chaparral museum grand opening

Jim Hall's Chaparrals will soon be featured at a museum in his home town of Midland, Texas. There is a grand opening 15-17 April, 2004. The museum's web site lists the following cars as being on display:

Chaparral 2 – first race car designed by Jim Hall which won 22 of its 39 races
Chaparral 2D – built for endurance races such as 24 Hours of LeMans, Daytona, and Sebring
Chaparral 2E – first Chaparral race car built to carry the high movable wing
Chaparral 2F – Phil Hill/Mike Spence won the International Championship BOAC 500 with 2F
Chaparral 2H – advanced, integrated, composite design
Chaparral 2J – first ever ground effects car, nick-named "sucker car"
Chaparral 2K – "ground effects" design, won 1980 Indy 500 with Johnny Rutherford

(taken from: http://www.petroleum...CarDisplay.html)

There will also be tours of Rattlesnake Raceway, and some sort of Q&A session with Jim Hall.

I'm thinking of going, and was wondering if anyone else is??? I realize Midland is rather out of the way, even for those of us on this side of the pond. But you won't get to see these cars anywhere else.

My wife happens to be from Midland, so if anyone is thinking of going, I can give you ideas on where to say/what to do while you're there.

For example, the Commemorative Air Force Museum is also there, which claims to maintain "in flying condition the world's largest collection of combat aircraft flown by the U.S. during World War II." They've also got the world's only flying B-29 Superfortress. Because their aircraft fly, however, not all of them will be in the hangar at any one time -- during air show season, especially, the hangar can be disappointingly empty. For more on the CAF, go here: http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/

If anyone is thinking of going, let me know!

-Bob

Hello, Bob,

Thanks for the message.

I am most interested to go - problem is that I had promised to go to Vancouver with my wife that same week... I am trying to come up with an alternative plan. I will keep in touch with you.


Muzza

Having most of these cars race (Mosport and Mid Ohio) I would love to go but Texas is a bit far (I live near Toronto). Please keep us posted and take lots of pictures please!

Originally posted by rjl850
..... the Commemorative Air Force Museum is also there, which claims to maintain "in flying condition the world's largest collection of combat aircraft flown by the U.S. during World War II." .....

Is this what used to be the Confederate Air Force? Now PC?

Yes indeed - see their website:

http://www.commemora...rg/index.shtml

The origin of the Commemorative Air Force dates back to 1951, with the purchase of a surplus Curtiss P-40 Warhawk by Lloyd Nolen, a former World War II Army Air Corps flight instructor. In 1957, Nolen and four friends purchased a P-51 Mustang, each sharing in the $2,500 cost of the aircraft. With the purchase of the Mustang, known as Red Nose, the group was unofficially founded.

The organization was originally known as the "Confederate Air Force." Following a membership vote in 2001 and made effective on January 1, 2002, the organization is now known as the Commemorative Air Force.

IIRC it used to be commanded by two gentlemen who rejoiced in the names of Jethro E Culpepper and Throgmorton T Beauregard, but I couldn't find any mention of them. :

All I need is a modest lottery win... and I'd be there...!

I should clarify one thing about the Commemorative Air Force, in case anyone was planning to travel thousands of miles in hopes of seeing dozens of WWII aircraft flying about.

The CAF is, from what I can gather, a loosely-knit group of people -- mainly volunteers -- who acquire, restore, maintain, and fly WWII-vintage aircraft. Members of the organization are located all over the United States. Several local chapters (or "squadrons") are located in Midland, TX, where they have a hangar and facilities to maintain the aircraft and display them when they are not flying. The CAF's museum also happens to be located on the same site, in Midland. The museum has some aircraft and other items on permanent display, but the 100-odd warbirds in the CAFs collection certainly do not reside in Midland. That said, if you happen to be there at the right time, you can see lots of cool stuff :-)

-Bob

Have located a great photo of Jim Hall's second place finishing Chaparral at the Augusta circuit on 03/01/64.

Will put it up as soon as I can get it scanned.

Henry

Originally posted by rjl850
Jim Hall's Chaparrals will soon be featured at a museum in his home town of Midland, Texas. There is a grand opening 15-17 April, 2004.

There will also be tours of Rattlesnake Raceway, and some sort of Q&A session with Jim Hall.

I'm thinking of going, and was wondering if anyone else is??? I realize Midland is rather out of the way, even for those of us on this side of the pond. But you won't get to see these cars anywhere else.

If anyone is thinking of going, let me know!

Note that the public opening will be April 17. April 15 is a golf tourney for those who can afford it and April 16 is a private affair, again for those willing to pay. The garage/track tours and Q&A are part of the April 16 affair. I haven't added up the costs, but its several hundred dollars for Saturday. I'm supposed to be credentialed in, but we have not yet been contacted by the museum to know if our request was accepted. So at this point, I don't know if I'll be there or not.

Any new information on this event? I'd be interested in attending some of the Saturday functions (not the golf tournament).

Thanks!

Jack