Kalaeloa, Parcel 9 is the location. It is the parcel to the southwest of the runways and is bordered on the opposing side by the Tesoro Refinery. The parcel is currently owned by Dept of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and there is a supposed to be a "land swap" to acquire this parcel. DHHL has been dragging butt, as they are supposed to find a location that is more suitable for their use than parcel 9 (Somewhere homes can be built.)
Ed, this would not be to this point without a lot of effort by a few. They are asking for our support to ask our legislators to hear these Bills in committee. Lots of money, time and effort to get us where we are. Planning, design and engineering are all big $$$, and someone already foooted the bill for this...
Last session, we got stuck in the last phase. This means we resume at that point again this year.... write, email, call... but let know for the sake of Highway safety, we need a new facility...
__________________ More cars than I want to admit to...
Just of curiousity guys, if you lived on a different island than this and wanted to bring your car there for a track day, how would you do so? Ferry? Is moving a car between islands even practical/affordable?
Just something the average mainlander doesn't hear about much .
We had some Maui guys at the final drift battle on the 23rd. Dont remember what company they used but it was $168 one way and 1/2 off the return trip fee if you ship it back within a month.
There are alot of people that I know that plan to do this to continue having fun.
Yep, last night the showers eventually became a deluge. It's so frustrating going to HRP even when it's not raining, sigh. Everytime it seems there's so many delays that extend the time required to finish the races into the a.m. I think it's because the track doesn't have enough people and resources to properly manage oil-downs, dry-downs, parking, traffic, compiling statistics for the race brackets and eliminations. So, most times I just give up and go home, like last night, except that was another huge delay 'cause fools parked their cars in the traffic exits, cars couldn't get out, forcing dozens of cars to drive back and forth in a rain-created mudpit churning it into a lake of brown goo ... yeah, right up to the axle. Then the track announcer asks for volunteers from the spectators to drive their cars onto the racetrack to "dry it off" so the races hopefully continue. Wow, I was totally speechless with THAT one... There were some really nice cars there last night, best one was a 1st Gen Camaro absolute show-car quality black paint everything top-dollar 8-sec car, that lost traction at the 1/8 got sideways three times and almost took out his competitor. Scary, bet both drivers had to change their shorts after that one... Lots of people showed up, I'd guess around 500.
Well, HRP has one week to go. I've got mixed feelings on the closing of this 40-year backyard facility that enthusiasts and volunteers worked hard on to provide a racing venue. Racers and Hawaii people will suffer without a place for automotive sports and it's the responsibility of our elected officials to respond to the needs and will of the people they serve -- so everyone contact our elected officials and tell them you'll vote against them if they don't do something quick. It's all about money -- Hawaii is too isolated with too small a population to support a proper race facility through sponsorship, ticket sales and advertising. It takes big dogs like John Force and top fuel cars to sell 40,000 tickets at $100 each once a year -- logistically and financially I don't see Hawaii becoming part of the NHRA championship tour. What we're left with is a need for local, grass-roots races like any small town, so local kids and moms and pops can watch and race in a safe environment. Hope it doesn't take carnage on the highways to get our local and state governments attention on this issue...
__________________ Duck_Pearl City, HI
87 IROC-Z 5.7, 92 Z28 5.7 25th Anniversary, 92 RS 25th Anniversary, 91 RS Ragtop
Well said Duck. I am hopeful that this track or a new track will be open before I leave here in three years. Unfortunately this may be a tough thing to get done with all the beaurocratic BS involved. And as said "carnage" will most likely be seen more frequently on our rodes here due to people not having a safe venue in which to race legally. We can only hope not.
Well, I feel the same way, but here are some issues that people dont think about.
The shutdown/runoff area is actually NOT part of the HRP property the area after the existing turn 2 is actually military land (drop zone for the runways) As I understand it, not the safest for the "fast cars" like some of those out last night...
The property is sold (escrow) and who knows whether the new landowner will allow HMC to continue "short term operations" until the new facility is built, if the legislation passes.
The current facility barely meets minimum safety standards for the current venues that use it, as well as requirements of insurance companies. Being the parcel is on Agricultural land, there are things you can and cannot do there... the current variances(which are, I believe expired) allow that to happen, but restrict building anything on the property.
As I have been told, property taxes have increased 10 fold, which increase operating costs for the current property, so continued use will more than likely require an increase in gate fees even without improvements.
I could go on... but you get the gist of what I an saying.
It saddens me that I will not be able to participate in the final bash next weekend, as I will be working. I hope there will be a venue to race on when I finally finish my Monte with the new drivetrain.
__________________ More cars than I want to admit to...
Well said Duck. I am hopeful that this track or a new track will be open before I leave here in three years. Unfortunately this may be a tough thing to get done with all the beaurocratic BS involved. And as said "carnage" will most likely be seen more frequently on our rodes here due to people not having a safe venue in which to race legally. We can only hope not.
It's possible that the state and local governments are concerned with safety concerns of having a safe place to race, including dirt, drag, road and drifting, but I've not seen an elected official stand up and say something must be done. It will likely take piles of twisted cars and bodies on roadways to have politicians gasp with horror and say something politically correct, like, "how could this have happened...?" Problem is a racetrack involves only a few thousands of people, not hundreds of thousands like those who protested the VanCams. I think it's tragic that people in Hawaii are deprived of an adequate racetrack. Fortunately, I won't have to concern myself with it for much longer, as I'll be moving to Kingman, Arizona this year where there are two NHRA world-class championship racetracks, NASCAR, dirt, oval, etc, etc, within a couple hours drive, plus local 1/8-mile tracks in town. Sigh, I and my Z-28's can hardly wait...
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