78S40243 MMS-D
By: Craddick H.C.R. No. 6
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, James Ellis "Jim" Hall has enjoyed one of the most
illustrious careers in the history of motor sports, and his
achievements are now chronicled in an imposing new gallery at
Midland's Petroleum Museum; and
WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mr. Hall was born in Abilene in 1935
and studied mechanical engineering at California Institute of
Technology (Caltech); he fell in love with sports car racing in
college, when he began racing his brother's Austin Healy, and he
continued racing after receiving his degree in 1957; and
WHEREAS, In 1961, the same year he moved to Midland, Mr. Hall
debuted a car built to his specifications by Tom Barnes and Dick
Troutman of California; he named the sleek machine the Chaparral,
and in 1962 he joined Hap Sharp in establishing Chaparral Cars;
based at Rattlesnake Raceway, a private track outside of Midland,
Mr. Hall designed and constructed a series of Chaparrals, whose
innovations defined the cutting edge of race car technology in the
1960s and 1970s; and
WHEREAS, Among the advances pioneered by Mr. Hall was the
harnessing of aerodynamic down force to increase traction, an
engineering breakthrough that revolutionized the sport; other
celebrated developments included the use of a fiberglass chassis,
composite wheels, automatic transmission, and ground effects
equipment; many of the innovations Mr. Hall introduced have not
only transformed auto racing but have improved passenger car safety
and fuel efficiency; and
WHEREAS, Chaparrals were campaigned in the United States Road
Racing Challenge, Canadian American Road Racing Series, World
Endurance Championships, and USAC and CART series; seated in the
cockpit of a Chaparral, Johnny Rutherford won both the 1980
Indianapolis 500 and the CART series championship; and
WHEREAS, While Chaparral Cars were becoming the talk of the
racing world, Jim Hall was also establishing an acclaimed career as
a driver; he is one of the few Americans to have ever competed in
Formula One racing, having joined the British Racing Partnership
for the 1963 season; in addition, he has won almost every major road
racing circuit in North America, including the 1965 12 Hours of
Sebring and Canadian Grand Prix, and in 1964 he claimed the U.S.
Road Racing Championship; and
WHEREAS, Jim Hall retired from driving in the early 1970s but
continued to play a leading role in the sport as a builder and team
owner/manager; with driver Brian Redman, he won the U.S. Formula
A/5000 championship in 1974, 1975, and 1976, and in 1978 he teamed
with driver Al Unser, Sr., to win the Triple Crown of 500-mile
races--Indianapolis, Pocono, and Ontario; and
WHEREAS, The numerous accolades accorded this eminent Texan
include induction into the U.S. Motorsports Hall of Fame and the
International Motorsports Hall of Fame; he has been named a
Distinguished Alumnus by Caltech, lauded by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, and recognized for the Best Engineered Car at
Indy; and
WHEREAS, The Petroleum Museum's Chaparral Gallery, which had
its grand opening April 15-17, 2004, features Jim Hall memorabilia
and all seven of the original Chaparrals; it is Mr. Hall's hope that
the gallery will impress on youngsters the crucial role that math
and science play in sports car racing and inspire in them a still
greater appreciation for the importance of education; and
WHEREAS, Jim Hall and his Chaparrals have electrified
countless race fans, contributed immeasurably to the advancement of
that sport, and won a lasting place for Midland in the annals of
race car history; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas,
4th Called Session, hereby honor James Ellis "Jim" Hall for his
extraordinary achievements and extend to him sincere
congratulations on the opening of the Chaparral Gallery at the
Petroleum Museum; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Hall as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives and Senate.