Thu, 15 Jul 2010, 09:08 PM I Love That Willys

By Bob Frey Photo copyright 2010 Auto Imagery, Inc. and Bob Johnson Photography

Dennis Paz won 2002 Bakersfield Divisional race.

Back in the early days of drag racing, before anyone ever heard of GXP's, Cobalts, Chargers or even Mustangs, the drag racing world was populated by Anglias, Austins, Bantams and, of course, Willys. Now before I get into the history of the Willys in drag racing I first have to tell you that I'm not even sure how to pronounce it. You see, when John North Willys founded the company back in the early 1900's (actually he didn't start the company, he bought the Overland Automotive Division from the Standard Wheel Company), he and his family pronounced their name "Willis." Over the years in the drag racing world they somehow became known as "Willies." In fact, when I was at Bakersfield a few years ago for the Hot Rod Reunion, several Willys' fans came up and told me that I was saying the name of their beloved car incorrectly. "It's 'Willis,'" one gentleman told me. I'm so confused. Anyway, as we all know, these beloved cars and trucks became a big part of the history of our sport and they were driven by some of the great drivers and teams of all time. Unfortunately, like so many other things, they have gone away and we are only left with our memories. Well, almost, you see there is one gentleman who is still racing his Willys and he has been for several years. Ok, for several decades. That man is Dennis Paz.

Paz defeated John Uyeyama in SST at Sacramento 2002

Dennis Paz is a fifty year old auto repair shop owner who lives with his wife, Lori, in Stockton, California. Dennis has been running his business and drag racing for almost the same amount of time. "I think I first raced back in the late 1970's," he said while preparing for this week's Fram/Autolite Nationals in Sonoma. "And I've been running my business since the early 1980's." Another thing that he has done for all that time is race his really cool, 1941 Willys. "I bought it in 1979 and I raced it for a while before Doug Bracey (who also owns a Willys, in fact he owns a couple of them), talked me into parking it." It seems that Doug, who knows something about these classic vehicles, thought that Dennis's Willys needed a little bit of work. "He told me that I had to fix it up in order to make it a little safer if I was going to run it all the time." Well, about eight years later Dennis brought the car (he calls it a car) back out and he has been racing it ever since. "For years I ran it all the time," he said. "I'd run it in Division 6 and Division 7 and I'd race it in Super Gas and Super Street." He raced it so much and he did so well that he won the 2002 Division 7 championship in Super Street.

The car that he runs today is a little different than the one he bought back in '79. "When I got it it had a small block engine and a four-speed in it. That may have worked for the previous owner, but if I wanted to be competitive I knew I had to upgrade it." So out came the small-block and in went a 462 cubic inch engine. That was soon paired up with an automatic transmission and Dennis was on his way. He took the car to the final round at the 1991 Winternationals, and until the Las Vegas race earlier this year that was his one and only national event final round. "The Vegas race was special for a couple of reasons. First, I know that as I have grown older I have also slowed down on the tree. So to do that well on the 4/10ths tree was exciting. Plus, my dad was there seeing me race for the first time in years. Finally he got to see what it is that gets you hooked on this sport."

Paz in the 1991 Winternationals final.

Another reason that Dennis enjoyed the Vegas race was because he got to race his other car, or truck. "I have a 1965 Chevrolet El Camino that I run in Super Stock. I love it. I get to race on the 5/10ths tree and don't have to worry about throttle-stops and things like that. If I had to say which one I like the best right now I would have to say the El Camino." The Chevy, which is painted the same color as the Willys, made a good impression on a lot of people at the national event. "I get a lot of comments and compliments on it. Like the Willys, there just aren't that many of them around any more." When I asked Dennis how he obtained the El Camino he said that he traded for it. "I had a customer who wanted a brake job and he said that he'd trade me the El Camino for it. Obviously I jumped at the chance." And this wasn't some junkyard car, either. "I went to his house, fired it up and drove it home." That may be the best trade since that Manhattan deal long ago!!

Paz's '65 El Camino

The two cars are both very competitive and very attractive. "I painted them alike on purpose," Dennis said. "My Willys was green for a long time but I banged it up at Sacramento a few years ago and needed to re-paint it. Since green isn't supposed to be a lucky color on race cars, I settled on this color." Called "Starburst Orange," a color made popular on the Chevrolet HHR, and featured on both of his cars, the two are easy to spot at the races. "Besides being unique cars, they're probably the only ones painted like that," Dennis said. But the color and the style, and the fact that his father was with him at Las Vegas, are just a few of the reasons why Dennis enjoys racing these days. "The other reason, and the real reason why I love the El Camino," he said, "is because my brother, James, was instrumental in building it with me. Unfortunately he passed away right before it was completed and he never got to see it race."

The Willys at Vegas

While Dennis continues to run his trusty Willys, and while he races his El Camino to honor his brother, he does admit that he has thought about stepping up to a newer model of car in Super Gas. "I bought a roadster and an old Pro Stock Car. I tried them both in Super Gas and it just wasn't the same. I sold one and still have the other but I don't think I'll be racing them any time soon." Another thing that he doesn't plan on doing anytime soon is retiring. "As long as I enjoy it, which I do, I'll keep racing." Of course the fact that his daughter, Stephanie, is doing well with her racing career, is another thing that keeps him going. "She was doing very well, in fact she is in the top ten in points at Infineon Raceway and she won 'Best Appearing Crew' at last year's national event there. But she is a nurse and her job keeps her away from the track now, but when she does race she is very good."

Stephanie and crew won "Best Appearing Crew" last year at Sonoma.

Dennis, with the help of his wife, will be at Infineon this week racing in two classes and then he'll leave the cars there, go back to work, and return in a week for the Lucas Oil divisional race. "It makes it a lot easier when they are close like that. The costs keep going up and it's tough to race as much as I used to." And even though he may not race as much as he once did, Dennis still loves it as much as he always did. "As long as I can get to the track I'll be racing." And he'll be easy to find. Just look for the classic Willys and the '65 El Camino. And if you can't find them, just look for the Sunburst Orange cars, there won't be many of them at the track. Or you could just look in the winner's circle.

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