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Finding History

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Finding History INSIDE SCCA SCCA FOUNDATION HIDDEN GEMS The SCCA Archives have already turned up a number of amazing finds, like this photo of two men holding up the leightweight Chaparral 2 chassis (LEFT) as well as photos of Peter Brock’s Shelby Coupe on its first day of testing at Riverside International Raceway (BELOW). FINDING HISTORY SCCA’s Archives tell a story of design and engineering innovation, yet the process of uncovering our past is only just beginning WORDS Jeff Jacobs, Vice President, SCCA Foundation | MAIN IMAGE SCCA Archives veryone expected the SCCA Archives to flooded the track with just three hours to go, of Peter Brock’s Shelby Daytona Coupe on hold a wealth of information about past Hall and Sharp persevered to take the win. the first days of testing at Riverside, Calif., race results, membership records, and maybe “Jim Hall’s Chaparral sports-racing on Feb. 4, 1964. Another SCCA Hall of Fame even some old race photos and trophies. car – winner of the grueling 12-hour Sebring member, Brock’s innovative design produced Meanwhile, the article that appeared in the event, considered by many experts to an additional 15mph over the prior Cobra January edition of SportsCar about the be equal to 100,000 miles of ordinary roadster as well as 25 percent better fuel Archives told a different story – it revealed the driving – is the first successful car to be built economy. These innovations would ultimately amazing collection of Region newsletters that on an all-plastic frame,” the press release lead to the 1964 Le Mans GT class win by are now sorted, catalogued, and properly explains. “The fiberglass-reinforced epoxy Dan Gurney and Bob Bondurant, among stored for future reference. The latest chassis (fabricated by PlasTrend, Fort numerous other victories for the cars. revelation about SCCA’s Archives is the Worth, Texas) weighs less than 100lbs.” In addition to supporting the cataloguing fascinating history it holds about the role the The company announcement goes on to and preservation of the Archives, the SCCA SCCA and its members played in the laud the advantages of the “molded plastic Foundation provides support to the next advancement of automotive design construction” and notes the Chaparral racing generation of young designers and engineers and engineering. success at subsequent races – a season in through its support of the Formula SAE Take for example this press release which they won 16 races in 22 starts. program. Foundation funding provides for dated June 28, 1965, from Union Carbide SCCA Archives technician Joe Cali at awards to recognize the top performing Corporation celebrating the “first successful the International Motor Racing Research SAE teams and mentors. Donations to all-plastic chassis” following a victory that Center in Watkins Glen, N.Y., discovered the Foundation not only help with the shocked the sports car world. SCCA Hall of the press release and a photo of two men preservation of SCCA’s history, but ensures Fame member Jim Hall and his co-driver Hap holding up a Chaparral 2 chassis at a Union that our young members will continue to be Sharp shattered the qualifying record set by Carbide exhibit in a demonstration of its light the industry leaders into the future – hopefully Ferrari the year prior by nearly nine seconds weight. Joe, along with fellow technician Rick inspired by the stories uncovered by the great in their lightweight Chevy-powered Chaparral Hughey and head archivist Jenny Ambrose, work being done by the team at the IMRRC. 2, turning lap times under three minutes at are turning up more examples of SCCA- For more information about the SCCA Sebring for the first time in history. Despite a related design and engineering every day. Foundation or to make a donation, go 30-minute downpour with 50mph winds that Another recent example is a great photo to www.sccafoundation.com. 62 MARCH 2018 scca.com SC0318Inside-Foundation_P.indd 62 1/17/18 9:44 PM.
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