Hap Sharp

Born	( 1928-01-01 ) January 1, 1928 Tulsa , Oklahoma
Died	May 7, 1993 (1993-05-07) (aged 65) San Martin de los Andes , Argentina
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	American
Active years	1961 ? 1964
Teams	private Cooper , non-works Lotus and Brabham
Entries	6
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1961 United States Grand Prix
Last entry	1964 Mexican Grand Prix

James " Hap " Sharp (January 1, 1928 ? May 7, 1993) was an American race car driver who drove in six Formula One Grands Prix . He was most famous however, for being a co-owner and driver of the revolutionary Chaparral sports racing cars built by Jim Hall and Sharp in Midland , Texas. In 1962 Jim Hall and Hap Sharp formed Chaparral Cars, Inc. and immediately began the design and construction of Chaparral 2, a mid-engined car with an aerospace inspired semi-monocoque fiberglass chassis.

Racing career [ edit ]

Sharp's record while driving for Chaparral: ^[1]

1962 [ edit ]

• Road America 500, Hall and Sharp 1st - Chaparral 1

1964 [ edit ]

• USRRC Kent, Sharp 2nd - Chaparral 2
• USRRC Greenwood, Sharp fastest lap - Chaparral 2
• USRRC Mid-Ohio, Sharp 1st - Chaparral 2
• Nassau Speed Week, Sharp/Penske 1st - Chaparral 2

1965 [ edit ]

• Sebring, Hall/Sharp fastest lap and 1st - Chaparral 2
• USRRC Riverside, Sharp fastest lap and 2nd - Chaparral 2
• Bridgehampton, Sharp 2nd - Chaparral 2
• USRRC Watkins Glen, Sharp 2nd - Chaparral 2
• FIA Mr. Tremblant, Canada, Sharp 3rd - Chaparral 2
• USRRC Kent, Sharp fastest lap and 2nd - Chaparral 2
• USRRC Continental Divide, CO, Sharp 1st - Chaparral 2
• USRRC Mid-Ohio, Sharp 1st - Chaparral 2
• Road America 500 Hall/Sharp/Hissom 1st, Hall/Sharp/Jennigs 2nd - Chaparral 2
• Bridgehampton, Sharp fastest lap and 1st - Chaparral 2
• Kent WA, Sharp 2nd - Chaparral 2C
• Laguna Seca, Sharp fastest lap and 2nd - Chaparral 2
• Riverside, Sharp 1st - Chaparral 2
• Las Vegas, Sharp 1st - Chaparral 2
• Nassau, Sharp 1st - Chaparral 2 (fitted with two position flipper type spoiler per the Chaparral 2C)

Sharp retired from driving after the 1965 season, with two exceptions. Sharp drove a Chaparral 2E in the 1966 Nassau Trophy race, and substituted for Mike Spence (F1 commitment) driving the Chaparral 2F in the 1967 Targa Florio.

Personal life [ edit ]

His nickname "Hap" came from "Happy New Year", in connection with his date of birth. He committed suicide in 1993 after being diagnosed with cancer .

Complete Formula One World Championship results [ edit ]

( key )

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

• Chaparral Cars website
• Chaparral Racing Cars on Pinterest