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Technology in race cars (28): Chaparral 2H - The whale of agony

Name: Chaparral 2H 1969
Brand: Chaparral

Created in 2023

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Chaparral 2H (1969) - with central giant wing as a stabilizing emergency solution

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Drivers put up in the air: The original closed concept is compromised. A wing at the front left and right to combat lift.

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - Rear with adjustable spoiler

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - Version with high wing. The massive box-shaped De Dion tube above the rear axle rigidly connects the two steering knuckles. A hydraulic cylinder at the bottom left to keep the ground clearance constant at different contact pressures. Above this, a short trailing arm for longitudinal guidance of the De Dion tube, another visible in the middle of the tube, hinged to the left arm of the tube. Above this, a U-shaped horizontal stabilizer bar, unhinged on the left. The right-hand suspension strut is hinged directly to the engine. Massive semi-trailing arm between plastic monocoque and additional engine/rear axle chassis (not visible). Exhaust pipe emerging from the side.

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - unsuccessful catamaran

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - the GRP monocoque under construction

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The original concept: the large flat windshield is fitted. A new NACA inlet for brake cooling on the side of the front overhang, which will be removed later.

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - Transparent drawings

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - The side view shows the (too) short wheelbase

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Small baffle plates to accelerate the boundary layer (air flow on the body) in order to increase the efficiency of the air flow to the rear radiator and wing.

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Unloved workplace: unusually flat steering wheel, one of the consequences of the short wheelbase. On the right, the H-shift of the three-speed gearbox with torque converter.

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - the adjustable rear wing of the first version

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - badly worn with paint damage and cracked windshield

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Chaparral 2H (1969) - the rear axle with a powerful, welded De Dion arch

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Lola T 163 (1969) - McLaren and Chaparral mechanics help with the engine swap on Chuck Parsons' "Simoniz Special"

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Straight ahead not as fast as calculated...

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... and no better in the bends (note the strong lateral inclination).

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Summary

Considering that Jim Hall was constantly trying out new and daring ideas for his Chaparral racing cars, he had surprisingly few failures to his name. One project, however, was a complete flop: the Chaparral 2H, with its special body shape, was supposed to generate little drag on the straights and a lot of downforce in the corners. The result was almost exactly the opposite. This article from the series "Technology in racing cars" is dedicated to the clumsily shaped catamaran with the short wheelbase.

This article contains the following chapters

Using old technology to achieve new successes
Unclear and unstable
Unsuccessful for an unknown reason
Epilogue

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The years 1958-1978 were the two most creative decades in the history of racing technology. This series portrays the most innovative, pioneering and exotic designs of Formula 1, Indy cars, sports cars and Can-Am, and at the same time traces the major lines of development that still have an impact today. The series started with Lotus, one of the most important innovation drivers of these two decades. And the series will also finish with Lotus. This time we look at the only design failure of Chaparral and Jim Hall. Although Jim Hall was the pioneer of the high-mounted wings, which acted directly on the suspension, he wanted to take a fundamentally different, more radical approach for 1969. Perhaps also because he suspected that these wings could soon be banned - even in the Can-Am, which had very liberal regulations.

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