It’s that time again to get muddy. The Garden Island Motorcycle Club, along with Kuhio Kustoms by Kuhio Auto Group, will host the third annual Mud Out on Aug. 13 in Omao. “It’s getting more and more popular, I guess,
It’s that time again to get muddy.
The Garden Island Motorcycle Club, along with Kuhio Kustoms by Kuhio Auto Group, will host the third annual Mud Out on Aug. 13 in Omao.
“It’s getting more and more popular, I guess, every year,” said GIMC President Bertram Almeida on Tuesday. “I think it’s a combination of a few things. I think, first of all, it’s something unique for people to do — something different and something exciting. Of course, everybody likes excitement.
“And it has legacy, too. There’s a bit of nostalgia because it used to be done in the 80s,” he continued. “There’s a bunch of older individuals who’ve shared stories of their experiences when they were young — about the kids’ age now or about their grandkids’ age, and how they used to go to the mud outs. So, the kids maybe are a little inspired, or whatever, to go check it out for themselves.”
The objective is for drivers to ride their vehicles as far and as fast as possible through a mud pit. The pit will be in-between 200-300 feet long and about three feet deep.
“We extended the pit longer, probably about 100-150 feet longer than the original pit,” Almeida said. “And they’re putting in a little roller in the center, so you might see some action. These guys might get, you know, I don’t want to say they’re going to jump it but it’s going to be an obstacle in the center.”
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in each of five classes — 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder, 8-cylinder, diesel and modified. A total of $6,000 will be awarded. Diesel is a new class this year.
“To keep things safe, we took out the nitrous category,” Almeida said. “We made a few modifications to some of the rules. It’s just to keep things on the safer side.”
Registration fee is $50 for each driver and there’s a two-person limit for each vehicle.
Forms should be available by this weekend at both Kuhio Auto Group’s Ford and Chevrolet dealership in Lihue and online at the club’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GardenIslandMotorcycleClub.
Only the first 60 cars entered will be ensured spots for competition, Almeida said.
“If we got a spot open the day of, they can sign up. But I can tell you the spots fill up fast,” he said. “I think last year, we filled up 70 percent of it within the first two weeks of when the applications were sent out because we got a lot of guys coming down from Oahu and Maui.”
“I think another thing, too, is the other islands, I guess, used to have them — Maui and Oahu. (Now), they don’t have the usage for the land. They don’t have anybody doing it,” Almeida added. “That’s why we get a lot of people from outer islands that are coming to the event.”
Also part of the event is the Dash For Cash, in which spectators can enter the contest and run through the mud pit for a $100 cash prize at the finish line. There will be three dashes varying by age group.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. The gates in Omao will open 7 a.m.
Food and refreshments will be available. A free fish pond and shave ice for kids will also be present. There will also be carnival games and music.
“For the price that you pay, the $10 and the $5 for an all-day event, … for kids just in the shave ice and fish pond, they get their money back immediately,” Almeida said. “That’s not even counting the Dash For Cash, where the kids can run through the mud and get $100. The only thing is they got to get a little dirty.”
Info: Almeida, 651-3000. www.kuhiokustoms.com.
