WAIMEA — Seth Morales earned Top Qualifier honors in addition to taking the top slot in the 4wd nitro sedan “A” class Saturday. Aaron Arizo, one of the early leaders during the preliminary races hosted by the Garden Isle R/C
WAIMEA — Seth Morales earned Top Qualifier honors in addition to taking the top slot in the 4wd nitro sedan “A” class Saturday.
Aaron Arizo, one of the early leaders during the preliminary races hosted by the Garden Isle R/C racers, said the TQ honor is based on the number of laps a racer achieves during the race.
Arizo, who has been racing for four years, finished in third place in the 4wd nitro sedan “A” class below Morales and Jose Ancheta.
Ian Ruiz and Dimi Rivera rounded out the division.
Earlier in the day, Arizo said he finished first in his opening heat, but slipped to third in another qualifying heat.
He said the races are “fast, but expensive.”
“A full pro race kit can run $1,200,” the veteran racer said. “There are starter kits that have everything for around $400, but most people want to win so they go all-out and try to get the most they can afford.”
Roland Ruiz battled hard against Bongie Gorospe in the 4wd nitro sedan “B” class, the racers screaming their scale-model vehicles through the course set up in the back parking lot of the West Kaua‘i Technology Center.
According to race coordinator Arnold Morales, the pair exchanged leads throughout the race and Ruiz was able to secure the win by just a slight margin.
Following the pair, Bart Garcia, who initiated his son Ian into gas-powered racing, filled in third place followed by Randy Alcantara and Ian.
“He just wanted to come and race today,” said Bart, a 10-year racing veteran. “Last night, he came and said, ‘Can I race with you folks?’”
During the preliminary races, hard luck befell the young Garcia as his racer, trying to keep pace with leaders Jose Ancheta and Ian Ruiz, slammed his vehicle into a far wall triggering Seth Morales, acting as a course marshal, into action to retrieve the stricken vehicle.
Upon returning to the pit tent, Bart looked at the vehicle, noting that one of the titanium turnbuckles was broken.
“You sure hit that turn hard,” he told his son. “Titanium usually just bends, but to break it, you had a hard hit.”
Arnold Morales said the Saturday race marks the return of the racers to the track following a period of grief and mourning for one of the group’s best drivers, Dennis Ginez, who was killed during an accident on a visit to the Philippines.
“He was one of our top racers,” Arnold said. “A lot of the drivers were affected by his passing, and we all lost a good friend.”
That mourning period combined with bad weather conditions forced cancellation of races.
However, Saturday’s race ran under clear skies and a blazing hot sun.
The scream of nitro-powered engines re-energized the racers and Arnold said the next race for the group will be on March 9 starting at 10 a.m. at the Kmart back parking lot.
There is no admission fee to watch the competition.
For more information, call Arnold at 639-9314.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
