KAPA‘A – A sprained ankle won’t keep Lance Corpuz away, Sunday. “I’ve been in every hare and hound so far, and I keep getting dreams every night so I know it’s getting closer,” Corpuz said while shopping for items at
KAPA‘A – A sprained ankle won’t keep Lance Corpuz away, Sunday.
“I’ve been in every hare and hound so far, and I keep getting dreams every night so I know it’s getting closer,” Corpuz said while shopping for items at the Garden Island Motorsports, Tuesday. “I’m weaning myself off crutches so hopefully, I can ride, Sunday.”
Ron Victorino, general manager of Garden Island Motorsports, and Bertram Almeida, a trail cutter for the Sunday event, suggested Corpuz have RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) to help him prepare.
Gates to the 2nd Annual Oma‘o Hare and Hound/Poker Run will open at 7 a.m., Sunday, with the first races going off at 9 a.m. at the Oma‘o track located a mile past the Maluhia, or Tree Tunnel, intersection heading west, or about a half mile east of the Oma‘o Road intersection on Kaumuali‘i Highway (Hwy 50).
A riders’ meeting will be held Friday at the Kaua‘i Harley-Davidson in Puhi starting at 7 p.m.
“This is the last chance people have to pre-register,” Victorino said.
Pre-registration is $25, or $30 on the day of the race. Entry forms can be found at all motorcycle shops around the island, or downloaded from www.mxfiveo.com. Registration on race day takes place from 7:30-8:30 a.m.
“A” Trail, or experts, and “B” Trail, or intermediate, riders will be in the Hare and Hound Class.
“We have something for everybody,” Victorino said. “Any of the off-road vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, at any age, or skill level is welcome.”
Between the Hare and Hound Class and the Poker Run classes, Victorino said a special mountain bike race will be started.
“The Kaua‘i Fire Department, the lifeguards, the U.S. Navy and teams from several of the restaurants will be joined by some professionals from the Mainland and some O‘ahu riders in the 3-mile mountain bike course,” said Almeida, Victorino noting the mountain bikers will be released between the Hare and Hound and Poker Run classes.
Victorino and Almeida said the goal of the event which is expected to draw a minimum of 500 riders in all classes, is to create a more family atmosphere.
To this end, there will be live entertainment kicking off with Almeida’s brother Bernard. Other groups include the Purple Van and Titus Kinimaka and the Kaua‘i Boys.
“We’ll have a food booth, one of several, offering a variety of food to benefit the Kaua‘i Adult Volleyball Association that has Stan Lazaro as president,” Almeida said. “The whole thing is so family will have things to do instead of just dropping off the rider and having to wait around for couple of hours.”
Victorino noted that this year’s event is a joint effort between the Kaua‘i Motocross Association and the Garden Island Motorcycle Club which Clay Oshita is trying to revive.
“Part of the proceeds will help this effort,” Victorino said. “Another goal is to show the large segment of the population involved in motorcycle and off-road motor activity. The Labor Day Hare and Hound race is more than 50 years old after being started by GIMC. That’s older than most canoe clubs.”
Victorino and Almeida agreed that it took a lot of hands working for more than three months to prepare the site for Sunday’s race.
Heading the list of volunteers beside Victorino and Almeida, Karl Ramirez is the Trailmaster, Ralph Villabrille created the “D” class trail, and many businesses like A&B Hawai‘i, the Knudsen Foundation, Bill Cowren, Bacon Universal, Earthworks Pacific, Kaua‘i Lumber, Fredstan Kaluahine, Kaua‘i Commercial and DMB-Kuku‘iula provided more than $60,000 work of equipment, land use and manpower to make the race a reality.
For more information, call Victorino at 634-4228, or Brian Baretto at 651-6453.
