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Keeping Score
WITH traffic on H-1 such a mess lately, doesn't being able to go a quarter of a mile in 10 seconds sound appealing? Branch loves living
life in the fast laneOn Saturday, it will be legal. At least for Donelle Branch and the other drivers competing at Hawaii Raceway Park.
The Import Drag Racing Circuit has made Honolulu its eighth stop on the $1 million 10-event national tour.
Saturday's Toyota-sponsored Aloha Nationals will feature world class professional race cars and race car drivers.
"Our customers deserve the opportunity to experience this and it's our job to provide it,'' said Jeb Onweiler, the raceway's general manager.
"We are bringing these world class imports over here to race because we feel it's important to present top-notch motorsports entertainment here on Oahu.
"Regular events are fine and necessary. However, if we are going to grow our program, we have to 'step up to the pump' and take some risk.''
It might be a tough sell. This weekend is full of events battling the track for the local entertainment dollar.
In addition to the normal slate of high school football games, the U.S. Olympic men's basketball and women's basketball and softball teams are in town for competitions and the University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball team opens its season.
ONWEILER was hoping for 4,000 spectators. Branch said he doesn't care if there are only four.
"We're out here for a good time,'' said the 36-year-old Branch, a former professional boxer. "It's good, clean fun. No drugs, no alcohol. We do it for love and you can't put a price on that.
"It's a great sport that's taken me places I never thought I could go to. Like Hawaii. I've been here since last week and I love it.''
Originally from Detroit, Branch has been racing the dragsters for five years. He used to race motorcycles but when a client came in, asking if Branch wanted to make some money, he found himself building cars.
"If you build them, you might as well race them,'' said Branch, who is ranked 12th on the IDRC circuit. "But you can't make it obsession. If you're in it for the money, then you're in the wrong business."
It doesn't pay much. A good payday to Branch is $1,000. He recently finished fourth -- worth about $250 -- with about $100 of that going to feed him and his crew, the rest being put back into the car.
STILL, he enjoys promoting the sport, traveling and meeting fans. As well as working with his pit crew.
"They do a lot of the work,'' he said. "They're like the hands and I'm the fingers. It's a real team effort.''
Branch said he doesn't really work out to stay in shape. He's found his best practice is virtual ... he bought an NHRA computer game that simulates race conditions and helps with reaction time.
How quick the sport will catch here is anyone's guess.
"We will assess the event after it's over and decide whether it's feasible to plan for a 2001 event,'' said Onweiler.
"Normally, you only cover costs on an inaugural event. However we feel confident that this Saturday's show will be a big hit, or we wouldn't have scheduled it.''
Now if we could just get Onweiler to reschedule the H-1 resurfacing and give us all a shot at doing a quarter-mile in 10 seconds.
Cindy Luis is Star-Bulletin sports editor.
Her column appears weekly.