PUHI — It’s green, it’s free, and it’s a first, said Tom Leighton, owner of Motorcycles Period and Two Wheels Kaua‘i. Leighton will be hosting the firstever July 4th Moped/Motorscooter Poker Run and Rally at the Motorcycles Period facility in
PUHI — It’s green, it’s free, and it’s a first, said Tom Leighton, owner of Motorcycles Period and Two Wheels Kaua‘i. Leighton will be hosting the firstever July 4th Moped/Motorscooter Poker Run and Rally at the Motorcycles Period facility in Puhi in the Mokihana Pest Control building. The event will benefit the Kaua‘i Food Bank. “This street (Haleukana) will be deserted, Sunday,” Leighton said. “We can fit at least a hundred scooters as a staging area for the Poker Run.” Prior to the Poker Run, Leighton said there will be a moped show with prizes being offered for best moped custom paint job, best scooter custom paint job, oldest running scooter, oldest running moped, most radical performance moped, most radical performance scooter, most chrome, and best rat bike that still runs. As a bonus, Leighton said because the event benefits the food bank, there will be a special prize for the moped that carries the most non-perishable food items. “There have been a lot of events for motorcycle riders, but I don’t believe I’ve heard of any events for mopeds and motor scooters,” Leighton said. “This should be a first for the state.” The category competitors will be lined up in the Motorcycles Period parking area for judging with winners being announced just prior to the start of the Poker Run at 10:30 a.m. The show opens from 9 a.m., and with the Poker Run leaving on a threestop journey to Po‘ipu and back, Leighton said everyone should be back around 1, or 1:30 p.m. He said with the rising popularity of mopeds and motor scooters, there are now seven models of mopeds customers can select from. There are also eight different models of motor scooters to browse through, and Leighton said he has several new models on order. Some of the reasons for the rising popularity in these two-wheeled vehicles is the good gas mileage it affords, ease in parking in town, and the fun factor of riding while reducing one’s carbon footprint, several of the models getting up to 100 miles per gallon. The average moped gets about 60 or more miles before needing a fillup. “With the numbers we’ve been selling and the bikes being sold at other places, this should be a good turnout,” he said. “The weather has been great and if it keeps up, it should be a perfect day to ride.” For more information, call 632- 0000.
