Big Island Auto Club hopes to expand its reach to more people as the group prepares to celebrate the 50th annual Labor Day Drags at the Hilo Drag Strip next weekend.
Big Island Auto Club, or BIAC, is hosting its first car show, featuring a variety of race cars, classic cars and modern cars, for free at Kama‘aina Motors in Hilo from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Attendees can expect a “cracklefest” each hour, which is BIAC’s unique term for starting race cars in unison for the public. There will also be music from DJ PA3CO and a couple local food vendors on site.
BIAC is hosting the car show the weekend before the 50th annual Labor Day Drags in hopes to promote its biggest race of the year and bring more people to the Hilo Drag Strip.
“We’ve been working as much as possible to keep drag racing alive here in Hilo and this is our way of reaching out to the community to remind them that we’re still here and very active,” said BIAC member Sydney Koga.
Before BIAC first came together over 55 years ago, Geoffrey Lauer moved to the Big Island and was looking for something to do when he came across an exciting and growing drag racing community.
Drivers and spectators would come together at night and have races down the straightaways in Kalapana, Kapoho, Manuka, Keamoku, Pepeekeo, Olaa and Keaukaha, which were some of the most popular venues.
In 1968, the sport was notably growing with spectator numbers increasing and cars becoming more powerful. Racers and supporters decided to organize to save the sport and find a permanent legal racing facility for members.
“When I first moved to the island, it was half the population, and most of the development we see now was not here, so you had to find things to do,” Lauer said. “This is the thing that stuck with me and I’ve been a part of the community since we started the club.”
After forming the BIAC, the first legal opportunity to race came on Sunday, Oct. 27, 1968, when the county issued a permit to the club to conduct single car, 1/8-mile speed trials down Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo.
According to Lauer, more than 5,000 spectators lined both sides of the street. However, it would be two years before the next legal race took place.
In October 1970, the state, county and the National Hot Rod Association, or NHRA, gave permission and support for drag racing at the Old Kona Airport on a temporary basis. The first racing event at the venue brought in 5,000 to 6,000 people.
“When we started racing at the Kona Airport, I became the track manager and eventually an announcer, which I still do today,” Lauer said. “It was a lot of fun to be there, but we were excited when we finally got our own facility.”
In 1978, BIAC realized its goal when the Hilo Drag Strip was opened and sanctioned by the NHRA. For 27 years, the club conducted racing events, maintained the facility and provided improvement projects. For Koga, the Hilo Drag Strip was her backyard.
“I grew up there. I mean I’ve literally been going there since I was in diapers,” Koga said. “My dad started racing in high school and never stopped, so our whole family has become involved. A lot of people are like that down there.”
Many people who race are part of families who have made drag racing part of their lives. Youth can race as junior dragsters with low-powered engines and later move to the real thing after getting their license.
“I race and I’m an adrenaline junkie, so truly I love everything about drag racing,” Koga said. “For my family, this is our main family time. We’ve created a lot of memories and continue to do so.”
Koga and other members of the BIAC Board of Directors have been planning the upcoming Labor Day Drags event, which is a three-day event beginning Friday night and ending in the afternoon on Sunday. It is BIAC’s only big yearly race.
“We used to have two big races, but now our deal with the county only allows for one every year on Labor Day weekend,” Lauer said. “Drag racing requires insurance and we have to pay for an ambulance to be there the entire time, which is expensive since we finance ourselves as a club.”
The Hilo Drag Strip is a county facility that is used for other sports like go-karting, circle-track racing and motocross, so BIAC plans ahead and will put out its schedule for the entire next year by December.
“Labor Day is our huge race, but we run about one weekend each month,” Koga said. “People are welcome to come out to watch and see what it’s all about.”
In its 56 years of existence, BIAC has survived changing laws, new venues, lava flows, track reconstruction, new operators at the strip and COVID-19. The group has no plans of stopping anytime soon.
“It’s been amazing to see people grow up and witness generations of families racing on the strip,” Lauer said. “We want to see the sport survive in the next generation and show gratitude for everyone who has and continues to support us.”
The 50th Labor Day Drags will be at the Hilo Drag Strip with gates opening at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30 and 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1. Admission is $10. Keiki 12 and under are free.
Grocery Gettah will be the main event on Aug. 30 and Aug. 31. Junior Dragster Blowout, Mopar vs. The World, 6.90 Index, Quickest 8, Quicker 8, Quick 16, and Bikes/Motorcycles will be during the day on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
More information on events can be found on the BIAC808 Facebook and Instagram pages. For those interested in getting involved in the club, email biachawaii@gmail.com.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com