On July 6, I visited the Hilo Drag Strip to watch Ryan Christopher race his Tesla Model S. I had the opportunity to ride shotgun for his first run and took note of the ins and outs of the process. The process is actually quite straight forward and the experience is exhilarating. Where else can you test the limits of your car without breaking the law? His first run stats (with passenger in tow): 12.926s/104.95mph. Very cool!

Wait. It gets better – an hour or so later, we were joined by Gary and Paula Miller (and their Model 3), and Gary decided to join in on the fun. It was great to see two Teslas running down the track, likely the first time ever for Hilo!

Here’s a gallery of images and videos from that day (courtesy of Gary Miller).

I’ve always wondered about the possibility of EVs showing up and demonstrating the power of monstrous torque without the ruckus and noxious fumes that are typically seen in competing vehicles. This was an opportunity to learn about the ‘mechanics’ of the drag strip and what can be expected by an EV owner. Thanks to Ryan, I have a better understanding and I’m convinced that this is an activity that can help our local community better understand the benefits and advantages of electric cars (and get more behind the wheel). This may the start of a new fun activity for the BIEVA! Look out for future gatherings at the track.

-Noel