RACERS THRIVE IN SMOKIN’ WHEELS WEEKEND

By Jeff Ochavillo

ATV/UTV & Trophy Karts Take the Track Saturday

It was a scorching Saturday morning and a little rainy at the International Raceway in Yigo as fans were hovering under their canopies and umbrellas as they were enjoying every second of different vehicles on wheels taking the dirt to race or taking the road for auto fiesta or the drag race championship later on in the evening.

Compared to the first opening, Saturday had a mix of events that lasted the entire day such as motocross, ATV’s, UTV’s, trophy karts, road buggies, and trucks all hitting the dirt to fight for that first place position. To keep it fun for everyone, racers who were competing ranged from ages 6 all the way to veteran adults. In addition, you saw local racers challenging veteran racers who came to compete all the way from Japan.

Though there was a little drizzle later in the evening, it did not stop the car show that was about to take place. It was all a car show as different varieties of cars where displayed in the auto fiesta and later took the road for the smoking wheels championship.

Results from Saturday’s races:

PHOTO GALLERY:

Deven Manibusan competes in the 250cc motorcycle heat. (photo by Joey Blas)

James Cepeda Jr. makes a nice jump on the last lap of the heat and goes on to take the checker flag. (photo by Joey Blas)

James Cepeda Jr. takes the lead of the 450cc heat. (photo by Joey Blas)

Yuna Song is the only female competing in the 150cc division. (photo by Joey Blas)

Daichi Horikawa laeds the pack and goes on to take the checker flag. (photo by Joey Blas)

Shunsuke Tokuoka makes a nice move on the outside to pass a rider on the jump. (photo by Joey Blas)

Yoshihide Kubota completes a lap in the Pro ATV Division. (photo by Joey Blas)

Robert Bucek chases the first place rider on the 4th lap of the heat. (photo by Joey Blas)

Masanao Katayama takes a wide turn before heading towards the straight away part of the course. (photo by Joey Blas)

6 year old Zion Manibusan sticks the landing on the open ATV heat. (photo by Joey Blas)

Darian Chang competed in the 90cc open ATV. (photo by Joey Blas)

Dongman Chang completed the jump heads towards the straight run.(photo by Joey Blas)

Milo Simpson competes in the UTV and trophy cart division. (photo by Joey Blas)

Ryan Peryea makes the jump and headed around for the last lap of the heat.(photo by Joey Blas)

Off-road Endurance Races Sunday

Ikuo Hanawa started strong and had the Cars Plus team of Joey Crisostomo and Henry Simpson right behind him all race long, but Hanawa captured another endurance race victory by completing 71 laps, the most of the three-hour endurance race.

The Cars Plus team did not finish the race due to a late complication only completing 65 laps. Chris Robbetts finished second place with 68 laps with Testuya Mormoto and Tatsuya Ogihara finishing with 65 laps.

“It was really tough out there,” said Crisostomo after turning the car over to teammate Simpson after a busted rim and flat tire. “Sometimes there are areas you can’t see out there so you really have to know the course. My engine was running hot so I had to back off from [Hanawa] a lot. It’s a three hour race so I just have to give it [Henry] to finish.”

The first year stock vehicle, Triple J’s Raptor Truck, had a strong outing behind Jay & Bob Jones completing 63 laps coming in 5th place.

Results from Sundays race:

PHOTO GALLERY:

Trucks let the mud fly while driving through the course. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Trucks make their way through the mud on their way to more laps. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

The mud race competition had a big fan turnout. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Ikuo Hanawa pulls ahead after the jump. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Cars Plus Joey Crisostomo leaping his way to another lap. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

The Ford Raptor making its way up the jump. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Ikuo Hanawa in the lead with Cars Plus’ Joey Crisostomo tailing him in the first hour. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Cars Plus Joey Crisostomo stops to get his front tire replaced. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

The pit crew works on the Triple J Ford Raptor. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Cars Plus buggy unlimited driver Henry Simpson takes his turn behind the wheel. (photo by Robert Balajadia)