What happend to Herman Chapman

OLD INJUN · 12-03-2010, 10:27 AM

Does anybody remember Herman Chapman from Colorado? He was a super stock racer/engine builder in the 70s. Where is he and what is he doing now?

Bobby Stevens · 12-03-2010, 01:46 PM

Herman still around the Denver area. I've heard he's got a place up in the mountains. Not sure what he's doing these days. Had a guy ask me the samething last weekend at a car show here in denver.

Bobby Stevens

doug schriener · 12-03-2010, 08:06 PM

Son of a gun could sure build some motors!!!! I recall a Car Craft article that had him playing with a '59 Biscayne{I think} with a 348-never heard a lot about it. Doug Schriener

Ed Wright · 12-03-2010, 08:45 PM

I really liked Herman and his wife. Very talented man! Hope they are doing well.

gsa612 · 12-03-2010, 09:47 PM

If you ran a sm.blk chevy in the 70's 80's and were fast you had a herman motor. A buddy bought a ss 283 w/ chapman motor. had cast pistons, leaked 2%. At the time he had the best ring pkge out there. No high dollar parts just a lot of smarts. gsa 612

Don Kennedy · 12-03-2010, 10:30 PM

Herman and Virgina were one of the best during their time . I will never forget when Herman was doing my engines during the early 70's . we went to test at Irwindale,Ca ( sp) and after a test run I came back and of course pitted right next to Herman . of all things my starter just fell off the engine hanging there , and Herman came up to me and said Don , no sense in coming out to race if you are not fully prepared to run with no mistakes , ever since then I blame Herman for my over the top getting ready way early to go to a race with my very well learn lesson of being ready to run when your get there no mistakes . lol

JRyan · 12-03-2010, 11:46 PM

Don't let Don try to fool ya! He was anal long before he met Herman & Virginia, but Don's car is always ready for the race. Don on the other hand ... ??... old friend.

You're right though Don. Herman & Virginia were good people. Herman was always trying something different. He told me that he once ran the 283 with just a top ring. He said it "oiled a little" and laughed, but it was pretty fast.

Jerry

Rick Carlson · 12-04-2010, 01:24 AM

Herman built my 283 when I started "serious" racing in the 70's. Fast enough to set the record at Thunder Valley at a D5 race. I remember going to teardown at Rapp Chevrolet and pulling out my "toolbox" (which looked a lot like a fishing tackle box). Lotsa people looked and laughed, but Herman just smiled and said that I'd be "allright". Got the engine back together around 4 AM, then headed to the hotel in Sioux Falls. An hour and a half of sleep then back to the track. Herman looked everything over, had me start it up, he ran the valves, and we were faster than before teardown. While Herman was doing this, Virginia was talking to my wife, explaining that racing wasn't always this hectic...and that a full night's sleep wasn't necessary. They made sure that their customers felt like "family."

Rick Carlson
D7 & Lucas Drag Boat announcer

bobbyd6 · 12-04-2010, 03:09 AM

I met Herman & Virginia when I was going to the races with the Dalrymple Brothers in the mid 70's. Jim used Herman's motors to set records & win races in Division 5. I remember going to their house in Englewood & Herman built the engines in his garage. They did treat everyone like family & they gave me a Chevrolet belt buckle for my birthday or Christmas, I still have it today!! Herman always wore those unique fishing hats. Herman was always inventing new products for motors & was always submitting ideas to Chevrolet. I think Jim Weakland & a few other racers still keep in contact with Herman & Virginia. If anyone locates an address for them please shoot me a PM

Alan Nyhus · 12-04-2010, 09:48 AM

Herman and Virginia were good people, for sure.

Herman had a great sense of humor...very dry. I was in Denver for the Div.5 banquet and tech. meeting one year and stopped by his place in Englewood to pick up some cylinder heads. When I was getting ready to leave, I asked Herman what the quickest way back to the hotel was. I told him I was staying at a hotel out by the old Stapleton Airport.

Herman motioned for me to walk outside with him and he stood there for a minute looking up at the sky, then pointed up and said: "Follow that plane!"

When Super Stock had liberalized the suspension rules and allowed narrowed rear ends and any size tire, it seemed like every car out there had 14X32's on 'em. Herman used to talk about his theory about how they would be faster with a pair of 7" Drag 500's on each side. The visual alone cracked me up.

One of A.J. Foyt's cars in the Indy 500 museum had a 'Herman Chapman Racing Engines' decal on it. But that's a whole 'nother story...... -Al

12-03-2010, 10:27 AM	#1
OLD INJUN Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 160 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	What happend to Herman Chapman Does anybody remember Herman Chapman from Colorado? He was a super stock racer/engine builder in the 70s. Where is he and what is he doing now?

