April 20, 2000 - reigning NASCAR Busch Grand National champion and Winston Cup rookie phenomenon Dale Earnhardt, Jr. makes his pays his first visit to Hawaii, with the biggest of his publicappearances taking place aboard the USS Missouri Memorial off Ford Island at Pearl Harbor. He arrives fresh from earning his first career Winston Cup victory in Texas at the DirecTV 500.

November 30, 2000 - DirecTV Reynard driver Memo Gidley pays his third visit to Hawaii, with his tour of the Mighty Mo just a prelude for the weekend's festivities at Ford Island. He arrives freshfrom a sophomore season in the big leagues full of firsts, despite sitting out eight races - first lap led, first top ten finishes, first cameo appearance in a major motion picture, first laps at Indianapolisand first 24 hour endurance sportscar race.

While Dale Jr. and his entourage strategically vanished from the public eye after the first day's worth of sponsor obligations, Memo's presence couldn't help but be noted by the residents of theU.S. Navy enclave as go-karts spent the weekend buzzing around the isle like the fighter planes forever engrained in Pearl Harbor lore.

The 2000 Memo Gidley Karting Clinic took place December 2-3 on the World War II-vintage airstrip circuit used throughout the year by his host, the Pacific Karting Club (one of two such organizationsin the 50th State). While the inaugural event fundamentally amounted to a driving demonstration for a passive audience being introduced to karting, Memo got the group involved in a moreconstructive and fun manner this time around.

"This is actually the second year, and we'll probably try and continue it every year. A lot of people don't really know what karting is. It's really a big sport, especially in the (mainland) U.S., wherethere's professional teams, manufacturers of frames, and actually kids who get paid to race go-karts and karts in general. And over in Hawaii, there also is quite a bit of go-kart racing, and I comeover and help the kids out - give them a little bit of the experience I have and try to relate that to them. I also give them the idea that shoot, I started in karts and ended up racing cars, and they couldprobably do the same thing if they really liked it and had the passion for it and worked hard. I just try to give them a little bit of something to shoot for and hopefully something to go after.

Memo with his Class of 2000.

"We did quite a bit out here with all of the kids and adults that came out. Basically, this was like a mini-school, where we'd go out and have some fun, depending on their skill level. We have a lotof different drivers out there - young kids - 8, 9, 10 years old all the way up to the oldest, which is 55 or 60 years old - an adult, I might point out!"

A half dozen junior participants, their parents and their karts turned up on Saturday for six hours of fun in the sun. After an initial shakedown of his own Trackmagic 125cc shifter, Memo watched thekids break in their vehicles, then took a time out and spent fifteen minutes assisting with repairs to a participant's broken carburetor before beginning the first of several classroom sessions.

"Kids don't talk too much. They almost sort of act a little dumb, but actually they're pretty smart. You can't really bring it down to their level too much. You really just have to tell them in simpleterms how to drive on the track and point out different lines, things like that. They're like sponges - they just absorb it all. Something that you say to them really makes an impact and impression.So they learn a lot quickly."

After half an hour discussing the proper lines through corners, passing techniques or basic mechanical setup, Memo would walk the kids around the 0.61 mile circuit, pointing out important thingsto watch out for along the way. The kids would then take their newfound knowledge to the track as Memo stood watch in the corners, signaling them to cut the corner closer or go out further asthey sped by.

It had been a while since Memo had held a formal instructional course such as this, but he got the hang of it soon enough. "I actually didn't think about it too much leading up to it. It just so happenedthat the first class on Saturday was for kids, and when you're with kids, you can improvise and can get a feel for how smart they are, how quickly they learn and what they want to know. They don't aska lot of specific questions, so that allowed me to get in the swing of things and remember certain kinds of topics that new drivers ask.

The teacher flags his students in.

"That made Sunday good also, because when you're with adults, they ask specific questions, and there are certain things they want to know. It's almost like the kids want to drive more and the adultswant to sit around and talk about it more! So it worked out well that way."

