Thousands of spectators eagerly filled the stands to witness the first ever drag race at the new Kalaeloa Raceway Park.
With a quick blessing and untying of the Maile lei, the stage was set for racers to unleash their need for speed.
One after another, drivers revved their engines. With no official paved track yet, event organizers laid a temporary drag strip.
Spinning tires sent the sand flying.
"Basically it's drag racing on sand, that's the brunt of it, a little bit smaller of a course but it's a lot of fun," said Michael Kitchens, Track Coordinator.
From dragsters to buggies just about anything with wheels took to the sand to duke it out.
The crowd and kids especially couldn't get enough.
"Not having races for awhile, it's good fun to be back," said Noe Holt, race spectator. "Oh yeah, everybody's going crazy over here."
It's the first auto race event on Oahu since Hawaii Raceway Park closed in April of '06.
"There's nothing at all, there's nothing. You can't even go down to Army beach or anything and try the car, so it's a good thing," said Bruce Pakele, race driver.
"Because if they have a place to fill the need of speed, without hurting anyone, it's great," said Maeda Timpson, Kapolei Neighborhood Board Chair.
The new park is about half the size of the old track. Organizers say the site is only temporary until a permanent location can be found.
"For right now, it's what we got and we're gonna use it," said Kitchens.
Kalaeloa Raceway Park hopes to host many other racing events at least once a month.
