The 62nd annual Labor Day Hare and Hound race takes place today in Anahola, hosted by the Garden Island Motorcycle Club. “We try to switch it back and forth,” said GIMC president Bertram Almeida. “The 60th was in Anahola. Last
The 62nd annual Labor Day Hare and Hound race takes place today in Anahola, hosted by the Garden Island Motorcycle Club.
“We try to switch it back and forth,” said GIMC president Bertram Almeida. “The 60th was in Anahola. Last year was in Omao. We’ll go back (to Anahola). We try to give the mountain some rest.”
There are two classes in this year’s race — the A Class for experts, and a B Class for intermediates.
About 150 to 200 riders are expected to compete this year. Among them, about 50 from Oahu, 10 from Maui and five from the Big Island will fly in to race, Almeida said.
Almeida added quite a few youngsters are set to take part as well.
“We got something like five or six kids that are under 13 who are going to do it, which is unusual,” he said. “Usually, it’s maybe one or two. But there’s more young kids that are entering the B Class.”
Those interested in entering can still do so the morning of the race.
Almeida also said he’s determined to have the race go as scheduled, despite the approaching threat of Hurricane Lester.
“I think a lot of people are considering the weather, you know?” he said. “But it looks like it’s going to be wide open. It looks like there’s going to be clear skies for us. We got a window of opportunity to run it.
“We have no intentions of canceling this thing. These guys want the carnage. They do,” he continued.
Entry fee is $70, and an additional $20 will be charged for late entrants.
The gates will open 6 a.m. today. Registration takes place from 6:30-7:30 a.m., and the race is scheduled to start at 8 a.m.
The award ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Smith’s Tropical Paradise Luau in Wailua.
Info: Almeida, 651-3000.
