Racetrack Plans Make Some Headway, Finally

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After two years sitting idle, Oahu racers may finally be heading back to the track.

In July, Save Oahu’s Race Track signed a two-year, month-to-month lease with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to use a 35-acre spot of land in Kalaeloa, known as Parcel 24, to build an oval dirt track for stock cars, dirt bikes and ATVs. A mud bog also could be added in the near future.

Evelyn Souza, SORT spokes-woman, says work to install the track could begin as soon as next month if all the permits are in order. From there, cars could once again be racing legally at the former Barbers Point within the year.

“We are still trying to eyeball the end of the year,” she said. “We’re about three months behind in our initial time line, so it could be the end of this year or the beginning of the next.”

The cost for installing the dirt track and getting the site ready for racing has been estimated at $175,000. Souza said the cost will be offset by drivers and supporters.

“Most of the projects will be done with in-kind services from a variety of people - construction, electricians, accountants, professional people, white collar, blue collar - they are all coming out here to help us do this,” she said.

While the organization was working on the deal with DHHL, it still hopes for a favorable ruling on the condemnation hearings that would allow the county to buy the former Hawaii Raceway Park (HRP) from a private developer and turn it into a recreation area for the purpose of racing. Souza says that even if the old raceway became available before SORT’s lease has expired, she will not consider the time and money invested to be wasted.

“Most of the money that we’re putting is coming from the racers themselves. These are the people, the supporters and the organizers, but it’s money well-spent. If we got an extra six months, it’s that important to us. You can’t put a dollar figure on a recreational activity that we’ve been doing for decades.”

If the former HRP site is purchased by the city, Souza said racers themselves are willing to sign a lease so the maintenance cost of the site does not fall on taxpayers.

A second phase calls for installing an asphalt drag strip and spots for drifters and Sports Car Club of America racing. This portion is expected to cost about $1.5 million.

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