Shandon Takayama took the Muscle V8 class by just 26 inches in a double break-out in the finals of the National Dragster Challenge Sunday at Kaua‘i Raceway Park. The finals wrapped up two days of racing hosted by the Garden
Shandon Takayama took the Muscle V8 class by just 26 inches in a double break-out in the finals of the National Dragster Challenge Sunday at Kaua‘i Raceway Park.
The finals wrapped up two days of racing hosted by the Garden Isle Racing Association in Mana; the event was bolstered by the car show Saturday coordinated by the West Kaua‘i Main Street program.
Takayama took the class Sunday aboard his 1969 Chevy Z28 Camaro, leaving the line on a .080 light to run an 11.91 ET at 114.68 mph, breaking out on his 11.95 dial-in.
Bill Norris, piloting a 1966 Chevy El Camino, captured the Saturday race on a 0.136 light to run a 14.69 ET at 61.37 mph on a 12.03 dial-in, but broke out on a greater margin than Takayama, Sunday, the El Camino leaving the line on a 0.132 light to run an 11.95 ET reaching 110.18 mph on a 12.03 dial-in. Bill earned the Closest to Dial-In during the Sunday run, getting the nod on a 12.03003 ET on his 12.03 dial-in.
Aaron Norris, driving a 1985 Chevy Camaro, topped the Street class on another double break-out, leaving the line on a .058 light to run a 15.13 ET at 88.88 mph on his 15.14 dial-in. His run bettered the breakout by Ryan Stiglmeier, who drove his 2007 Mustang off the line on a .165 light to run a 14.26 ET at 101.33 mph, breaking out on his 14.32 dial-in.
Aaron topped the Saturday runs over Brad Chikahiro, the Camaro leaving on a 0.111 light to run a 15.19 ET at 84.27 mph over his 15.14 dial-in. Chikahiro’s 1991 Honda CRZ left on a 0.169 light to run a 16.12 ET at 78.2 mph on his 16.00 dial-in.
Wendall Nonaka was the victim of some tough runs in his 1987 Buick Regal.
Saturday, Nonaka settled for the runner-up spot in the Pro ET class, leaving on a 0.093 light to run a 10.92 ET at 109.67 mph, breaking out on his 10.93 dial-in. On Sunday, Nonaka did not finish the run, relinquishing the class to Franklin Fontanilla, whose 1968 Camaro left the line on a .394 light to run an 11.66 ET at 94.43 mph over his 11.28 dial-in.
Nonaka settled for Closest to Dial-In, Saturday, running a 10.932 ET on his 10.930 dial-in.
Walt Barnes, who red-lighted for the runner-up spot in the Saturday Muscle V8 class, had the best reaction time at .001.
Guy Montemayor, driving a 1967 Chevy Nova SS, topped Nonaka on Saturday with a 0.059 light to run a 10.43 ET at 131.71 mph on his 10.28 dial-in. Montemayor also copped the lowest reaction time Sunday on a .00100.
Jon Nakamura topped the Bike class, Sunday on his 2009 Honda 600 CBR, leaving on a .127 light to run an 11.84 ET at 98.17 mph on his 11.81 dial-in. That run earned him top billing over Marci Calvillo, whose 2005 Buell XB 1200 left the line on a .053 light to run a 12.23 ET at 109.04 mph on a 11.95 dial-in.
Calvillo topped the Bike class Saturday, leaving on a .051 light to run a 12.17 ET at 110.07 mph on a 11.87 dial-in. That run bettered David Hudcovic’s 2005 Yamaha, leaving on a .189 light to run a 12.80 ET at 96.09 mph, breaking out on a 12.82 dial-in.
Gino Pegeder captured the Sport Compact class Sunday in his 1991 Honda Civic, leaving the line on a .161 light to run a 13.09 ET at 99.39 mph on a 12.85 dial-in. Runner-up honors went to Ricky Imada piloting a 2001 Toyota Tacoma on a .376 light to run an 11.88 ET at 112.1 mph on a 11.70 dial-in.
Elena Kealoha captured the class Saturday in her 1956 VW Bug, leaving on a .086 light to run a 12.90 ET at 102.8 mph on her 12.90 dial-in. Runner up honors went to Ricky Uemura, whose 1993 Honda Civic left on a .119 light to run an 11.99 ET at 101.61 mph on a 11.99 dial-in.
Dan Nanbu settled for dual runner-up berths after dropping to Kevin Rapozo Saturday and Calvin Costa Sunday.
Nanbu’s 1969 Camaro Z28 left Saturday on a .133 light to run an 8.66 ET at 158.29 mph on a 8.75 dial-in, dropping to Rapozo’s 2008 Spitzer Dragster, which left on a .06 light to run a 7.44 ET at 172.38, breaking out on his 7.45 dial-in.
Sunday, Nanbu left on a .109 light to run an 8.80 ET at 159.47 mph on a 8.75 dial-in, dropping to Costa’s 1923 Ford T Bucket that left on a .101 light to run an 8.62 ET at 154.20 mph on an 8.60 dial-in.
Gabby Buist also settled for dual runner-up spots after red lighting, Sunday to give the Junior Dragster class to Nalu Barros. Saturday, Buist’s junior dragster sponsored by Kevin’s Auto Repair, KAM Tire Center, and Sports Craft Racing, left the line on a .125 light to run a 7.87 ET reaching 82.72 mph on a 7.90 dial-in.
That run couldn’t catch Donaven Gomes who left on a .038 light to run a 9.18 ET at 60.57 mph on a 9.00 dial-in.
Barros’ Sunday run had the junior dragster leaving on a .151 light to run a 9.10 ET at 71.66 mph on a 8.89 dial-in.
The next GIRA race will be a day race when the Kaua‘i Raceway Park in Mana hosts the Bike Shootout Oct. 2, the second-to-last race of the 2010 calendar.
Gates open at 9 a.m. for spectators with Test ‘n Tune runs being held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and eliminations starting at 2 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
Visit www.dragrace-kauai.com for more information.