by Chirag Asaravala

21°N, 159°W - Those coordinates put you about as far west as you can go in the United States - well, except for the far reaches of Alaska that no one ever visits anyway. You are in middle of the Pacific on the island of Kauai, the oldest of the Hawaiian islands. At the western most edge of the island, between a tiny island town and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (presumably created when the Japanese were threatening us with suicide planes instead of hybrid cars) is the least expected of sites - a dragstrip. We're not talking about some makeshift 1/8th mile stretch of runway either, this is a full ¼ mile strip that most importantly is still very active.

It is truly a strange site in this part of the world where empty beaches and lush tropical forests dominate the landscape. I would not have even know the track existed if I hadn't seen the other rarity on the island, a Ford muscle car. While stopping in at the Wal Mart in Lihue, the islands main "city", I heard the familiar sounds of a 5.0L aftermarket exhaust system. The black convertible 1995 Mustang GT pulled into the parking spot beside me. Going through Ford Muscle withdrawals I quickly commended the driver on the clean

This sign at the main gas station in Kehaka was the only warning that a drag strip was nearby.

looking ride and melodious exhaust note. The driver introduced himself as Walt and told me he was headed out to the dragstrip. I had to ask him to clarify, as that was one word not in my island vocabulary.

The next thing I knew I was driving the circumference of the island to check out the tropical drag racing scene. After all, I was on vacation and had nothing better to do.

Walt told me to just drive west until I hit the tiny beach front town of Kekaha, population 3000. Go through the town and just a few miles out "You'll see the sign, turn there." Coming from California where signs are overstated, I expected to see something quite significant. It took me several u-turns to finally spot the sagging banner aside a dirt road that said "Drag Racing Tonight. Garden Isle Raceway." I was a few hours early so I drove back about a half-mile to the endless stretch of deserted beach that signifies the western side of the island. There I slept in the sun until it was racing time.

At 3pm I made my way down the dirt road which lead from the highway towards the beach side race track. While I wasn't at all concerned about the Grand Am rental car I was driving, I wondered how race

This banner along the edge of a dirt road is the only sign signifying you have reached Mana Raceway in Kauai. Chances are you'll drive by it dozen times before seeing it.

cars managed to get down this narrow and rutted road without scraping headers and bottoming out drag shocks.

If the roadway to the entry gate doesn't convince you that this is unlike any other drag strip you've ever been to, then the site from the gate will surely do it. Mana Raceway Park is set just yards from the ocean. In fact, if you missed all the turnoffs for the return road at the end of the dragstrip, you'd drive right into the Pacific.

Mana is small time in a good way. There were no more than 50 cars the Friday night I was there, and that may have been a busy night. Everybody seemed to know everybody, but more importantly everybody seemed to be enjoying each others company. The atmosphere was easy

If you hate crowded staging lanes then Mana is the place for you. With less than fifty cars you roll up an run with minimal wait.

going. Guys would make a pass then pull the car into the pits and take their time before the next run. There was plenty of time to make runs before the bracket racing started.

There was only one classic Ford racing that night, a 1970 Mustang, . The only other Fords racing were a trio of 5.0's, including Walt and his 1995 GT, and a pair of 2006 GT's, one bone stock and the other with a Vortech supercharger.


Tante Azare's 1970 Mustang
I got a chance to talk to Tante Azares and his niece, Kerri Villa. The uncle and niece team race Tante's clean 1970 Mustang fastback. They both are born and raised Kauaian's who have a passion for Ford's and drag racing.

Kauai natives Tante Azares and his niece Kerri Villa race the fresh yellow 1970 Mustang fastback. Tante owns the car and Kerri drives. Their good friend Jim McFarland helps with the mechanical duties.		The engine is a 351W bored over to yield 358 cid. Tante selected Canfield 215cc heads and a 232/236 solid roller cam with .535 lift and 112 LSA. Through a Toploader and 4.11 gears
Believe it or not Tante's '70 was the only early Ford at this dragstrip. There were two 05-06 Mustangs, and a three fox-body's. Tante says there aren't very many early Ford's on the island.		The car has a fresh paint job. Tante had the tail light panel finished in gloss black. Looks mean!
Kerri pilot's the Mustang to consistent 12.30's at 114mph. The car is easily 11 second capable if they can improve on the 1.89 sixty-foot times. However the Muscle V8 class limits them to 12.0's, and the car must be streetable with mufflers.		Most girls who drag race do so with automatics. Not Kerri Villa! You gotta respect a girl that can drag race. (The hair clip thingy in the center console seems out of place in this muscle car though.)
Tante has put in a small fuel cell and relocated the battery to the trunk for better weight distribution. He's using a Flaming River push-pull style disconnect switch, cleanly mounted through the tail light panel.		Watch a video clip of Kerri making a run at Mana Raceway in Kauai.

Tante tells me that Mana is real special track. I could feel it just walking around the pits. Not only is it the furthest West drag strip in the United States, but it is really a community oriented track. Everyone is very friendly and out to help each other. Tante, Kerri and their friend Joe McFarland drive the car from the otherside of the island - no trailers for this team. Tante even takes the car on a barge to neighboring islands to race on the tracks on Maui and the big-island of Hawaii.

If you ever plan a trip to Hawaii, find yourself some time to make it out to Mana Raceway on Kauai. It's a paradise within a paradise, and truely and experience you'll remember.