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the California Racers Reunion. She changed the name to the California Racers Reunion to reflect the fact that more non-Jalopy racers were attending her events and that many of the jalopy racers objected to the name jalopy. These men, like Parnelli Jones, did start in Jalopy racing and were proud of it, but eventually they progressed into other forms of automotive racing where they achieved the bulk of their success and fame. The California Racers Reunion had such an impact that from Hila’s example I formed the Boat Racers Reunion using nearly the same structure that Hila had worked out. The California Racers Reunion and the Boat Racers Reunion attracted crowds well in excess of 300 or more people and vintage racecars and raceboats. The impact of these reunions were felt across the country and developed special honorary or hall of fame awards recognizing the special men and women in motorsports racing.
Hila is the life and energy behind the California Racers Reunion (CRR). It takes a special person who is loved and respected to get people to stop what they are doing and make the effort to attend these events. She is just that sort of person. Any other individual would try to do such an event and people would just say, “sorry, but I’m busy that weekend.” I know because I’ve tried and it isn’t easy putting on reunions and getting people to change their busy schedules. Hila will be the first to tell you that she is just as much sinner as saint and that people whom she raced against either love or dislike her. She overcomes these emotions with a love for automotive racing that is genuine and real and as deep as the deepest oceans. Many of the old time racers, fans, friends and family of the drivers come to these reunions to see Hila and each other. She is a very special lady and these are very special racers. She began life as Hila Bunch and learned to box from her father. She lived in a tough neighborhood and her father wanted to teach her how to protect herself. Troy Ruttman, Chuck Hulse and Leroy Neumayer grew up in the same area. Life was tough and the times demanded strength, especially during World War II. She married a master of a mechanic in Ummie Paulson. Ummie and Hila encouraged a young Parnelli Jones to drive for them, starting a lifetime friendship with the 1963 Indy 500 champ. Rodger Ward used to say, “Parnelli Jones was the most talented race car driver that ever lived.” Rodger should know, he won the Indy 500 in 1959, 1962 and almost won it three or four other times. Hila’s tumultuous marriage to Ummie ended and she married Bob Sweet. She had eight children and she enjoyed watching them racecars and motorcycles. But Hila also loved to race and she was no pushover.
Hila drove any car that she could talk her way into. Usually the men would race and if there were any time left in the program they would have a powder puff match between the women who were going with the male drivers. Gradually a women’s league developed and people called them “Powder Puff Derbies,” which the women drivers despised. The women preferred the term “Lady Leadfoots” and they were a tenacious group. Hila was the best of them all and that was saying something. Women such as Rocky Stoner, Edith Klessig, Doris Elenburg, Renee Smith, Evelyn Pratt, Irene Klepheart, Lorraine Strahlman, Ellen Phipps, Virginia Polstein and Betty Townsend tour up the track in a furious effort to show that women could drive fast too. The original Lady Leadfoots raced all over California and included Edna Bunch Bates, Esta Cornet, Mary Jo Erikson, Sheryl Thomas, Goldie Kirka, Lorraine Gwynn, Penny Porter, Mary Taylor, Marge Turner, Mopsy Pagan, Pat Olson, Vicky Jones, Dolly Holbert and Hila Paulson. Edna Bates was Hila’s sister and “was the only girl driver that could consistently beat my ass early on,” said Hila. But she was pure dynamite. Hila once won 58 races in a row and her style got her banned from the women’s league. Promoters would match race her against the track hero and the fans would come in droves to see the race. The men would cut each other up and run them into the wall for the sheer pleasure of doing it. But with Hila it was different. They figured that she was simply a woman, slower and less talented and they take it easier on her, then win the race at the end. It was the gentlemanly thing to do after all. Hila, on the other hand, had no use for such deference and simply started out down low and came up against the male driver, forcing him into the wall or to back off the accelerator. Then she was gone and she wasn’t going to be caught. "When I raced a semi or a main with the men, I ALWAYS chose to start dead last so if I had passed them from behind I figured I didn't have to worry about them gunning for me. Also, I knew starting up front I might as well put an X marks the spot on my car," she said. Many a sheepish male driver slinked away into the pits rather than be teased by his male competitors. Soon, so many of them had joined the victims on her list that they no longer felt any shame. How can anyone refuse Hila’s invitation?
Bob Sweet is as gentle as a lamb until someone tries to take advantage of Hila. Then he is a two fisted champion of his wife’s honor. When she needs help he answers the call. When the reunion goes into the red, he is there to help. When poorly chosen words are directed at Hila, Bob is there to protect her honor. Bob and Hila will always make a perfect team. They have been married for 44 years. But Hila has other men and women in her life and they include hundreds of racers, fans, friends, promoters and family. She calls them her “peeps” and they are special to her. She works nearly half of each year to prepare and plan the reunion. The food has to be the best. She makes sure that finger foods and coffee are available all day long during her event. She fusses over the programs, decorations, award, door prizes and little details of the reunion like a dedicated mother hen. When the time comes and the show must go on, as tired as she is, Hila is the most radiant and beautiful woman present. Many people volunteer to help her put on the reunion and without them she couldn’t succeed, but we all know that in the end it is her show and she does most of the work. Parnelli Jones is the person she confides in, her confessor. Harold Osmer puts together the outstanding programs. Jim Sheridan from Ford of Upland makes sure that Hila never goes into the red on these reunions. Steve and Glenn Howard at So-Cal Performance also provide financial assistance that is invaluable. Steve Lewis is another financial supporter. The Lady Leadfoots show up to help out every year. Hila’s family is always there to help out. The list of contributors and sponsors is too long to list, but without them this reunion would go into the red ink each year.
