41 replies to this topic

[TIPO61]

We owe him so very much more than Happy Birthday. The best to Sandy too.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Most assuredly one of my early heroes. Many Happy Returns of the Day, Jim!

[JacnGille]

[doc knutsen]

From me, too. A great innovator and engineer, and an inspiration to so many. I am even willing to forget the "AuH2O" licence plates sported by Chaparrals prior to the '64 Presidential election

campaign in the US... much prefer the Car & Driver slogan: "Gurney for President!"

[fuzzi]

Happy birthday Mr Hall. Thanks for the memories

 

http://s984.photobuc...0.jpg.html?o=35

Edited by fuzzi, 21 July 2015 - 09:38.

[Slurp1955]

A big birthday for Jim Hall on the 23rd, he's 80





I'm lucky enough to be having lunch with Sir Jackie Stewart tomorrow, one of two drivers to actually race the 2J. The pics are from Goodwood FOS 1997, where grown men (me and my mate Steve) were having our T-shirts signed. Happy Birthday Jim.

Edited by Slurp1955, 21 July 2015 - 15:08.

[group7]

fuzzi, in post # 5 above & your link to photos, the first photo that comes up is of Jim Hall in the 2-E, the young lady sitting on the side pod is identified as Mrs. Hall, if that is Sandy then she certainly has aged well. perhaps Mr. Hall has remarried ? or could it be Jim Hall junior's wife ?  the Chaparral team has been a favourite of mine since the early '60s. I made three visits to Chaparral Cars in Midland Texas, starting in the mid 1980s. You couldn't have met a nicer bunch of people, the doors were thrown open, and I was left alone to wander in awe at will. Jim Hall was there on one of my visits as well. Troy Rogers was restoring the Chaparral 2-E at the time, some people thought him crusty, he was very friendly and proudly showed me around. he even remembered me when the Chaparrals were at Elkhart Lake for the vintage festival. one of the fellow that worked there gave me a couple of laps around Rattlesnake raceway in his modded Toyota Celica., the test track on the grounds where the shops were, what a thrill it was for me to visit this spot were it all happened. I want to thank Hall and the team, for all the great memories I have, I was lucky enough to see the cars race on many occasions, in Trans-Am, Can-Am, Indy cars, and saw the 2-F race at Daytona in 1967.

 

I wish Jim Hall all the best on the occasion of his birthday 

 

 

Michael Scott (group7) in Canada

[raceannouncer2003]

In post 5, I think that may be Jim Hall II in the car.  Here is a photo from Monterey 2005 with Jim Hall I and II

 

 

A little confusing, as both have "Jim Hall" on their driving suits.

 

Best wishes to "Jim Hall I" on his 80th birthday.

 

Vince H.

Edited by raceannouncer2003, 22 July 2015 - 06:15.

[fuzzi]

I should have paid more attention.

 

Now where's that Photo of Mr Hall Senior in the stetson?

[Jerry Entin]

April 1964, Corry Field, Pensacola. The Birthday Boy taking his Chaparral to the grid for the USRRC race, which he won.

Wesley Sweet riding Shotgun.

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 July 2015 - 16:11.

[Jerry Entin]

Corry Field at Pensacola again, one year later. Jim Hall leads Walt Hansgen [Mecom Lola T70] and teammate Hap Sharp.

 

After Hansgen and Sharp dropped out, and Hall was delayed, victory went to George Follmer in his under-2-liter Lotus 23/Porsche. It would cost Hall the 1965 USRRC title by the end of the season.

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection 

Edited by Jerry Entin, 22 July 2015 - 16:58.

[group7]

 fuzzy those are great photos from Goodwood ! and Jerry you come up with the most amazing images ! I can't see the post from Pensacola  '64, but can the one from '65 that was an unfortunate outcome to the season for Hall. 

 

Michael Scott (group7) in Canada

[Jack-the-Lad]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JIM HALL, and may there be many more.

The eyes of Texas are upon you, sir!

[group7]

thank you jerry, I can see the image now.

 

group7

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring March 1960. Jim Hall, this time wearing his Stetson, next to the Elva/DKW in which he would win the Formula Junior race before the 12 Hours. Body man Foy Barrett is on the left

 

Group 7, It is taking me forever to post photos, I am on XP and it is acting very weird.

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 23 July 2015 - 20:41.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1960. Jim Hall and his one-time mentor Carroll Shelby, with Hap Sharp's wife Suzy in the background.

 

 

Jim Hall may have won the Formula Junior race, but the 12 Hours were a disaster for both men. Shelby never got behind the wheel after his co-driver Masten Gregory brought the Birdcage in within only a few laps. Hall shared Hap Sharp's Cooper Monaco with Maserati power. Since Sharp took the start and the car retired after 26 laps, Hall must have done only a few rounds, if any at all.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 2]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 23 July 2015 - 20:56.

[group7]

WOW ! !  Jerry, you and Willem & Bob come up with the most amazing images. thank you ! look forward to your posts.

 

group7 

[JacnGille]

WOW ! !  Jerry, you and Willem & Bob come up with the most amazing images. thank you ! look forward to your posts.

