What happend to Herman Chapman

[Rick Carlson]

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]

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]

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