They all started out as jalopy racers. Stock cars rescued from junkyards and parts lying around garages. The jalopies looked awful and ugly. So ugly in fact that they were beautiful to those who raced them. Most of the jalopies came out of junkyards and ended up there after their racing days were over. Racers started in jalopy racing because it was affordable and if they got better or found a ride in track roadsters, midgets, sprint cars or champ cars they moved on. But make no mistake, jalopy racing was exciting and the racers were some of the best. It was where a driver could go to learn how to be a racer. You could roll over and the volunteers would roll you back over and you were off again in a hopeless effort to catch up. You could bang into others and bounce off and keep going. Walls barely held the jalopies on the track and many went through the wooden barriers and down an embankment. Mounds of dirt were piled up to provide a cheap barrier and cars would bounce up and over then plow right back through the obstacle and back on course. Spinouts excited the fans and the cars would often slide sideways and even backwards until they righted themselves and sped off. Sometimes tempers would flair and drivers would get out of their cars and throw a few punches, often during a race. There wasn’t a lot of money but good drivers could make a living and poor drivers had bragging rights in their neighborhoods. Some of the jalopy racers included Parnelli Jones, Fred Russell, Billy Wilkerson, Bobby Hogle, Termite Snyder, Johnny Vine, Mel Allen, Tony Oskie, Mario Ramos, Eddie Gray, Bob Ross, Ed Van Eyk, Wild Dick Barry, Marvin Porter, Danny Letner, Don Johns, Scotty Cain, Don Noel, Bob Bowman, Chuck and Eddie Hulse. Chuck Hulse and Jones would go on to race at the Indy 500. “Eddie Hulse was on the first cover of Hot Rod magazine at El Mirage and involved in running Hot Rods with the early S.C.T.A.,” Hila told me. “Chuck Hulse and I have known each other since we were kids and I had my first match race against him when we both were barely 21 years old, at Oildale Speedway,” said Hila. The names come easily to mind now as the memory sharpens. There was Rip Erikson, Fuzzy Anderson, Kenny Parks, Ray Vodden, Chuck Guevara, Jasper Lopiccolo and his brothers, Ray Bunch, Howard Joslin, Phil Bowers, Ted Schuster, Vallie Engelauf, Jim Roessler, Bob Stanclift, and Bo Jack Johnson. Parks painted his car pink and took the heat from the other guys, explaining that if he was in an accident, it would be easy to spot him. Others chose sunflower yellow for the same reason. “Well known and popular driver Ray Bunch was my brother, as is Raleigh Bunch, who had a short career in car racing,” Hila said.
The reunion is in full swing and photo albums and bench racing bring other names from the past alive. There were Bob Dallas, Joe James, Don Brown, Freddie Thompson, Bugs Taylor, Frenchy Hindman, Freddie Tomlinson, Ummie Paulson, Paul Lopiccolo, Bill Fulton and Jack Austin. Dick “Whoa Nellie” Lane was one of our favorite announcers and we remembered his horned rimmed glasses, white teeth and gravelly voice. Jimmy Oskie, Rex Schendley, Dallas Harrison, Andy Lopiccolo and Harry Schooler attended the reunion. Schooler was a promoter who was outrageous. Good track promoters have to be outrageous in order to pack the stands. He wrote a book that gave his life’s story and handed out a few pages of it to those in attendance. It was about broads, booze and bets, the stuff of legends and great sales figures. Harry still has the knack for selling. Hila honored the following in the California Jalopy Association Hall of Fame: Rip Erikson, Tiger Nick Valenta, Rex Schendley, Danny Letner, Vallie Engelauf, Steady Eddie Gray, Bob Ross, Marvin Porter, Wild Dick Barry, Parnelli Jones, Ron Hornaday Sr, Bob ‘Lover Boy’ Hogle, Jay East, Scotty Cain, Billy Wilkerson and Jimmy Oskie. She honored the following Jalopy champions from the past; Bob Stanclift, Fred Russell and Ed Van Eyk. Hila honored the following in Hot Rod champions; Jim Roessler, Tink Elenberg and Chuck Conrad. She honored the following in Super Modifieds; George Durade, Bucky Stoner, Bennie Phillips, Jim Wood and Tom Roa Jr. Honored Stock Cars were; Arlie Scranton, Bill Foster, Cliff Garner, Jim Cook, Don Noel and Art Hendricks. She honored Nester Silveira and Jim Penney in Claimers. The Women’s Jalopy Champions that were honored included; Rocky Stoner, Edith Klessig, Virginia Polstein, Dolly Holbert and Hila Paulson. The following passed away and were honored by the reunion; Termite Snyder, Johnny Vine, Goldie Kirka, Mel Allen, Tony Oskie and Mario Ramos.
Gone Racin’ is at [email protected].
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