Whatever Happened To...
An update on past news
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COURTESY PUNISH'UM TV / SEPTEMBER 2006
Professional driver Steve Oliberos shows his drifting skills at a demonstration at Aloha Stadium.
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Board puts brakes on stadium drifting
Question: Whatever happened to the drifting motorsports events at Aloha Stadium?
Answer: After November, it's pau.
The Aloha Stadium Authority board voted Thursday to no longer approve drifting events at the stadium's parking lot after this year.
There are still three more events already approved and in planning -- one on July 28 and another two in November. However some complaints from the surrounding neighborhood, championed by Rep. Lynn Finnegan, prompted the board to vote on the resolution.
"There were just too many complaints," said board Chairman Kevin Chong Kee. "I guess we feel the stadium is not the proper venue. But we tried our best to accommodate the drifters."
Drifting is a motorsport involving oversteering and sliding through turns in a controlled skid. That means revving engines and screeching, burning tires. Drifting, along with other motorsports like drag racing, have been left without a legal venue since Hawaii Raceway Park closed in April 2006.
The events, hosted by Punish'UM Motorsports, provided an outlet for drivers left in the dust.
"I think the stadium was fair with trying to help with the situation and being empathetic with the challenges of having a place for drifting," Finnegan said.
Finnegan said she will continue to help push for a permanent site elsewhere.
"I don't believe the drifters think the stadium was the best site either," she said. "A common win-win situation would be for a short-term goal of an alternate site, and a longer-term goal to get a real site."
This update was written by Star-Bulletin reporter Gene Park.
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