What happend to Herman Chapman

[Chuck Beuthel]

In 1973 I bought my first real race car, a Super Stock Nova. My quest for more performance, quickly lead me to local legend Herman Chapman. I had watched his 69 Chevelle, 65 Chevy II and 67 Chevy II wagon run and they were all fast, even though they looked less trick than most street cars. I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know about building engines and racing. If I just got one of Herman’s secret Lunati cams and a set of his trick rings, I knew my car would run like his. Of course it didn’t. He showed me I didn’t know everything as only Herman could. His no nonsense, work hard, don’t spend money on trick parts that don’t work attitude, was a perfect match for a young racer with little money, but a lot of enthusiasm. Herman would always make sure I had the parts and machine work I needed to make the next race. He taught me a lot about engines, racing and hard work. In the days before incremental times and data loggers, he was a master at watching a race car and knowing what it needed to run faster. With Herman’s help my car got faster and faster. We became friends and did a lot together. I could write pages of stories about Herman. Unfortunately a story that started about 1995 stands out most. Herman gave me and about twenty of his other friends and customers the opportunity to invest in an invention of his. It sounded great. It was going to revolutionize the camshaft-valvetrain industry. We would all soon make a LOT of money. I gave him my money and waited. I haven’t heard from him since about 1998. I think only one person made money on that deal.

[OLD INJUN]

Aaah haa and how many of you guys will fess up to giving him money ? I would say beach in florida not cabin in colorado mts. Hey ldfjr how much did you put in on his retirement fund? Also was there a check post marked wahoo ?

[Eddie Rezac]

[QUOTE=OLD INJUN;227351]Aaah haa and how many of you guys will fess up to giving him money ? I would say beach in florida not cabin in colorado mts. Hey ldfjr how much did you put in on his retirement fund? Also was there a check post marked wahoo ?
Don,
This is the first that I have ever heard of this! I invested my money made from our drag racing days into education, and it paid off. We now have a high school coach-educator, an engineer, a writer-politician, and a business-woman. One of them even has a drag car.

[brandonpanozzo]

hey every body herman is my grandpa (my moms dad) he is still living in the moutains and he is doin ok had a couple heart problems but nothin the doctors couldn't fix virginia is doin good had reconstructive surgery on her knee last year he don't don't have anything to do with racing anymore but he does still love it and he tells me he misses it all the time in the next couple years I might get something going with his help so all u guys better look out lol and for the guys that wanna say he took ur money and disappeared he still lives in the same house he built in the late 80s so shut the F up and bad mouth someone else because he is deff not living with extras but for all u guys that miss him he is healthy and I'm trying to get him out to the track soon hope to see u out there god bless and he will always be the best low budget race motor builder of all time I love u grandpa

[brandonpanozzo]

Originally Posted by CHUCK BEUTHEL

In 1973 I bought my first real race car, a Super Stock Nova. My quest for more performance, quickly lead me to local legend Herman Chapman. I had watched his 69 Chevelle, 65 Chevy II and 67 Chevy II wagon run and they were all fast, even though they looked less trick than most street cars. I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know about building engines and racing. If I just got one of Herman’s secret Lunati cams and a set of his trick rings, I knew my car would run like his. Of course it didn’t. He showed me I didn’t know everything as only Herman could. His no nonsense, work hard, don’t spend money on trick parts that don’t work attitude, was a perfect match for a young racer with little money, but a lot of enthusiasm. Herman would always make sure I had the parts and machine work I needed to make the next race. He taught me a lot about engines, racing and hard work. In the days before incremental times and data loggers, he was a master at watching a race car and knowing what it needed to run faster. With Herman’s help my car got faster and faster. We became friends and did a lot together. I could write pages of stories about Herman. Unfortunately a story that started about 1995 stands out most. Herman gave me and about twenty of his other friends and customers the opportunity to invest in an invention of his. It sounded great. It was going to revolutionize the camshaft-valvetrain industry. We would all soon make a LOT of money. I gave him my money and waited. I haven’t heard from him since about 1998. I think only one person made money on that deal.

. U need to go bad mouth someone else because if u were close frinds u would no where he lived the same place sence late 80s the house he built in the mountains

[SStockDart]

Glad to hear that your grandfather is OK. I don't recall ever seeing a 183 word sentence with no punctuation and about 60 misspelled words. It is a little hard to follow.

[Don Kennedy]

happy that Herman and Virgina are doing ok , We enjoyed them being at the races and I suspect that i could come up with some more stories ,like the animals that were in a pen and doing burn outs with the rental car but of course not> we were young then and we knew the Koppiens who i can come up with a few more stories , darn we had a lot of fun in those days lol

By the way Eddie i was never ask to invest any money with Herman not sure what that is all about , we were too busy having more fun that we deserve>

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by brandonpanozzo

hey every body herman is my grandpa (my moms dad) he is still living in the moutains and he is doin ok had a couple heart problems but nothin the doctors couldn't fix virginia is doin good had reconstructive surgery on her knee last year he don't don't have anything to do with racing anymore but he does still love it and he tells me he misses it all the time in the next couple years I might get something going with his help so all u guys better look out lol and for the guys that wanna say he took ur money and disappeared he still lives in the same house he built in the late 80s so shut the F up and bad mouth someone else because he is deff not living with extras but for all u guys that miss him he is healthy and I'm trying to get him out to the track soon hope to see u out there god bless and he will always be the best low budget race motor builder of all time I love u grandpa

You need to look into getting an education before you start calling names!
You should also know that this country has freedom of speech!

JimR

[LARRY DEFORREST]

[QUOTE=Eddie Rezac;227455]

Originally Posted by OLD INJUN

Aaah haa and how many of you guys will fess up to giving him money ? I would say beach in florida not cabin in colorado mts. Hey ldfjr how much did you put in on his retirement fund? Also was there a check post marked wahoo ?
Don,
This is the first that I have ever heard of this! I invested my money made from our drag racing days into education, and it paid off. We now have a high school coach-educator, an engineer, a writer-politician, and a business-woman. One of them even has a drag car.

I've never heard a thing about this either....I bought that old 65 Nova SS the Day my son Jason was born and 1 complete motor after that...thats all I contributed..
"why would you deburr a block?? if it aint fallen out by now it never will"
I remember when that garage floor was dirt!! Helluva guy! And Virginia too!
Larry DeForrest

[hadtobethere]

Originally Posted by Don Kennedy

happy that Herman and Virgina are doing ok , We enjoyed them being at the races and I suspect that i could come up with some more stories ,like the animals that were in a pen and doing burn outs with the rental car but of course not> we were young then and we knew the Koppiens who i can come up with a few more stories , darn we had a lot of fun in those days lol

By the way Eddie i was never ask to invest any money with Herman not sure what that is all about , we were too busy having more fun that we deserve>

Hey Don, they were good times, and ya, sure remember many of the stories with you, Herman & Virgina, and 'we knew the Koppien's' (that's funny)....sure like your new SS car