLaren during his time.
I was born in 1956. In the 60's I would save my allowance to buy Road and Track magazine. They covered F1 and Sports Car racing with accounts of all the races and features of the competitors and cars. After virtually studying the mag front to back I would try to draw pictures of the cars as best I could. My favorite cars were the Chaparrals. I thought they were beautiful and they won everything in 65 and 66 it seemed like.
Very interesting . . . both he and I started our racing careers in an Austin-Healeys. I was unable to win for awhile because I was always getting beat by the Porsche drivers. So, I sold the Austin-Healey and bought a beautiful Porsche Speedster and immediately started winning :o) Jim Hall comes across as a very nice person on or off the track.
Great interview. Amazing man!
Boy, did this not bring back memories! Thank you.
Thanks for bringing this history forward!
Terrific interview! Even though I already knew virtually all the information Hall shared in it, I watched the whole thing with great interest just to hear him talk about it personally. Let me tell you, there is a LOT more story, here. Hall brought more useful innovations to racing, I think, even than Colin Chapman. For the whole story, read "Chaparral" by Falconer and Nye.
Timestamps:
7:12 Jim Hall's brother and the connection to Bobby Unser and Carroll Shelby
18:13 - First Wings
29:55 - 2E high wing and early DRS
42:44 - 2J first fan car ("Sucker Car") with skirts
[The 2J could pull 1.7G in low speed corners]
53:14 - Chaparral Indy Car with underbody ground effect and diffusor
56:28 - Ventouri effect explained on Chaparral 2K underbody
1:05:31 - Rattlesnake Raceway tour
Like a vacuum cleaner
Thank you for this interview, very enlightening, he is truly a American racing hero.