|
Clash for Clunkers
|
Jim Riddiford Racin Photos
|
|
 |
|
Courtesy of:
Hawaii Motorbeat Monthly
By
Paul Maddox
The gub'ment's "Cash for Clunkers"
program may be over, but there's still some fun, if not profit, to
be had if you've got a hulking V8 that may be past its glory days on
the road. Roll it out to the Hilo Motor Speedway and enter it in the
Rear-Wheel Bomber class!
Ed Miner, honcho at the 1/4 mile dirt
oval, tells me this is the most bang-for-your-bux class you can get
started with if you want to play in the dirt. The rules are real
simple - no modifications. That means stock tires, no speed parts
and minimal safety enhancements. It ain't elegant racing, but it is
pure fun racing.
You start with a good running beater
and strip off any glass, chrome and plastic trim that may get
whacked off in spirited competition. You do need the original seat
belts for obvious reasons, and a wire mesh windshield, simple halo
roll bar with two down tubes and an easy to get to kill switch. A
basic window net from Summit - or cargo netting - is also needed for
the driver side window. And you go racin'!
Just about any old clunker can race. A
recent winner has been the '83 Mercedes-Benz(!) of Josh Timmer. The
4,000 lb. beast gracefully slides around the dirt track with its
comfy stock seats and is so big its hard to get around it. So, if a
Benz can win, you know you'll have some fun in that old Monte Carlo
or Mustang you thought was all used up. Call Ed for more details
(808) 965-9910, or just show up at the Hilo Motor Speedway, next to the
drag strip, on October 10th or 24th ~ for their last races of the
season.
Racing to the oh-nine finish line.
Speaking of the last races of the season... all the Big Isle
motorsports groups are winding down 2009 in the next few months.
This is when the points races are the tightest and competition the
hottest, so try to catch some of the final events to fulfill your
need-for-speed.
Big Island Auto Club: the drags are
coming to a roaring conclusion with the BIAC season-finale on
October 10th & 11th. Brad Miprano can give you more scoops.
(808) 969-9040
Big Island Hot Rod Assoc.: The Outlaw
drags actually run right thru the end of the year, with monthly run-whatcha-brung
street racing on Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 19th. Alan Martins can
give you the 411 by calling him at (808) 960-3124.
808 MX/ATV Assoc. also runs right to
the end, with motocross for keiki and adult riders at the Hilo
raceway track on the weekends of Oct. 24 & 25, Nov. 7 & 8 and Dec. 5
& 6. Crystal can give you the details at (808) 959-8463
The Big Island Region of the SCCA will
be wringing out the twists and turns of the Solo course at the Hilo
track a couple more times this year, too. Call Barbara at 443-3000
for info on their Oct. 25 and Nov. 29 events.
The Big Island Kart Club races
rain-or-shine on Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5 at the Hilo facility to
finish up their season of fast family fun with their okoles 2" from
the asphalt. Tom can tell you more: (808) 939-9746
So, get it in gear and wrap up the
year with some full-tilt racing action!
Also in the October edition...
Great
old photos of both Hawaii Raceway Park from the pages of Hawaii
Racing News AND the Kahuku drags in the early 1960s courtesy of Stu
Copp.
And don't miss the multi-page layout
of Don Pierce's homemade hot rod. Some guys still actually build
them themselves!
For those of you that liked Bruce
Wheeler's photos from the Maui Dragstrip last month, below is the
link to the whole story about Bruce and his famous "Wheeler Dealer"
Top Fueler.
Enjoy! ~ Paul Maddox,
Hawaii Motorbeat Monthly
More from Paul Maddox at:
www.hawaiimotorbeat.com
|
