MANA — Dan Nambu drove his 1969 Camaro Z-28 with “only a prayer,” during the March 20 drag races hosted by the Garden Island Racing Association at the Kaua‘i Raceway Park. For most the day, Nambu’s Camaro was on blocks,
MANA — Dan Nambu drove his 1969 Camaro Z-28 with “only a prayer,” during the March 20 drag races hosted by the Garden Island Racing Association at the Kaua‘i Raceway Park.
For most the day, Nambu’s Camaro was on blocks, its engine plagued with fuel problems.
“We just installed some new parts. We haven’t been able to run the car all day, so we’re going into the competition with just a prayer,” Nambu said as the opening round for his Top Gun class was being announced as the Camaro growled on its short test run down the access road to the quarter-mile track.
But the prayers came up short as Nambu red-lighted, facing Bill Turk in the round.
Turk advanced through the competition, coming up short in the finals against Kevin Rapozo, driving a 2008 Spitzer dragster, leaving with a 0.199 light, running a 7.45 on a 7.36 dial-in and reaching 157.94 mph.
Turk’s 1972 Chevy Vega GT left on a 0.246 light, running a 10.76 on a 9.44 dial-in and reaching 104.94 mph.
The first drag race of the season, originally scheduled for February 27, was postponed when the threat of a tsunami materialized following a massive earthquake. Juggling between use permits of other groups using the area, the engines finally fired up March 20 at Kaua‘i Raceway Park.
Kalei Groves, 15, was proud of her pink helmet that matched her junior dragster painted also in the colors of the Hawaiian flag.
Kalei, whose dad was also in the drags, was enjoying her first race using her brother Kyle’s hand-me-down dragster and drive suit.
“The only thing new is the helmet which ‘Uncle Steve’ Lewis helped me get,” Kalei said. “I only had one run with an 8.9 ET at 70 mph.”
Kalei’s mom Terri said Kyle, currently involved in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation golf while waiting on a new car, has been in the Junior Dragster program for five years, finishing 2009 second in points before having to move on.
The Junior Dragster program puts young drivers on the track along with their parents.
Nalu Barros, whose dad Bobby is the president of the GIRA, and mom Kerri Villa, one of the race drivers on the track, has been racing for five months in his new car.
“It feels awesome,” the young Barros said. “Today, the dial-in is 8.64 at 75 mph.”
Villa said Nalu has been wanting to race for a long time, and under a family agreement used funds raised through recycling to help pay for his car as well as fuel and oil for the past races.
“He calls almost everybody he knows and asks to collect recycleables which he uses to pay for his races,” Villa said.
Gabby Buist topped the Junior Dragster class, leaving on a 0.072 light, running a 7.93 on a 7.92 dial-in and reaching 82.42 mph.
Runner up in the class went to Courtney Brock, part of the JB camp, who left on a 0.297 light, running an 8.35 on a 8.30 dial-in and reaching 79.09 mph.
A distance of just seven and a half feet separated the winners in the Pro ET class as Chris Loew’s ‘69 Che-velle/502 ended up in the winner’s circle after leaving with a 0.036 light, running a break out 10.80 over his dial-in 10.85 and reaching 115.62 mph.
Runner-up honors went to Randy Lawrence in his ‘70 Chevy Vega wagon/406, leaving with a 0.088 light, running a 9.95 break out on his 10.00 dial-in and reaching 131.61 mph.
Robby Silva took the Super Street class by 21.4 feet in his 1991 Honda CRX, leaving with a 0.081 light, running a 12.61 on a 12.55 dial-in and reaching 101.31 mph.
Another Honda, a 1993 Civic driven by Matthew Domingo, took the runner-up spot in the class, leaving on a 0.079 light, running a 13.56 on a 13.35 dial-in and topping 97.73 mph.
Larry Kalani piloted a 1991 Honda Civic to the top of the Street class, leaving with a 0.040 light, running a 14.58 on a 14.50 dial-in and reaching 93.09 mph.
Matt Torry nailed the runner-up spot in that class in a 2006 Dodge Charger RT/5.7L, leaving with a 0.103 light and running a 14.85 on a 14.60 dial-in, reaching 97.04 mph.
Michael Sanchez drove a 2006 Harley Davidson Roadster to the top spot in the Bike class, leaving with a 0.530 light, running a 12.88 on a 12.60 dial-in and reaching 100.81 mph.
Aaron Brown nailed the runner-up spot on a 2008 Honda CBR 600/600 cc, leaving with a 0.299 light, running an 11.79 break out on a 12.60 dial-in and reaching 120.22 mph.
The next scheduled drag race at the Kaua‘i Raceway Park is scheduled for April 10.
Visit www.dragrace-kauai.com for more information.
