Classic warbirds and other aviation vids.

OK I am bored so something different this morning. Most pics in this thread show planes looking for lift this ground based rocket was the opposite, it sucked! The Chaparral 2J Can Am racer one of a series of cars built by the legendary Texan, Jim Hall. Can Am. No series like it will probably ever be seen again, no rules to speak of just innovation. It was a time that Race Driver/Engineer Sam Posey would recall when tires, aerodynamics and horsepower all melted into one. Can Am cars had no equal on the race track, faster than F1 no matter where they raced.

The 2J was powered by the Chevrolet ZL1 engine. This all aluminum 427 produced approximately
approximately 650 horsepower in race trim. It used a three speed automatic transaxle. With its fiberglass body the car weighed in at 1800 with all three engines. Wait three engines? Yes it had two Rockwell 247 cc two stroke two cylinder 45 horsepower engines mounted in the rear which produced the downforce for the car. The sound of the three engines running was said to be "ear splitting".

Around the edge of the car it used General Electric Lexan that moved with the road surface to keep the suction consistent. Yes it ran into issues with sucking up debris off the track and shooting it out at anyone and everyone behind the car. But man it was fast, on some tracks two seconds faster than the nearest competitor. Braking was said to be simply incredible.

The car was ultimately banned by the SCCA but the legend continues. It still exists, still runs and is a prime example of the no holds barred Canadian American Challenge cup series.


img_3504_3cd433e360e8a46c481586b038a0820cfdd54c4b.jpeg
img_4573_d27e944bb6698cee88835aa6f69375166b61866d.jpeg
 


Write your reply...

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top