It's been four-and-a-half years since Hawaii Raceway Park in Kalaeloa closed -- leaving Oahu's motorsports community without a place to race.
But that's about to change -- with the grand opening of a new raceway park this weekend.
The grand opening of Kalaeloa Raceway Park is the culmination of more than three years of perseverance by folks who missed having a place to race.
About a month ago, they got the green light to build the track.
10-year old Geoffrey Grace of Kapolei has the need for speed.
"I kind of like fast cars," said Geoffrey Grace.
Unfortunately, until he gets a little older, this will have to do.
"This goes about 30 miles per hour. Not very fast," said Geoffrey Grace.
Every day after school for the past month, Geoffrey has been coming here, to help get Kalaeloa Raceway Park ready for its grand opening.
And it's taken a lot of hard work from volunteers.
Geoffrey's dad George is the developer.
"I'm pretty excited. We're going to be making history here," said George Grace III, Kalaeloa Raceway Park Developer.
On Sunday, when the first cars race down this sand drag strip, it'll be the first track event on Oahu since Hawaii Raceway Park closed in April 2006.
"So on the Kaneohe side, they're going to be flying airplanes on Sunday and having fun. We'll be making a different type of noise on the west side," said George Grace III.
Bert Santiago has been working on this buggy for a little over a year.
"It'll go over 100 miles per hour," said Bert Santiago.
But on Sunday, Bert won't be the one behind the wheel.
"My sister, she's going to be driving this on Sunday. So myself and my friend will be the pit crew," said Bert Santiago.
And tomorrow all day, there will be a rally cross -- which is basically off-road racing in the dirt.
"It's not just a racers event. It's spectators and family outing too," said Bobby Enos, Race Track Coordinator.
This new raceway park is built on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property.
At 19-1/2 acres, it's about a third the size of the old raceway park, and is still very much a work in progress.
"Our vision for the park is to pretty much do everything we did at Hawaii Raceway Park," said Michael Kitchens, Race Track Public Relations.
Even though he's only ten years old, Geoffrey says he remembers the races and the noises at the old raceway park.
When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Geoffrey responded: "Racer."
"We hope we can soothe everybody's need for speed," said Enos.
So, ladies and gentlemen get ready to start your engines.
Admission for spectators is $10 for adults, free for kids ten and under.
More information: http://www.kalaeloaracewaypark.com
