The Garden Island Motorcycle Club hosted the Labor Day Hare and Hound race in Omao this past weekend. About 140 riders of varying expertise levels participated in the extreme enduro event. The objective is to collect checks along the trail.
The Garden Island Motorcycle Club hosted the Labor Day Hare and Hound race in Omao this past weekend.
About 140 riders of varying expertise levels participated in the extreme enduro event. The objective is to collect checks along the trail. The rider who collects all the checks, or whoever presents the most of them, and gets to the finish first is the winner.
“It went great. It was a little wet, and it made it more challenging,” said GIMC president Bertram Almeida. “It’s one of the hardest races in America, as far as dirt bikes go. Just finishing the race, to go around and get all your checks, it’s a huge accomplishment. Only three riders got a majority of the checks.”
Almedia added the event itself is part of the legacy, not only of the motorcycle club, but to Kauai and the sport itself.
“It is known as the longest-consecutive motorcycle race in American history. We’re recognized as the ones that invented the sport,” Almeida said. “It’s just that we’ve been doing it for so long on the island that nobody knew about it.”
“Sixty-one years (running). It’s a legacy,” he added. “The club started in 1945. It is a subculture, but nonetheless it is a culture. It should be celebrated and recognized.”
Kealoha Estrella, of Kapahi, was the overall winner of the race. He collected all 15 checks and checked in just before 4 p.m. The race began around 8:30 in the morning.
“It was good fun, but brutal. It was super muddy with all this hurricane action — some flooding. It was tough. Super tough,” Estrella said Wednesday. “Last year, the trail was longer. But this year, it was a lot muddier. That was the big challenge — a lot muddier and a little tighter.”
He also won the event last year. He said he was excited to have won it again, considering he’s turning 40 next week.
“Yeah, I was definitely stoked. I wasn’t sure if I still got it at my age,” Estrella said.
He added he plans to enter again next year and “give those young boys another run for it.”
Almedia said next year’s event will probably be held at a different site. Where it will be held is to be determined.
“What the club likes to do is let the mountain heal,” he said. “We cut the trails and everything. So we let everything grow back and let it heal itself, and we go ride someplace else.”
Results
A Class Overall
Kealoha Estrella, 15 checks, 3:40 p.m.
Eli Camara, 9 checks, 2:30 p.m.
Grayson Gonsalves, 9 checks, 2:37 p.m.
Travis Talbo, 9 checks, 2:38 p.m.
Janoah Corba, 8 checks, 2:51 p.m.
B Class Overall
Erik Rita, 12 checks, 12:35 p.m.
Brandon Kanei, 12 checks, 1:32 p.m.
Kaipo Pavao, 11 checks, 11:25 a.m.
Ashley Rita, 11 checks, 12:02 p.m.
Keith Miyoshi Jr., 11 checks, 12:05 p.m.
A Open
Grayson Gonsalves, 9 checks, 2:37 p.m.
Travis Talbo, 9 checks, 2:38 p.m.
Janoah Corba, 8 checks, 2:51 p.m.
Casey Satterfield, 8 checks, 3:51 p.m.
Chris Satterfield, 7 checks, 3:11 p.m.
A Vets 35+
Kealoha Estrella, 15 checks, 3:40 p.m.
Eli Camara, 9 checks, 2:30 p.m.
Makalii Andrade, 7 checks, 1:39 p.m.
Marshall Camara, 6 checks, 1:57 p.m.
Bruce Javellana, 6 checks, 2:02 p.m.
A Masters 45+
Wayne Rhoden, 5 checks, 1:20 p.m.
Kevin Weston-Webb, 5 checks, 1:32 p.m.
Eric Nagao, 5 checks, 1:50 p.m.
Jason Hepa, 5 checks, 2:03 p.m.
Clayton Dabin, 5 checks, 6:33 p.m.
B Juniors 18 and under
Keith Miyoshi Jr., 11 checks, 12:05 p.m.
Ryan Nakamura, 6 checks, 12:20 p.m.
Koby Kashima-Gamayo, 6 checks, 1:20 p.m.
Tyler Guard, 6 checks, 1:44 p.m.
Dusten Burdett, 5 checks, 1:42 p.m.
B Open
Erik Rita, 12 checks, 12:35 p.m.
Brandon Kanei, 12 checks, 1:32 p.m.
Kaipo Pavao, 11 checks, 11:52 a.m.
Ashley Rita, 11 checks, 12:02 p.m.
Jameson Smith, 11 checks, 1:25 p.m.
B Masters 45+
Dave Dawson, 5 checks, 1:37 p.m.
Verald Burdett, 4 checks, 1:59 p.m.
Gilbert Nobrega, 3 checks, 1:23 p.m.
Keith Miyoshi, 2 checks, 1:09 p.m.
Jerry Soares, 2 checks, 1:15 p.m.
B Makules 55+
Ernie Tamashiro, 4 checks, 3:26 p.m.
Billy Carvahlo, 7 checks, 5:04 p.m.
Clayton Chong, 1 check, 1:34 p.m.
George Ferge, 1 check, 1:34 p.m.
Robert Rycewicz, 0 checks, 4:17 p.m.
B Wahine
Ann Blair, 7 checks, 5:04 p.m.
Fran Kahalepuna, 3 checks, 1:04 p.m.
Haleloke Ford, 3 checks, 1:16 p.m.
Leia Latronic, 3 checks. 2:04 p.m.
Darla Paet, 2 checks, 12:01 p.m.
