Mike Oakland, who is holding his 17-month-old son Micah, says interest in racing is on the upswing. Photo by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

Then he provided the audio.

"Vroom. Vroooooom!"

Obviously, Micah Oakland is ready to follow in his father's gas-pedal steps.

Even at the age of 17 months.

"Yes, he's got the sound down," said 52-year-old Mike Oakland, who has been involved in Hawaii auto and motorcycle racing since he was growing up in Kailua.

"It is a hobby run amok," he said with a smile. "As a kid I was always involved in cars and stuff, but what I ended up doing originally was getting arrested by the police for car theft.

"So I was given the option of going into the service or going to jail. So I went into the Navy and practiced racing across the country."

Oakland returned to Hawaii after five years on the mainland. He is president of Hawaii Motorsports Center, which organizes the many year-round events at Hawaii Raceway Park, and is owner of Pacific Parts and Performance in Waipahu.

The father of three sons still races his dragster at Raceway Park, which is located in the Campbell Industrial Park in leeward Oahu. Does his wife, Pamela Ann Witty-Oakland, mind that he still races?

"She's my crew chief," he said.

His two other sons, Michael and Stephen, have also been active Oahu racers.

Oakland said that interest in Raceway Park events is on the upswing - and he predicted that a major international competition will eventually be held in Hawaii.

"Over the past three years it has been steadily improving, but it's not well-known," he said. "Because of the publicity we've been receiving over land and political issues, it has confused so many people who are not sure if the racetrack is open or closed.

"But the number of participants and spectators has grown over the past five years, along with the number of activities."

Oakland said that the spectators are varied in age. He also feels that racing can help young people avoid the many dangers of growing up, especially in this age of drugs and gangs.

"I met with Chief Nakamura a few months ago about the police interacting with the kids in a national program called 'Beat The Heat' where the kids can race cops," he said. "There are 74 of these programs across the nation and Nakamura was very interested.

"We're also working to develop a high school program. There is a tremendous interaction between kids and cars. There always will be. It's an excellent outlet because you have to be straight to do that kind of stuff."

What does Oakland like about racing?

"The technicality of it," he said. "I like pushing the envelope, the experimenting, the learning - the variety of things that you have to know to fully make a vehicle work."

There are still two constants, though: speed and danger.

Oakland said the cars are going faster but the racers are much safer than in the past.

"Any time you try to put a mechanical device to its limits there is danger," he said. "But when you push it past the limits, then there are crashes.

"The only nut that is loose behind the wheel is the driver. You have to know when you're at the edge, when to back down and take your foot off the throttle."

Oakland said the racing school at Raceway Park stresses safety.

"There are the technical inspectors we have now and the insurance requirements," he said. "They come out and look closely at the facilities, which just didn't happen in the past."

What advice would the veteran racer give to kids just starting out?

"The same that I gave to my kids - to stay in school," he said. "In order to learn the technologies that are out there, you have to understand the basics of math, the basics of physics, the basic natural laws which you are taught in school. Once you have that foundation, then you are able to apply it to mechanical skills that are required in today's cars."