The nine seniors (18 years+) who turned up the following day with their 80 and 125cc shifters required a different approach. "The adults are kind of set in their habits," Memo explains. "They've beendoing it quite a long time, so it's almost a little hard to change some of the things they're doing. But either way, we get them out on the track and walk around, then direct them as far as where to placetheir go-karts and how to drive them, minus a few close calls I may have had darting away from some of those reckless drivers! It's more or less the same - it's a little different, but they all seemed tocome away learning quite a bit."

You mean Memo nearly got splattered during his vacation by an overexuberant karter? "I leaped in the air a couple of times, 3 or 4 feet, but no - like I told them, they missed me because of theirskills on the track! So that was good - I guess they all did a good job. Definitely, you've got to get right down there with them and point out where the track is, and if that means getting close calls,you've just got to be ready to run when they start aiming towards you!"

Memo paid the highest compliments to the track design, as configured by club President Iain Waugh. "I've experienced a number of parking lot tracks, and there's a lot of pro races on the mainlandwhere they race on tracks like that. But that one in particular was really good. It was super wide. It wasn't very smooth - it actually was pretty rough because of all the seams, but you kind of come toexpect that on that sort of track. But as far as layout goes, it was the perfect size; it was the perfect width. It's really challenging with sixth gear, high-speed chicanes and corners, which is something Ireally love. And the track had a ton of grip, so it made the kart work really, really well."

The adults wound up walking the circuit only once, but teacher made the kids do so not once or twice but thrice! "Yeah, you have to realize the adults - for me, I almost have to turn the energy switchdown a little when I deal with adults. I want to drive as hard as possible and learn about it, and I'm totally focused on that. But you realize that for an adult, for somebody who doesn't make a livingout of racing, they're doing it for fun. And they want to learn a little, they want to talk about it, they want to kind of educate themselves. They don't want to have to be wheeled home in a wheelbarrowand barely get up for work the next day. So you've just gotta pace it.

"Whereas the kids - the best thing for them is just to get them out there and let them drive like crazy and learn that way. I'll coach them out on the track where they're actually driving. Yeah, they gettired, but it's good for them! It's good for them to get a little tired like that. You don't want them sitting around too much."

When was the last time you saw a Champ Car driver fixing his own set of wheels...let alone someone else's?

In just two years of existence, the Clinic has already grown into one of Hawaii's premier motorsports events. "The response is good - it's actually exceptional," Memo enthuses. "It's gotten a littlebit bigger (since 1999); there's more people participating in this program. There were a lot of the same kids - they're a year older, so they haven't changed too much! It's just a better program thisyear, and I think it will get better and better each year.

"It's really fun to come out here, and it's not like you just come out and make a presence and then take off to go somewhere else. I get to know all these people, meet a lot of new friends and justmake a really good connection with them."

Memo believes the most valuable lesson for any Clinic participant extends well beyond the technical. "I think the number one secret for anybody is for people to see me and see what I've done.I think just to come out here and be the normal person that you are - they realize you don't have to be somebody special to accomplish your dreams and your goals. You've just got to get out thereand do it. So it's really something I almost can't teach. But being present here, interacting with the kids and the adults - that's kind of what I bring to it."

The Clinic has already paid dividends in terms of promoting Hawaiian talent, with the club producing its first nationally recognized driver in its 40-year existence. College freshman RyanGouveia, one of the few local karters who got in track time at the inaugural Clinic, participated at both the CART-sanctioned Stars of Tomorrow program and the SKUSA Supernationalsin Las Vegas last November - both with Memo on hand keeping a close eye on his progress.

Memo leads Ryan Gouveia on the Ford Island runway. Photo by Kevin Miyahira

Gouveia, recently recruited as a Birel factory kart pilot, finished a respectable 21st overall in the S2 class at the SuperNationals despite limited time in his kart and minimal experienceagainst his seasoned competition. "By having Memo's clinic, it really helped the junior drivers by giving them one-on-one instruction. By that, I mean he helped children with their chassissetup, tire pressure, and different lines to take. He just helped them everywhere, not just on the track but off the track."