12-03-2010, 01:46 PM	#2
Bobby Stevens Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 49 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman Herman still around the Denver area. I've heard he's got a place up in the mountains. Not sure what he's doing these days. Had a guy ask me the samething last weekend at a car show here in denver. Bobby Stevens

12-03-2010, 08:06 PM	#3
doug schriener Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: pennock,mn Posts: 83 Likes: 21 Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman Son of a gun could sure build some motors!!!! I recall a Car Craft article that had him playing with a '59 Biscayne{I think} with a 348-never heard a lot about it. Doug Schriener

12-03-2010, 08:45 PM	#4
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 389 Times in 169 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman I really liked Herman and his wife. Very talented man! Hope they are doing well. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

12-03-2010, 09:47 PM	#5
gsa612 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 100th Meridian Posts: 569 Likes: 116 Liked 280 Times in 139 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman If you ran a sm.blk chevy in the 70's 80's and were fast you had a herman motor. A buddy bought a ss 283 w/ chapman motor. had cast pistons, leaked 2%. At the time he had the best ring pkge out there. No high dollar parts just a lot of smarts. gsa 612

12-03-2010, 10:30 PM	#6
Don Kennedy VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Portland TN Posts: 1,588 Likes: 3,846 Liked 900 Times in 236 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman Herman and Virgina were one of the best during their time . I will never forget when Herman was doing my engines during the early 70's . we went to test at Irwindale,Ca ( sp) and after a test run I came back and of course pitted right next to Herman . of all things my starter just fell off the engine hanging there , and Herman came up to me and said Don , no sense in coming out to race if you are not fully prepared to run with no mistakes , ever since then I blame Herman for my over the top getting ready way early to go to a race with my very well learn lesson of being ready to run when your get there no mistakes . lol __________________ Don Kennedy 7701 SS Last edited by Don Kennedy; 12-03-2010 at 10:35 PM.

12-03-2010, 11:46 PM	#7
JRyan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aberdeen SD Posts: 645 Likes: 30 Liked 112 Times in 31 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman Don't let Don try to fool ya! He was anal long before he met Herman & Virginia, but Don's car is always ready for the race. Don on the other hand ... ??... old friend. You're right though Don. Herman & Virginia were good people. Herman was always trying something different. He told me that he once ran the 283 with just a top ring. He said it "oiled a little" and laughed, but it was pretty fast. Jerry

12-04-2010, 01:24 AM	#8
Rick Carlson Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Laurel Fork, VA, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Posts: 57 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman Herman built my 283 when I started "serious" racing in the 70's. Fast enough to set the record at Thunder Valley at a D5 race. I remember going to teardown at Rapp Chevrolet and pulling out my "toolbox" (which looked a lot like a fishing tackle box). Lotsa people looked and laughed, but Herman just smiled and said that I'd be "allright". Got the engine back together around 4 AM, then headed to the hotel in Sioux Falls. An hour and a half of sleep then back to the track. Herman looked everything over, had me start it up, he ran the valves, and we were faster than before teardown. While Herman was doing this, Virginia was talking to my wife, explaining that racing wasn't always this hectic...and that a full night's sleep wasn't necessary. They made sure that their customers felt like "family." Rick Carlson D7 & Lucas Drag Boat announcer

12-04-2010, 03:09 AM	#9
bobbyd6 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cozad, Nebraska Posts: 310 Likes: 334 Liked 92 Times in 34 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman I met Herman & Virginia when I was going to the races with the Dalrymple Brothers in the mid 70's. Jim used Herman's motors to set records & win races in Division 5. I remember going to their house in Englewood & Herman built the engines in his garage. They did treat everyone like family & they gave me a Chevrolet belt buckle for my birthday or Christmas, I still have it today!! Herman always wore those unique fishing hats. Herman was always inventing new products for motors & was always submitting ideas to Chevrolet. I think Jim Weakland & a few other racers still keep in contact with Herman & Virginia. If anyone locates an address for them please shoot me a PM __________________ Bobby Devine

12-04-2010, 09:48 AM	#10
Alan Nyhus VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lower Dakota territory Posts: 1,180 Likes: 1,074 Liked 799 Times in 236 Posts	Re: What happend to Herman Chapman Herman and Virginia were good people, for sure. Herman had a great sense of humor...very dry. I was in Denver for the Div.5 banquet and tech. meeting one year and stopped by his place in Englewood to pick up some cylinder heads. When I was getting ready to leave, I asked Herman what the quickest way back to the hotel was. I told him I was staying at a hotel out by the old Stapleton Airport. Herman motioned for me to walk outside with him and he stood there for a minute looking up at the sky, then pointed up and said: "Follow that plane!" When Super Stock had liberalized the suspension rules and allowed narrowed rear ends and any size tire, it seemed like every car out there had 14X32's on 'em. Herman used to talk about his theory about how they would be faster with a pair of 7" Drag 500's on each side. The visual alone cracked me up. One of A.J. Foyt's cars in the Indy 500 museum had a 'Herman Chapman Racing Engines' decal on it. But that's a whole 'nother story...... -Al