Tabios takes Gary Saiki Shootout

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

R’hyanne Sakamoto, foreground, graduating from the junior dragster program, makes a run in a full-sized, rear-engine dragster during the Garden Isle Racing Association Labor Day drag races Sunday at Kauai Raceway Park in Mana.

Kerri Barros / Contributed photo

Bronson Tabios, winner of the first Gary Saiki Shootout, waits for his qualifying run during the Garden Isle Racing Association Labor Day drag races at Kauai Raceway Park in Mana.

Kerri Barros / Special to The Garden Island

The ohana of Ted Medeiros Jr., and Gary Saiki gather at the starting line of Kauai Raceway Park in Mana Saturday night during the Garden Isle Racing Association Labor Day drag races.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Gabby Saiki, the late Gary Saiki’s daughter, waits with her Honda Civic while crews work to dry the track at Kauai Raceway Park Sunday during the Garden Isle Racing Association Labor Day drag races at Mana.

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Junior dragsters Christopher and Christian Silva show off their second- and first-place trophies, respectively, Sunday during the final day of the Garden Isle Racing Association Labor Day drag races at Kauai Raceway Park in Mana.

MANA Bronson Tabios of Oahu he comes to Kauai monthly to race, said Kerri Barros of the Garden Isle Racing Association took the Sunday night, first-ever Gary Saiki Shootout, to wrap up two days of drag racing at Kauai Raceway Park, presented by the GIRA.

MANA — Bronson Tabios of Oahu — he comes to Kauai monthly to race, said Kerri Barros of the Garden Isle Racing Association — took the Sunday night, first-ever Gary Saiki Shootout, to wrap up two days of drag racing at Kauai Raceway Park, presented by the GIRA.

“This one is for Gary Saiki, a GIRA board member and starter,” said Tony Ricci, GIRA president. “Even I’m driving in this, in my Mazda.”

The Gary Saiki Shootout featured drivers in 4-cylinder clutch cars — no elapsed time limits, and no automatic transmissions with shifters.

“Cars must leave the starting line with leg release clutch,” Barros said. “For his win, Bronson earned more than $5,000 in cash. Runner up Sheldon Peralta earned $500, and the semifinalists each got $250. There were other prizes for best package, perfect light, or closest to perfect light.”

For his win, Tabios ran a 1994 Honda Civic to a 12.82 ET, reaching 98.61 mph on a 12.82 dial in, besting Peralta, who clocked a 12.94 ET on a 104.67 mph breakout.

“The holiday paid tribute to contributions and achievements of American workers, and on Sunday, GIRA club members literally demonstrated the meaning of Labor Day following a downpour at the track that threatened to shut down the event after only one round of qualifying runs,” Barros said.

“Gray clouds loomed above the track following the rain, but a small patch of blue sky peeped through, promising a successful event where Gary Saiki and Ted Medeiros ohana were honored. In a determined, coordinated effort, racers began pushing off puddles of water with a squeegee blade. Street cars and trucks drove up and down the length of the track to dry it, followed by tractors and other machinery to re-prep the track.”

The next GIRA drag race, the second to last for this year, is Sunday, Oct. 6, a day race with gates opening at 8 a.m. and qualifying rounds starting at 10 a.m.

Saturday Results

w Junior dragster: Christian Silva, ‘08 Half Scale Extreme, ET 8.94, MPH 76.93, dial-in 8.90; Christopher Silva, ‘05 Half Scale Outlaw, ET 7.89, MPH 79.62, dial-in 7.90 (break out); semifinalist Ryancie Sakamoto, ET 8.08, MPH 79.50, dial-in 8.15 (break out); Kayde Brock, ET 11.61, MPH 60.74, dial-in 12.30 (break out); closest to dial in: Ryant Sakamoto (7.91 over 7.90 dial in); best reaction: Danika Braun (0.005 seconds).

w Top gun: Kelden Medeiros, ‘39 Chevy Coupe, ET 9.67, MPH 136.04, dial-in 9.58; Fredstan Kaluahine, (make not available), ET 7.87, MPH 173.53, dial-in 7.80

w Pro ET: Chris Loew, ‘69 Chevy Camaro, ET 11.82, MPH 87.85, dial-in 10.29; Gabby Saiki, ‘95 Honda Civic, (ET and MPH not available), dial-in 11.30

w Muscle V8: Alma Koetje, ‘98 Chevy Corvette, ET 12.26, MPH 111.88, dial-in 12.24; Kimo Brogan, Ford Mustang, ET 13.11, MPH 111.02, dial-in 13.50 (red light)

w Sport compact: Robby Silva Jr., ‘91 Honda CRX, ET 12.48, MPH 99.10, dial-in 12.45; Joshua Sheldon, ‘99 Honda Civic, ET 13.20, MPH 101.17, dial-in 13.18

w Super pro: Keith Nonaka, ‘68 Chevy Camaro, ET 11.27, MPH 118.82, dial-in 11.32; Korey Wise, (make unavailable), ET 16.14, MPH 89.54, dial-in 10.82 (red light); Travis Freitas, ‘04 Honda Civic Coupe, ET 16.16, MPH 97.02, dial-in 14.00

w Bike ET: Adam Beetles, ‘09 Kawasaki Concours, ET 11.43, MPH 114.90, dial-in 11.38; Matt Kaleiohi, ‘03 Suzuki Hayabusa, ET 18.61, MPH 36.26, dial-in 9.00 (red light)

Sunday Results

w Gary Saiki Shootout: Bronson Tabios, ‘94 Honda Civic, ET 12.82, MPH 98.61, dial-in 12.82; Sheldon Peralta, (make unavailable), ET 12.94, MPH 104.67, dial-in 12.95 (break out)

w Pro ET: Cy Akaji, (make unavailable), ET 10.15, MPH 133.09, dial-in 10.17 (break out); Michael Acoba, ‘69 Chevy Camaro, ET 10.51, MPH 119.11, dial-in 10.58 (break out)

w Muscle V8: Lacin Montemayor, ‘87 Pick-Up, ET 12.11, MPH 108.04, dial-in 12.05; Kevin Suga, ‘85 Toyota Pick-Up, ET 12.02, MPH 110.86, dial-in 11.95 (red light)

w Sport compact: Sheldon Peralta, (make unavailable), ET 12.95, MPH 101.03, dial-in 12.95; Greg Soriano, (make unavailable), ET 12.51, MPH 109.21, dial-in 12.05

w Super PR: Mikol Wrestling, (make unavailable), ET 11.51, MPH 109.98, dial-in 11.49; Keith Nonaka, ‘68 Chevy Camaro, ET 11.25, MPH 115.20, dial-in 11.30 (break out)

w Street: James Brogan (make unavailable), ET 15.11, MPH 80.22, dial-in 14.80; Travis Freitas, ’04 Honda Civic Coupe, ET 15.49, MPH 91.82, dial-in 14.00

w Bike ET: Wilmark Geronimo, ‘04 Yamaha R6, ET 11.50, MPH 120.35, dial-in 11.45; Adam Beetles, ‘09 Kawasaki Concours, ET 11.65, MPH 122.57, dial-in 11.45 (red light)

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