As far as the prospects of others moving up go, "there's a couple of kids...(Ryan) comes over and races in the States now, and he does pretty well, so it's always a possibility," Memo adds."I think talent really depends on how bad you want it. Just about anything out there you can learn. If you want to become a race car driver or go-kart driver, you can learn how to do that. Thenit's just a matter of how much work you put in it to be successful. But yeah, there are some good kids over here."

The Clinic accounted for only two of Memo's six days in the islands, but he had no trouble keeping entertained. His visit aboard the Mighty Mo stands out as a highlight, with the Iowa classbattleship easily dwarfing the 62-foot wide sailboat he grew up on but just as lacking in spacious living and sleeping quarters. "Whenever I go back to that situation, where I'm right on thewater with your feet on a boat, it feels really similar. It's obviously a much bigger boat, but the whole atmosphere feels the same. For me, it was really neat to go out there and kind of walkaround, because I haven't been on one in a couple of years...the stuff I learned about the ship - the amount of firepower and horsepower that ship has is pretty amazing when you think about it.

"It's just a different way of life. It's almost like racing, but on the water. There's a lot of things that apply; when you're out there and serving on a ship like that, basically that's all you do. That'syour primary focus, and there's really not a lot of distractions. I think in racing, to be successful it's very similar."

Memo did away with the rookie stripes on his board in no time.

Elsewhere, Memo added to his list of firsts for the year by hitting the waves aboard a surfboard for the very first time - an incredible statement given his prototypical Californian surfer boy looks."Growing up on the water, I've messed around with just about all forms of watersports - sailing, swimming, and everything else. So it seems kind of strange for somebody who comes from such abackground. But it was a total blast. It's really different to surf in Hawaii, because the water's really warm. It almost feels like a bathtub; you never have to come in because you get cold. I got goodinstruction from someone who has surfed a lot, and I can't wait to do it again!"

Surfing instructor John Wade, one of the Clinic's shifter participants the day before, reveled in how quickly Memo got the hang of it and peeled the rookie stripes off his board fins. Wade suggested itshowed his ease in adapting to new environments and pressure situations quickly in his role as SuperSub, but Memo claims it came as no surprise. "No, not really. I figured I'd go out and just surfnormally. The board was big enough and made it really stable and pretty easy with the waves where we were at. No, everything like that, whether it's skiing, water skiing or anything that I've donefor the first time, it's always come pretty easy like that balance-wise."

Don't try this at home.

A much more dubious first came the evening of Memo's arrival, when he attended his first luau at a Waikiki hotel and found himself being lured into performing the hula during the stage show (the onetrue rite of passage for ALL Hawaii visitors). "Although dancing's probably not the best skill I have, I don't mind getting up in front of people and making myself look like an idiot. I think I might havepicked up some tips.

"You know, I was one of the finalists up on the stage, so I must've been pretty good! I dunno, maybe I am a natural at hula dancing."

Next year's Clinic may take place at a new facility, as the Navy did not renew the club's one-year lease (citing lofty redevelopment plans for Ford Island). As things presently stand, the clubdoes have the option of using the present track on special occasion, so the Clinic may return there while monthly events take place elsewhere.

Does Memo think his students will adapt well if they should find another track for 2001? "It's always difficult to go to a new track, but either way, it doesn't really matter. I think everyone has a basicunderstanding as to why they drive a particular line on the racetrack. So when you go to a new track and you're driving around and something doesn't quite make sense, they can sit back andthink about it for a little while and try and make some sense out of it. Most of the corners on the racetrack we ran on - if you really think about it, they're all similar to a lot of corners you'd experience,so I think it would cross over really well."

As for Memo's own propsects for the new season, with no quality rides in CART presently open and nothing yet lined up for Indy either: "Well, I have a lot of plans, personally, and a lot of goals,and I just have to convince somebody else to make that happen, I guess! You know in racing, especially when you start moving up, there's a lot of sponsorship and things you have to dealwith - a lot of politics. There's a lot of interest; a lot of team owners know who I am, and they'd like to put me in a car. It's just a matter of getting that program together and putting me in.

"Either way, It's gonna work out fine for me."