 

group7 

[Jerry Entin]

Galveston, July 1957. Jim Hall gets ready to take his Corvette out.

 

Hall finished fourth in the big production race, behind Ebb Rose, Bill Fritts and George Koehne in similar cars. He took revenge in the feature, claiming BP1 over Koehne and Fritts. Overall victory went to Ray Jones' Ferrari 857 Monza entered by A.D. Logan.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 July 2015 - 15:20.

[Jerry Entin]

 

June 1957, Eagle Mountain. Jim waiting for the start of the SCCA National aboard brother Dick's Ferrari Monza.

 

 

As the photo indicates, it was a wet event. Hall finished second overall behind Paul O'Shea's M-B 300SL in the prelim. In the feature the Monza became involved in a first corner collision involving Carroll Shelby, Ebb Rose and Paul O'Shea. The Monza lost 30 minutes in the pits where it was made it drivable again. A disgusted Hall gave the wheel to CSSCI sales manager Jim Roberts, who finished the race in 15th place.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 July 2015 - 23:17.

[Jerry Entin]

Fort Sumner, New Mexico, September 1957. At the start of the feature Jim Hall leads the pack in one of the CSSCI 200SI Maseratis [chassis 2426], ahead of Jim Roberts [Dick Hall's Monza], Jack Hinkle [Maserati 300S], Danny Collins [Hughes-Kircher/Mercedes] and Alex Budurin [Kurtis/Buick]

 

 

 

But at the checkered flag Roberts claimed victory in the Monza. At the end of the season CSSCI sold the 200SI to Jack Hinkle, who used his 300S as a trade-in.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 July 2015 - 23:15.

[Jerry Entin]

Eagle Mountain, January 1958. Carroll Shelby coaching Jim Hall in a Maserati 200SI, chassis 2425, during the Frostbite Races.

 

On Saturday Shelby took the same 200SI to second overall behind the Mangham-Davis/Chevy Special driven by Frank Davis. With his Monza not running well in the prelim, Hall raced the 200SI in Sunday's feature, another wet contest. He won, creating enough interest for Bob Kuhn to buy the CSSCI car.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 July 2015 - 16:10.

[Jerry Entin]

The happy winner of the 1958 Frostbite Races at Eagle Mountain. The SCCA magazine Sports Car chose to ignore the event in its coverage, so few people knew about it.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 July 2015 - 18:04.

[Jerry Entin]

Eagle Mountain, June 1958. Jim Hal takes this 1.5-liter Lotus 11/Climax out for practice. It was chassis 332, previously raced by him at Nassau.

 

The car saw no further action under Hall's ownership. In 1961 it reappeared in Louisiana with new owner Ben O'Neal, now with a 2-liter Maserati engine. Today the car resides in England.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 27 July 2015 - 23:08.

[Jerry Entin]

By the end of 1958 until mid 1959, Jim Hall ran this Lister, in which Sonny Balcaen had installed a Chevy V8. The Lister was chassis BHL 108 and Hall's final victory in the car came at Galveston in at the end of June 1959.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 2]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 27 July 2015 - 23:24.

[Jerry Entin]

Coffeyville, Kansas, May 1959. Jim is enjoying a beer with Frank Harrison's mechanics Bert Kemp and Bill Warren. Harrison's Maserati 450S [chassis 4510] has just been unloaded from its trailer, while Hall's Lister/Chevy is on the right.

 

Hall used the Lister/Chevy to win the prelim, then switched to the Harrison 450S to win the feature. Another successful race weekend!

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

 

Edited by Jerry Entin, 27 July 2015 - 23:35.

[Jerry Entin]

Eagle Mountain, October 1958. Jim's Lister/Chevy briefly leading Ebb Rose's Maserati 450S during the Fall Roundup Races.

 

The 450S V8 engine had just returned from Modena after a complete overhaul and it showed. Rose beat Hall both in the prelim and the feature.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 28 July 2015 - 21:26.

[TIPO61]

You sure Jim's drinkin' a beer in your post #26 pic?

Race weekend.

Don't have my magnifying glass though.

[Jerry Entin]

Jim liked his other "vice" as well, seen here just before the March 1958 Mansfield feature in Dick's Monza.

 

It is hard to tell, Tipo 61/Bertocchi, but the photo was most likely taken on a Friday afternoon, when the cars had just arrived. Lots of time for any alcohol to be flushed out of the system for Saturday and Sunday racing, and it had been a long trip from Dallas to Coffeyville, Kansas.

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 29 July 2015 - 19:12.

[JoyDiv]

 

Jim liked his other "vice" as well, seen here just before the March 1958 Mansfield feature in Dick's Monza.

 

It is hard to tell, Tipo 61/Bertocchi, but the photo was most likely taken on a Friday afternoon, when the cars had just arrived. Lots of time for any alcohol to be flushed out of the system for Saturday and Sunday racing, and it had been a long trip from Dallas to Coffeyville, Kansas.

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

 

 

Jerry..thanks for the photos...all amazing!!       

[Jerry Entin]

Oklahoma City, November 1959. Having arrived without a ride, Dean Knight entrusted his 750 Monza with 500TR bodywork [and Chevy engine] to Jim Hall. Jim finished the feature in 3rd overall, but not without causing some body damage to the car.

