Junior dragsters program making the grade

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

To race in the Jr. Dragster League, students between the ages of 8 and 18 must get at least a C in their core classes. Photographs by Justin Dotson • Special to The Advertiser

Tiffany Shimabuku is all strapped in and ready to race at Hawai'i Raceway Park.

Nicholas Pregill, in car, gets some advice from his father, Scott, left, before a race at Hawai'i Raceway Park.

What: Jr. Dragster League of Hawai'i Where: Hawai'i Raceway Park When: Monthly races Requirements: Participants must be a student ages 8 to 18. Report cards must be C's or better in all core subjects. Participants must pass a safety class and road test scheduled every three months. Fee: $15 membership, $25 for NHRA Jr. Dragster League Participant card. Information: George Nitta at 842-5554 or check out the jr. dragster Web site.

The one-of-a-kind program called the Jr. Dragster League of Hawai'i has grown to nearly 30 competitors and has drawn raves from parents such as Mike Nakada who have found a new activity to motivate their children at school.

Nakada's 13-year-old son, Layne Allen, is in the seventh grade at Hongwanji Mission School and is instructed to hit the schoolbooks first before he hits the gas pedal.

"It's helped my son tremendously," Nakada said. "They have to maintain a C average, but we told him at least a B average. If he wants to race, he has to maintain those good grades."

Delinquency deterrent

George Nitta, the owner of Nitta Auto Repair and a former drag racer, started the Jr. Dragster League five years ago to combat juvenile delinquency.

The program stresses academics, sportsmanship and teamwork among competitors and parents.

To join, participants must be a student from 8 to 18 years old and pass a safety class and road test every three months. In addition, report cards must be Cs or better in all core subjects.

Henry Tabios, whose son Bronson won the overall title last season, called the academic requirement a good one.

"This sport helps him grow up," Tabios said. "They have to maintain good grades. If they get bad grades, they're out."

The sport can be expensive for those who purchase their own cars that cost thousands of dollars. But the program offers three "share cars" that are rotated between participants who don't own a car.

Racing a thrill

Every participant in the program said they enjoyed the thrill of racing and competition.

"It's just so much fun to go down the track at high speeds and just race," said Layne Allen Nakada. "It's a lot more than what normal kids get to do. It's so much fun, you're dancing around afterwards."

King Intermediate School seventh-grader Bronson Tabios, 12, admitted being nervous about driving his first dragster, but he has since overcome his jitters.

"Now I just like to race," Tabios said. "When you're going down the track, your head just blows back. It's more intense than a carnival ride."

The powerful-sounding cars can be a little frightening at first, but once participants get accustomed to it, the cars become thrill machines.

"When I first drove, I was so scared because it was so noisy and the vibration," said Holly Nitta, 14, who is the daughter of George. "But after that, I decided to drive again a couple of years later."

Family affair

According to Nitta, the program also has an uncanny knack of bringing families together.

"A lot of them, the dads won't go to any of the sports functions, but when you say they are going to drag race, they go," Nitta said. "I've seen families that were split up from divorce get back together because the kids are doing something both parents want to be there for. It's a very positive thing."

Holly Nitta, who is a freshman at Sacred Hearts Academy, said she enjoys spending quality time with her family at the race track.

"I don't get to spend much time with most of (my family) because I'm so busy with other stuff like school," she said. "So Saturday nights I spend time with all of them and at the end we go to Zippy's and we eat all together."

One of the most important aspects of the program is teaching the younger generation about safe driving, Nitta said.

"These kids speeding on the road with their Hondas and stuff, they do it because they never felt what it's like to drive a race car," Nitta said.

Cars small, but fast

He said the small five-horsepower junior dragsters can cover 60 feet in little more than one second and travel on a track that is an eighth of a mile at 70 mph to 80 mph.

"Once you feel the G-Force and the power from this little car, the Honda is nothing," Nitta said. "The thrill of doing it on the road is nothing. So you don't do it on the road. If you have that urge, you'll be here.

"The kids who are racing on the road today never had the chance or the opportunity to live life on the track like these kids are doing," Nitta continued. "I guarantee you if you get them into a race car on the track with a lot of traction and driving force, they'll forget the road."

Hawai'i raceway park

April

• Tomorrow—Hawai'i Sand Drags
• 19—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Easter Night with egg hunt, and keiki ride along.
• 25—Arena Cross motorcycles
• 26—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Little Dog Destruction Derby

May

• 3—Stockcar, keiki bike races, tire relay Race
• 9—Arena Cross motorcycles
• 10—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Mother's Day, golf cart challenge
• 17—Stockcar, keiki bike races, egg and spoon race
• 24—Hawai'i Sand Drags
• 31—Stockcar, keiki bike races, three-legged race

June

• 7—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Graduation Night, lei relay race
• 14—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Father's Day kite building contest
• 20—Arena Cross motorcycles
• 21—Stockcar, keiki bike races, water balloon toss
• 28—Stockcar, keiki bike races, golf cart challenge

July

• 4—Stockcar, qualifying for mid-season championships
• 5—Stockcar, mid-season championships, keiki bike races, Big Dog Destruction Derby (V8)
• 12—Hawai'i Sand Drags
• 19—Stockcar, keiki bike races, keiki ride along night
• 26—Stockcar, keiki bike races, tug of war contest

August

• 2—Stockcar, keiki bike races, slipper race
• 9—Stockcar, keiki bike races, golf cart challenge
• 16—Stockcar, keiki bike races, pit crew challenge
• 23—Hawai'i Sand Drags
• 30—Stockcar, keiki bike races, pizza eating contest
• 31—Sunday, swap meet and "Hot Car" show contest at the track

September

• 6—Stockcar, keiki bike races, keiki ride along night
• 13—Stockcar, keiki bike races, tire relay race
• 20—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Little Dog Destruction Derby (4&^ cycle), driver interviews
• 27—Stockcar, keiki bike races, golf cart challenge

October

• 4—Hawai'i Sand Drags
• 11—Stockcar, keiki bike races, three-legged race
• 18—Stockcar, keiki bike races, slipper race
• 25—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Halloween costume contest, keiki ride along

November

• 1—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Oreo and cream race
• 8—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Veteran's Day tug of war
• 15—Hawai'i Sand Drags
• 22—Stockcar, keiki bike races, Thanksgiving prize drawing, keiki ride along
• 29—Stockcar, qualifying night for season championships, final keiki bike race, golf cart challenge championships

December

• 6—Championship Night, Little Dog Destruction Derby
• 13—Hawai'i Sand Drags