 

 

The car was chassis 0518 and it featured an extensive ownership line: ENB, John Kilborn, E.D. Martin and at the end of 1957, Dean Knight, who had his mechanic George Gobel install a Chevy V8. Knight and Gobel raced 0518 on occasion, although Bobby Aylward and Delmo Johnson could also be seen at the wheel in the early 60s.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 2]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 July 2015 - 02:05.

[Jerry Entin]

Dallas, November 1959. Jim posing with the former Temple Buell Maserati 570S [chassis 4508], completely overhauled by his crew: Red Byron, Frank Lance and Foy Barrett.

 

Perhaps because his Lister/Chevy was beaten a number of times by the Tipo 54 Maserati, Hall decided to make Buell an offer that he could not resist. After Pomona 1959, where Carroll Shelby raced 4508, the car had been dropped off at CSSCI because Buell had no home base for his U.S. racing activities. Jim entered it at Stuttgart in April 1959, but the 570S blew its rear end while being taken off the trailer. Jim ordered it rebuilt from stem to stern, an overhaul that was finished just before the 1959 Nassau Speed Weeks.

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 July 2015 - 02:13.

[group7]

Jerry, please stop with all this early Jim Hall stuff ! it's all too much for me ! early days of my favourite driver and team (chaparral) I'm just blown away ! amazing stuff. THANK YOU !

 

Mike Scott (group7)  

[raceannouncer2003]

Was this one of the first times he used the white livery with #66?

 

Vince H.

[group7]

Vince, in reply to your query,  from the "racing sports cars" site, & I'm not sure as to how correct everything is ? the best I could suss out is Hall running a Maser 450S as # 66 (white & blue) at the USAC race at Riverside april 3rd. 1960. it shows there as # 4508, (in the photo it looks to be the same car) this conflicts with Jerry's post # 32 above, I would personally go with Jerry. all this Maser type numbers stuff is beyond me.     I don't want to muddy the waters here. perhaps we are getting away from the main thrust of this thread ?

 

Mike Scott (group7) in Canada

[Jerry Entin]

 

Nassau Trophy, December 1959. Lloyd Ruby took over the Hall 570S after his original car, Ebb Rose's Micro-Lube 450S [4509] blew its rear end at the Le Mans start.

 

 

Vince, you are correct, although in the car's first actual race event after its overhaul, the 1959 Nassau Speed Weeks, it was given Carroll Shelby's favorite number 98. Hall had already committed to the Frank Harrison 450S [4510] and Shelby ran 4508 in the Governor's Trophy. After Shelby switched to the new CAMORADI Tipo 61 for the feature, Ruby raced 4508 after his original entry ran into trouble at the start.

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collecion

all research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 August 2015 - 01:29.

[Jerry Entin]

Dallas, September 1960. Jim and mechanic Frank Lance with chassis 4508, after it received additional customizations.

 

 While the original overhaul maintained the car's full-width FIA windshield from the old Temple Buell days, now it was equipped with a small windshield and a metal tonneau manufactured by Foy Barrett. Jim raced it first in this configuration during the Riverside Times GP in October 1960.

 

Vince: Jim Hall's first actual race in the white 570S with race number 66 took place at Mansfield, Louisiana, in March of 1960.

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 2]

 

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 August 2015 - 23:32.

[Jerry Entin]

Longview, Texas, May 1960. Jim receiving congratulations after winning the feature in his Birdcage, chassis 2458. The car still carried its CAMORADI livery and was the 1960 Cuban GP and 1960 Examiner GP winner in the hands of Stirling Moss and Carroll Shelby.

 

 

Joining him in the cockpit was Sandra Carroll of Abilene, one of his crew members. Jim would marry her later in 1960.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 2]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 August 2015 - 15:37.

[mariner]

With photo credit to Donsdepot/Don Ross  a slightly different Texas Chapparal

 

http://donsdepot.don...0103/chp704.jpg

 

A bit overweight by Jim Hall's standards I think

 

It was short line railroad in Texas from Paris to Farmerville ( yes really)

Edited by mariner, 02 August 2015 - 17:15.

[TIPO61]

and here I thought that this topic would be about 'birthday wishes' and the like.

Experiences that any of you might have had with this wonderful man over the years.

Working for him, and further for Frank Lance, was THE pivitol point of my life.

I'll always be grateful to both of them, and Sandy, and Hap, and others from those days.

He's 80. I'm Greatful!

[mariner]

About ten years ago I had the huge privelige of going inside the Chaparral facility just south of Midland. I was shown round by one of the staff but Jim Hall was away.

 

The pics from that day hang in pride of place on my study wall. It was a time warp experience to see the shops where the cars wil built and things like the hardness testing machine used in the 1960's were still in place - I wonder how many 60's teams actually did in-house QC like that?

 

Most of the cars were there just prior to moving to the Petroleum Museum in Downtown Midland.

 

Pure magic! - thanks and happy birthday to one of my racing heroes.

Edited by mariner, 05 August 2015 - 08:26.

[Jerry Entin]

The Gang at Rattlesnake Raceway